Is MSM making my horse anxious/spooky???

[PonyGirl15]

A couple of months ago, I started giving my horse MSM as well as glucosamine. I have been giving the 99.9% pure form of both because it is cheaper and he is already getting Legend so I don’t want to spend a ton of money on oral supplements.

So when I added it, about 3 weeks later, my horse started being anxious and spooky in the indoor. He is completely freaked out by one of the walls. He will focus on it the entire time I ride him. He seems sincerely scared of it. THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR HIM! He doesn’t spook at anything 99/100 times. So why on earth would he be scared of this door so much? This went on for about a month and then I decided to take him off of the MSM after seeing other threads where people said their horses were showing the same types of behavior. The behavior didn’t go completely away but it definitely wasn’t as pronounced. He would look but not actually spook and rush away from it. 2 1/2 weeks ago I added it back to see what would happen. I didn’t see any difference until 1 week ago. He is back to the unnerved anxiety in the indoor.

Is it possible that this is caused by the MSM? How long does it take for it to actually start affecting them? I am planning on taking him off of it but I also don’t want to throw away $60 of whats left for nothing.

[atr]

Could be. I know it turns my nice horse into a basket case, and if you do a search you will find that this subject has come up before…

[ridingagain]

My horse is spooky, too. He is on the joint supplement Smartflex 1 with 5000 mg. of MSM. I also put him on SmartCalm at the same time - Seems to be making him even spookier!

[fooler]

My mare does not tolerate MSM. First tried MSM in the 1990’s and it upset her stomach so she quit eating. Tried again a few years ago with Grand Complete, hoping it would be buffered with the other ingredients. Nope. Took longer but she reacted again.

MSM is sulphur based. I have developed an allergy to sulphur and it isn’t nice. Multiple reactions including, but not limited to, mouth sores, gastric upset and almost immediate yeast infection.
Look for joint supplements without MSM.

[Texarkana]

It definitely could be the MSM, but in my experience the anxiety/spookiness goes away quickly when you remove the MSM from the diet. My gelding loses his mind on MSM-- the symptoms appear 1-2 days after I start him on the MSM and take 1-2 days to go away after I stop feeding it. He also seems to become increasingly spooky/anxious the longer I keep him on the MSM.

I hear ya about not wanting to throw all that money down the drain, though. Maybe you could trial him off it for a few days and see if his behavior changes?

[mtngirl]

Certainly a possibility. Having said that, I’ve feed it to at least four different horses with no noticeable affects as to spookiness, being aggitated etc. All of mine have been fine. You might, however want to look to see if the MSM is combined with anything else, some horses are even sensitive to the fillers used in such products.

[otisrider]

Happened with my OTTB

[QHF]

It makes my mare spooky when she’s normally very level-headed. I’ve tried twice over the past 2.5 years and it’s definitely the “spook” stimulator for her. Interestingly, I had to put her on a cough product last fall. My bad – didn’t read the ingredient list carefully and it contained MSM. Within a week of starting the supplement the “spookies” came back - that’s when I went on a search and found that the new product contained the MSM. I switched to a different product with no MSM and she was back to her usual, happy self within a week.

[Cruiser12]

YES YES AND YES!!! I couldn’t figure out WTH was wrong with my normally happy guy with only occasional spokes and then I realized that I had started him on MSM a few weeks before and I finally put 2 and 2 together. I took him off of it, waited a week and Voila, my normal horse was back! I NEVER use supplements with it now, although a lower dose might be ok, I will never try it again. (I also posted here with the same question and got many of the same comments that you are seeing)

[candico]

Could it be that horses who get nutty on MSM are doing so due to detox side effects? Can’t remember which heavy metals it helps to remove, but it would be interesting if someone did hair analysis on the nuttier horses to see if they have higher levels of certain metals in their systems.

[lferguson]

Anyone have siggestions for MSM-free joint supplements they like?

[PonyGirl15]

UPDATE

Horse has been off of MSM for 2 weeks and is no longer spooky or anxious. I have officially stopped giving anything else besides glucosamine and legend.

[Cruiser12]

[QUOTE=lferguson;6928767]
Anyone have siggestions for MSM-free joint supplements they like?[/QUOTE]

I asked Smart Pak that same question, here is there answer:

Cosequin Equine Powder is the #1 veterinarian recommended oral joint supplement. Cosequin is used by champion horsemen to provide their horses with comprehensive joint support. Cosequin® Equine Powder contains an exclusive low molecular weight chondroitin. 3600 mg Glucosamine and 1200 mg chondroitin sulfate combination backed up by extensive clinical & field testing. In SmartPaks, Cosequin is only $36.95 for a 28-day supply.

