Purpose and justification of the research: Selenium is an essential trace element for dogs, affecting the proper functioning of the body. Both its deficiency and excess carry the risk of serious health problems. The presentation presents the results of the presence of selenium in the bodies of dogs by analyzing the results of tests in the dog's fur and the effect of this element on the organisms of this species. The purpose of this study is to analyze the results of the presence of selenium in the fur of dogs collected for testing from one hundred individuals living in the Warmian–Masurian Voivodeship.
Materials and methods: Hair samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Hair samples were collected in April 2022 from 100 adult dogs of both sexes, different breeds, ages, and body conditions. All animals were domestic dogs that went for walks with their owners three to six times a day and had a similar diet. All dogs lived in the Iława and Nowe Miasto districts of the Warmian–Masurian Voivodeship. Hair samples were collected from the abdomen, as close to the skin as possible.
Results and conclusions: The results indicate the presence of selenium in the fur of all dogs tested, significantly exceeding the detection limit, with the lowest result being 0.20 µg/g and the highest 1.37 µg/g. The average content of this chemical element in the fur of the dogs tested was 0.58 µg/g.
The results obtained show that selenium is present in all dogs' bodies, and its level may depend on both its supply in the diet as well as its presence in the dogs' environment. In addition, this study indicates that the analysis of dog hair samples is useful for examining the level of selenium in the bodies of these animals.