Piel, pelo, uñas, pezuñas

El pelo proporciona un registro de los niveles de oligoelementos pasados y actuales.

A diferencia de la sangre, la piel, el pelo, las uñas y las pezuñas son una sustancia inerte que consta de una proteína fibrosa y oligoelementos. Cuando estos tejidos crecen, los nutrientes y los elementos tóxicos, procedentes del flujo sanguíneo, se depositan en el folículo, el pelo, la piel, las uñas o las pezuñas. Una vez incorporado un oligoelemento, permanece fijo. El contenido de metales de estas muestras no cambia. Se pueden realizar análisis fiables años después de tomar una muestra.

La toma de muestras es indolora, y su envío puede hacerse en cualquier momento.

El análisis de estas muestras, especialmente del pelo o la piel de los animales, precisa de una meticulosa preparación, durante la cual se eliminan los contaminantes externos. El análisis se realiza con los mismos instrumentos y criterios utilizados en los diagnósticos de laboratorio para el análisis de metales en la sangre y la orina.

Hair analysis, when properly performed, is a reliable measure of tissue levels. Fuente: Jenkins DW. Toxic Metals in Mammalian Hair and Nails. EPA Report 600, 1979.

Fur Metal Analysis- Mirror of Animal Health

For any animal, a silky coat is not just a sign of beauty. The conditon of the animal’s fur is also a
reflecton of its health, just as hair is in humans. Hair or Fur reflects certain health problems.

  • A dull or shaggy fur can indicate a chronic disease, for example of the liver or kidneys.
  • Round, bald spots in the fur on an animal’s body or just in individual areas are typical of fungal infestation or an excessive metal exposure
  • Unusually long, curly fur or poor shedding can be signs of a hormonal disorder such as Equine Cushing Syndrome (ECS), which primarily occurs in older horses.
  • Sticky or matted fur with thick crusts and scales, especially in the fetlock, can be signs of a bacterial infection such as Mauke syndrome. Nutrient deficiencies are usually involved.
  • Severe fur loss or thickening of the skin, together with poor wound healing and an increased risk of infection can indicate a zinc deficiency.
  • Muscle cramps and nervousness in conjunction with increased exposure to stress are often signs of a magnesium deficiency, especially in horses
  • A horses tail or mane that is too thin in combination with an increased susceptibility to infection, reduced willingness to perform, lameness, itching, and brittle hooves can be signs of a selenium deficiency.

Fur reflects living conditons
The animal's coat adapts to life in the respectve region it lives in, and thus reflects not only the
climatic but also geological conditons. Grazing animals that eat nutrient-rich grass are better supplied
with nutrients than those that live in barren conditons. If the nutritonal content of the feed is not
balanced, the fur and health of the animal is affected. Some nutrient elements are more needed than
others.

Fur analysis and its advantages
Aside from providing informaton regarding long term or chronic metal exposure, the easy access to
the testng material is an advantage that should not be underestmated. Non-invasive sampling is
problem-free for animals and pet owners. 

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