Primary Hair Growth in Dogs Depends on Dietary Selenium Concentrations
December 2005
in “
Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition
”
New to Selenium? There is a guide in the encyclopedia. Read the guide → Studysummary This study found that both low and high dietary selenium levels reduced hair growth in adult dogs, with optimal growth observed at mid-range selenium concentrations. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
The study investigated the impact of dietary selenium on hair growth in dogs, using 36 beagles divided into six groups with varying selenium concentrations in their diet. Over 24 weeks, it was found that both low (0.04 and 0.09 mg/kg) and high (5.04 mg/kg) selenium diets significantly reduced hair growth compared to moderate selenium levels (0.12, 0.54, and 1.03 mg/kg). Body weight and food intake were unaffected by selenium levels, and while serum selenium concentrations varied by the end of the study, thyroid hormone levels remained unchanged. The findings indicated that selenium levels below 0.12 mg/kg might be insufficient for optimal hair growth in adult dogs.
