Butterfield Grooming

Recent studies have shown that some minerals such as iodine, iron, zinc and selenium play a profound effect on the functioning of a healthy thyroid. Cereal grain crops grown on iodine or selenium deficient soil will contain relatively low levels. Although commercial food manufacturers compensate for irregularities by adding vitamins and mineral supplements; it is difficult to determine optimum levels for many different breeds and individual metabolic needs.Selenium has a significant clinical importance, because blood levels of thyroid hormones rise in selenium deficiency, but tissue levels remain insufficient. Because of this a selenium deficient individual, showing clinical signs of hypothyroidism can be overlooked when solely based on blood levels of thyroid hormones that appear normal.