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Magnesium Oxide
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Price: From $9.95 to $26.95
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Magnesium- The Mineral Superstar
What contributes to magnesium deficiency?
STRESS and stress hormones adrenalin, noradrenalin and cortisol- Cortisol is released by the adrenal glands. It is responsible for the 'fight or flight' response to stress.
Adrenaline burns through magnesium
Physical exertion, sweat, diarrhea, electrolyte imbalances
Diuretics (lasix given on the track routinely and to speed event horses- barrel horses)
Excessive sodium and/or calcium supplementation or a calcium rich diet.
Imbalances in Calcium, Potassium and Phosphorus.
(Example-race horses- they are frequently supplemented with calcium to increase bone density and for calming) This can actually do the opposite as it inhibits the body's absorption of magnesium, therefore the body pulls magnesium from the bones to keep the magnesium level constant in the blood. (fractures)
Approximately 60
percent of the body's magnesium is in the skeleton, 39 percent
is inside cells (20 percent in skeletal muscle), and less than 1
percent outside the cells (mainly in the bloodstream) This makes testing for magnesium levels in the blood inconclusive because the body will work hard to maintain the proper amount of magnesium in the bloodstream.
Mares can pass on a deficiency to their foals in turn passing on the behavior associated with a short fall of magnesium.
Horses with a magnesium shortfall often crave excessive amounts of salt, increasing urine output therefore increasing the amount of magnesium excreted.
How much to feed each day?
General dosage would start at 2 grams of Magnesium Oxide per 100kg body weight 500kg (1100lb) horse (non-working daily requirement) would be 10 grams of Magnesium Oxide. However, if a horse is exhibiting signs of a magnesium shortfall such as muscle tremors, tight muscles or has a history of tying up you can double the amount for the first ten days or to bowel tolerance. Horses in heavy training have a higher daily requirement, often double that of a non working horse. If
your horse develops loose manure, cut the amount you are feeding in
half or offer magnesium throughout the day in smaller portions. You
can increase the absorption or bio-availability when you offer it in
smaller increments with more frequency. Magnesium toxicity is extremely rare but it should be noted that horses with impaired kidney function should not be supplemented with magnesium without the supervision of your vet.
Why feed Magnesium to Horses?
Magnesium plays an important part in nerve and muscle function, and horses deficient in this important element can show signs of nervousness, wariness, excitability, jumpy, tight sore backs not related to saddle fit, muscle tremors and skin is hypersensitive. This gives magnesium its reputation for having a calming influence on equines. A deficient horse is likely to have a poor tolerance to work and its muscles will tie up quite quickly. They build up lactic acid more readily. This is why magnesium deficient horses sometimes have behavior problems...it's because they are body sore and have a poor tolerance for work, they fatigue quickly and have poor recovery from hard workouts. Magnesium is also known to play an important part in reducing equine obesity, and can lessen the risk of laminitis in animals prone to it during periods of strong spring grass growth.
Magnesium and Laminitis
Magnesium supplementation has been advised by veterinary surgeons with excellent results. The supplementation serves not only to re-balance the diet in low magnesium areas or with high grain diets, but also to help in combating fat deposition in overweight animals (cresty necks). In particular, with laminitics, to aid weight loss where necessary, and aids horses with insulin resistance.
Signs that may indicate a shortfall?
Very tight, sore back not related to activity or saddle fit
Horse never really relaxes
Cranky about being brushed or palpated especially over the back on either side of the spine
Cranky about being blanketed
History of tying up
Muscle tremors or all over trembling not related to outside temperature
Requires long periods of lunging before being able to focus on work
Does not tolerate work well and works up, not down
Bucks shortly after workout begins, seems fine at first then bucks or balks
Would be described as 'thin skinned' or hypersensitive to touch
Chiropractic adjustments, massage and body work do not have lasting effects
Has difficulty getting round or picking his back up under saddle, moves hollow
Difficulty focusing on work, poor work ethic
Can't be still, repetitive movement
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