Selenium injection for newborms - how much and how to?

[mousebandit]

I have some pre-loaded single use syringes from the vet of selenium. They're 1ml each. I got these about a month or 6 weeks ago, when I thought that zephyr was going to have her babies at any moment. (ha ha!)

Are these still safe to use? haven't been refrigerated, just on a shelf in the house.

1ml is the right amount for a newborn kid, right?

where and how do I give the injection - intra muscular or just under the skin, and does it matter where on the body?

Thanks! I'd like to avoid calling the vet today because he's young, fresh out of vet school, and works most of the time at a clinic in the city. I don't know if they are impressed or frustrated when he gets his "sideline" calls at work!

Tracey Mouse

[moosemaniac]

I vaccinate mom and let the baby get the selenium from her, but I have injected a baby with just a minute amount when I wasn't sure mom had gotten a vaccine. Just a little is all I use and SubQ.

Ruth

[fishhead]

I've read that all injections can be given SQ.

[Feral Nature]

Newborn goats I give 1/4 to 1/2 cc of BoSe under the skin. Make sure it is BoSe and not MuSe. It does not matter where under the skin you give it. if the legs look wobblely, as if a selenium defieciency, i may give BoSe injections 3 days in a row.

[thaiblue12]

To add to Mouse's question. I do not have a selenium shortage where I live. I called and checked.
So if we do have babies do I give them Bo-Se at all or just Vitamin E?

[Feral Nature]

Originally Posted by thaiblue12

To add to Mouse's question. I do not have a selenium shortage where I live. I called and checked.
So if we do have babies do I give them Bo-Se at all or just Vitamin E?

Where do you live and who did you call? I give BoSe now to all my babies and extra to those who display symptoms of defieciency. I give a vit. E gelcap also in addition to the inj. of BoSe.

[thaiblue12]

I live in Colorado and I spoke as well as got an email from an Extension agent from my county and I called a university. They also gave me a link about plants and toxic agents and etc and I read that we are not lacking here. That is why Mouse's post made me wonder if I should give it to them at all.

[fishhead]

Here's a national selenium map that the university sent me. As usual I'm right in the middle of "maybe".

http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/...nium/map1.html

Then to make it even more uncertain.

"In addition, all soils are made up of many different minerals which all
interact with each other. The plants ability to uptake those minerals also
plays into that equation.

Instead of asking if your soils are deficient, a better question might be to
ask if your forage contains the proper mineral and then balance your ration
depending on the findings. For example, let's say that you DO live in an
area with suffient SE. There may be other interactions that aren't allowing
the plant to properly uptake the mineral. While your soil might be suffient,
your forage could be deficient.

I would recommend having your forage analysed for mineral content. Easier
said if you make your own hay. Harder to monitor if you purchase your hay
from several sources. Hay mineral content (as well as soil types) can vary
greatly in a short amount of distance.

You could also ask your local vet if they are seeing any mineral imbalances
in livestock in your area."
"

[Feral Nature]

According to the above link, and other maps i have seen, Texas is "ok"...however, my goats show definent signs of selinium deficiency. I just started using BoSe this year and the kids wiggle-woggle back leg problems cleared up in a matter of days after injection. Fishhead makes an excellent point in the post about where the different feeds are grown. Most of our goats do not get the bulk of their nutrition from the browse that is grown in our own soil anyway.....dairy goats in particular. Interestingly, I have had the most problems with selinium deficiency symptoms in my Boers.

Here is a link on selenium deficiency (White Muscle Disease)

www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/WMD.html

[moonspinner]

BoSe doesn't require refrigeration so yours should be just fine. I'm in a supposedly sufficient selenium area too but I BoSe my does pre-kidding and give the odd shot to babies who are a bit off or have weak legs upon delivery. Just don't overdo it. Also there are some injections that do require IM - Lutalyse for one.

[susanne]

Originally Posted by thaiblue12

I live in Colorado and I spoke as well as got an email from an Extension agent from my county and I called a university. They also gave me a link about plants and toxic agents and etc and I read that we are not lacking here. That is why Mouse's post made me wonder if I should give it to them at all.

it looks like you contacted the right persons to ask about deficiency in your area. i would listen to them until i see deficiency in my animals.

[susanne]

Originally Posted by mousebandit

I have some pre-loaded single use syringes from the vet of selenium. They're 1ml each. I got these about a month or 6 weeks ago, when I thought that zephyr was going to have her babies at any moment. (ha ha!)

Tracey Mouse

tracy since the vet gave you syringes with 1cc i'm wondering if that really is bo-se or did he gave you mu-se? mu-se has five times the amount of selenium and if you give that to your kids you will kill them. call your vet and ask what he gave you.
you can give 1/2 cc bose and one capsule vit e squeezed in the mouth.

[Feral Nature]

Originally Posted by susanne

it looks like you contacted the right persons to ask about deficiency in your area. i would listen to them until i see deficiency in my animals.

Susanne has a good point. I didn't give BoSe until I was SURE I needed it. I didn't do it just because everyone else was. I made really sure it was appropriate for my herd.

[fishhead]

For the record I cut and pasted that quote above. The "university" gives excellent advise.

Maybe I should change my web name to parrot.....

[Feral Nature]

parrothead...humm...hey, I've always wondered if you were a fishhead or a "phishhead"? I'm more of a deadhead, but your name has always kept me guessing.

[pokyone42]

I am in the southern tier of NY and I give my kids 1/4 cc of Bo-Se the day they are born, and 1/2 cc at one month... Then I give it once yearly to the rest of the herd.. at a rate of 1cc per 50 lbs...seems to work for us.............