How much magnesium?

[Draftmare]

I am trying to find my old notes on magnesium for PSSM, but coming up empty handed.

My mare was on three tablespoons of 56% Mag Ox for close to two years, and then suddenly decided she doesn’t like it. Even with her grain wet from oil she still manages to sift the Mag Ox out and leave it in a concrete heap at the bottom of her bucket.

In April I switched her to SmartCalm Ultra, it was the only product in a pelleted form that I could find that supplied a high dosage of magnesium. She’s getting 10 grams of magnesium and seems to be doing well. However, my BO feels that she is having an adverse effect from the “other stuff” in the SmartCalm in the form of having an overly dull reaction to stimulus.

I have been saying “this is the best I can find for her” for a bit now, but with all the sales going on I have been looking around to see if there really is something better out there. I still want to get her a high dose of magnesium in a pelleted form. I have been trying to gather what I can about how much to give a PSSM horse, but can’t seem to find an actual number. Does anybody know what the golden rule for treating a muscle disease is as far as how much magnesium to give?

[Jungle_Monkey]

https://shop.performanceequinenutrition.com/magrestore-p45.aspx Magrestore comes in a pellet and it is just magnesium. Has a very good reputation.

[JB]

It’s a number you just have to play with. You’re looking to feed, most likely, in the 10-20gm amount over what’s in the base diet - hay + grain/concentrates.

Sometimes you end up going up to 20-25gm, and then, assuming that’s working as you intended, you drop down 5gm for a few weeks, and see if the changes hold. If they do, try dropping down another 5gm and see if things hold. Wherever they stop holding the positive changes, add back in what you last reduced.

The goal is as much as necessary, but as little as possible. Extra is just a waste.

[findeight]

Your trainer might be right about the other “stuff” as L Tryptophan is believed to increase production of serotonin and its feel good, mellowing effect and some find B 1 has a calming effect. Humans take these to aid in relaxation.

You did post about lack of forward in your Mare on another forum…might not be a coincidence. Best to add only what your horse needs, not a shotgun (meaning multiple ingredients in hopes something sticks) remedy for stress and spookiness.

[TWH_Girl]

This is a pellet- it’s affordable too. You could give double dose so she’d get 10,000mg of magnesium without the extra stuff SmartCalm has in it.

http://www.medvetpharm.com/horse-vitamins/Magnesium-5000-vitamin-nutritional-supplements.asp

[Draftmare]

@findeight

Your trainer might be right about the other “stuff” as L Tryptophan is believed to increase production of serotonin and its feel good, mellowing effect and some find B 1 has a calming effect. Humans take these to aid in relaxation.

You did post about lack of forward in your Mare on another forum…might not be a coincidence. Best to add only what your horse needs, not a shotgun (meaning multiple ingredients in hopes something sticks) remedy for stress and spookiness.

It’s for symptoms related to her PSSM, not stress or spookiness. Magnesium helps horses with metabolic problems by relaxing their muscles. She doesn’t need the other stuff in SmartCalm, but it was the highest dose of magnesium I could find at the time in pelleted form.

[TWH_Girl]

I just started my 15 yr old on the Leg Up Metabolic pellets from Smartpak…they are inexpensive and one serving provides 5,000mg magnesium…you could double that up again if you need more mag, but the supplement also supports metabolic function in general. I am using these in hopes to help my super duper easy keeper.

[Jo]

This is what I use. Double dose for 10,000 mg.

https://www.smartpakequine.com/ps/magnesium-5000-8286

[fargaloo]

Another vote for MagRestore. It’s more expensive than magensium oxide, but d-magnesium malate (two Mg ions bound to malic acid) is much more bioavailable. I feed at 2,000 - 4,000 mg per day (1 - 2 scoops) depending on workload.

[Draftmare]

@Jo

This is what I use. Double dose for 10,000 mg.

https://www.smartpakequine.com/ps/magnesium-5000-8286

That is what I have decided to do.

[SonnysMom]

I use MagRestore for both of my horses. Not for calming but to reduce muscle tightness.

[Corky]

I have no experience with PSSM horses but I have fed a few heavy cross hunt horses mag due to deficiency symptoms with great success. I have always used human grade gel caps, popped the caps apart and mixed into beetpulp. It allows you to customize the dose easily, and feed in higher dosage with much less powder then the equine supplements, and ended up being cheaper than equine specific supplements.

[JB]

@Corky

I have no experience with PSSM horses but I have fed a few heavy cross hunt horses mag due to deficiency symptoms with great success. I have always used human grade gel caps, popped the caps apart and mixed into beetpulp. It allows you to customize the dose easily, and feed in higher dosage with much less powder then the equine supplements, and ended up being cheaper than equine specific supplements.

which supp have you used?

[Corky]

@JB

which supp have you used?

https://www.sisu.com/sisu/products/p…sub=101&id=248 this is one I could remember by name. I have never gotten anywhere near feeding 10,000mg per day tho, probably 2500mg or so tops to big crossbred horses. Nutritionist who recommended human grade said to slowly work them up in dosage until they get loose poop, then back down a pill or two per day. I always discussed treatment with my vet, please do the same and do not take my word as medical advice.

Now consider that in Canada we can’t get SmartPak and suppliments are stupid expensive. So my comment on human grade being cheaper probably won’t hold up against your oh-so-cheap SmartPaks.

[JB]

@Corky

https://www.sisu.com/sisu/products/p…sub=101&id=248 this is one I could remember by name. I have never gotten anywhere near feeding 10,000mg per day tho, probably 2500mg or so tops to big crossbred horses. Nutritionist who recommended human grade said to slowly work them up in dosage until they get loose poop, then back down a pill or two per day

2.5gm for a horse is barely anything. If it worked for you, great. He must have been just right on the edge, with the rest of his diet, and just needed a bit of a boost. That’s less common than the horse, especially a big one, especially a PSSM horse, let alone a big PSSM horse, who usually needs more like 10gm or more.

For sure some forms are more likely to cause some diarrhea than others, therefore can’t be fed in as high an amount, but there are other forms where more can be fed, without side effects, which may be what some horses need.

[findeight]

@Draftmare

It’s for symptoms related to her PSSM, not stress or spookiness. Magnesium helps horses with metabolic problems by relaxing their muscles. She doesn’t need the other stuff in SmartCalm, but it was the highest dose of magnesium I could find at the time in pelleted form.

I understand that but you are getting other additives specifically for stress and spookiness and having some energy issues as a result. Go to just mag. ditch the calmers.