Cosequin Equine Powder: http://www.smartpakequine.com/charts/cosequin-equine-powder-174p.aspx

Corta-Flx is a joint supplement that contains key isolates of Chondroitin and Glucosamine in proper molecular size assuring passage through cell walls. It also contains 50mg of Hyaluronic Acid, 312mg of Collagen and 30mg of Vitamin C. Corta-Flx is only $29.95 in SmartPaks.

Corta-Flx: http://www.smartpakequine.com/charts/cortaflx-86p.aspx

Grand Flex is another great joint supplement void of MSM. It was The Horse Journal’s pick for Best Glucosamine product! Grand Flex contains 5,000 mg purified Glucosamine HCl, 5,000 mg Vitamin C, plus other antioxidants and chelated minerals. In Smartpaks, Grand Flex is $33.95.

Grand Flex: http://www.smartpakequine.com/charts/grand-flex-52p.aspx

Glyco-Flex EQ is a Perna supplement that provides the horse with a complete foundation necessary to maintain healthy connective tissue as well as support the restorative processes required for injured or aged joints. It helps restore joint function and connective tissue health by providing all classes of glycosaminoglycans (like Chondroitin Sulfates), biologically active protein complexes, a full spectrum of naturally chelated minerals, fatty acids (Omega 3, 6, and 9), and amino acids, both essential and non-essential as well as branched chain amino acids for muscle energy. Glyco-Flex EQ is only $34.95 in the SmartPak.

[Cruiser12]

[QUOTE=lferguson;6928767]
Anyone have siggestions for MSM-free joint supplements they like?[/QUOTE]

I asked Smart Pak that same question, here is there answer:

Cosequin Equine Powder is the #1 veterinarian recommended oral joint supplement. Cosequin is used by champion horsemen to provide their horses with comprehensive joint support. Cosequin® Equine Powder contains an exclusive low molecular weight chondroitin. 3600 mg Glucosamine and 1200 mg chondroitin sulfate combination backed up by extensive clinical & field testing. In SmartPaks, Cosequin is only $36.95 for a 28-day supply.

Cosequin Equine Powder: http://www.smartpakequine.com/charts/cosequin-equine-powder-174p.aspx

Corta-Flx is a joint supplement that contains key isolates of Chondroitin and Glucosamine in proper molecular size assuring passage through cell walls. It also contains 50mg of Hyaluronic Acid, 312mg of Collagen and 30mg of Vitamin C. Corta-Flx is only $29.95 in SmartPaks.

Corta-Flx: http://www.smartpakequine.com/charts/cortaflx-86p.aspx

Grand Flex is another great joint supplement void of MSM. It was The Horse Journal’s pick for Best Glucosamine product! Grand Flex contains 5,000 mg purified Glucosamine HCl, 5,000 mg Vitamin C, plus other antioxidants and chelated minerals. In Smartpaks, Grand Flex is $33.95.

Grand Flex: http://www.smartpakequine.com/charts/grand-flex-52p.aspx

Glyco-Flex EQ is a Perna supplement that provides the horse with a complete foundation necessary to maintain healthy connective tissue as well as support the restorative processes required for injured or aged joints. It helps restore joint function and connective tissue health by providing all classes of glycosaminoglycans (like Chondroitin Sulfates), biologically active protein complexes, a full spectrum of naturally chelated minerals, fatty acids (Omega 3, 6, and 9), and amino acids, both essential and non-essential as well as branched chain amino acids for muscle energy. Glyco-Flex EQ is only $34.95 in the SmartPak.

[WildLove]

So glad I found this thread! My young OTTB mare that I’ve had for four months has severe anxiety/spooking issues. Didn’t have any when I tried her out, or for the prepurchase. I’ve been using SmartCombo from day one and it has a ton of MSM X(. Taking her off it asap to see if it helps!

[jlphilli]

Does anyone know why this would happen physiologically? Maybe there’s a possibility that some horses may seem more “fresh” because they are feeling better when supplemented? MSM has been shown to help with allergy related inflammation too, if I remember correctly. I would think if your horse was having a reaction to the sulfur, it would manifest in a more serious way other than just “being spooky.” Not 100% sure; just my thoughts. My horse is no different on or off MSM.

[candico]

While researching MSM supplementation for humans, I came across several articles describing the detox symptoms which may occur which include headaches and having “flashbacks” of previous drug use including tranquilizers, etc.

Not sure if horse headaches = spookiness, but may explain why some horses react differently. It is interesting that with humans they suggest to introduce the dosage slowly, while with horses they often start with a double dose.

They do also say an MSM allergy is rare, even if you are allergic to Sulpha drugs or sulphites as in red wine.

[lferguson]

[QUOTE=Cruiser12;6935461]
I asked Smart Pak that same question, here is there answer:

Cosequin Equine Powder is the #1 veterinarian recommended oral joint supplement. Cosequin is used by champion horsemen to provide their horses with comprehensive joint support. Cosequin® Equine Powder contains an exclusive low molecular weight chondroitin. 3600 mg Glucosamine and 1200 mg chondroitin sulfate combination backed up by extensive clinical & field testing. In SmartPaks, Cosequin is only $36.95 for a 28-day supply.

Cosequin Equine Powder: http://www.smartpakequine.com/charts/cosequin-equine-powder-174p.aspx

Corta-Flx is a joint supplement that contains key isolates of Chondroitin and Glucosamine in proper molecular size assuring passage through cell walls. It also contains 50mg of Hyaluronic Acid, 312mg of Collagen and 30mg of Vitamin C. Corta-Flx is only $29.95 in SmartPaks.

Corta-Flx: http://www.smartpakequine.com/charts/cortaflx-86p.aspx

Grand Flex is another great joint supplement void of MSM. It was The Horse Journal’s pick for Best Glucosamine product! Grand Flex contains 5,000 mg purified Glucosamine HCl, 5,000 mg Vitamin C, plus other antioxidants and chelated minerals. In Smartpaks, Grand Flex is $33.95.

Grand Flex: http://www.smartpakequine.com/charts/grand-flex-52p.aspx

Glyco-Flex EQ is a Perna supplement that provides the horse with a complete foundation necessary to maintain healthy connective tissue as well as support the restorative processes required for injured or aged joints. It helps restore joint function and connective tissue health by providing all classes of glycosaminoglycans (like Chondroitin Sulfates), biologically active protein complexes, a full spectrum of naturally chelated minerals, fatty acids (Omega 3, 6, and 9), and amino acids, both essential and non-essential as well as branched chain amino acids for muscle energy. Glyco-Flex EQ is only $34.95 in the SmartPak.[/QUOTE]

Thanks! This is really helpful.

[Sweden]

I had my horse on MSM and after 25 days he started to get super spooky and nervous I got told it could happen with MSM so I took him off and put him on glucosamine instead, after a month he was great but glucosamine alone was not enough for his arthritis I found Flex+Max had what I looked for but MSM was in it but half the dose from what I gave him before thought I try all well until 22 day it started again super spookie and flicking his head when riding I went are you kidding me not again. So here I go want to find a formula with Glucosamine and Chondroitin as it have to be together to work but not to be found without MSM. I can say I experienced the different with and without MSM and its no questions in my mind that MSM does effect some horses in a bad way. If any one have any suggestions about what to give without MSM as the supplements that was recommended on this forum is no longer available:(.

[Texarkana]

@jlphilli

Does anyone know why this would happen physiologically? Maybe there’s a possibility that some horses may seem more “fresh” because they are feeling better when supplemented? MSM has been shown to help with allergy related inflammation too, if I remember correctly. I would think if your horse was having a reaction to the sulfur, it would manifest in a more serious way other than just “being spooky.” Not 100% sure; just my thoughts. My horse is no different on or off MSM.

I have no idea why it happens, but it is very real and it’s more than “fresh” or feeling good.

I love, love, love MSM, and just about every horse in my barn is on it for at least part of the year. But I owned one gelding who could not tolerate it (I mentioned it years ago up thread). His behavior would start to change almost immediately upon receiving it to the point of dangerousness. I used to liken it to someone having a bad drug trip- he was spooky/paranoid, aggressive, unpredictable, and it would persist as long as he was on the MSM.

That horse never had any bad reactions to sulfa drugs or any other medication. He did have a lot of food sensitivities that would manifest as skin problems (corn, molasses, etc). MSM was the only thing that I ever saw alter his temperament, though.