My 24-year-old WB gelding was diagnosed with EPM 6 months ago, has been on Protazil and now Vitamin E and is finally doing very well. He has traditionally been a very easy keeper, but within these last 6 months has required more grain to keep a good body condition. He is on 12-hour night turnout every day. His teeth have always been done annually, and other than some cups are in good shape. I’ve also noticed his tail has gotten thinner.
Have you used any other supplements on your senior horses to help with some of the issues he is experiencing above? Is there anything else you would recommend?
Ask your vet or someone who knows more than me about supplements and nutrition about using Platinum CJ. Three vets, one PhD in horse nutrition, looked at the ingredients for me at different times, and each said, “Most complete supplement [each] had seen.” The PhD was even a rep for another company, and said his company had, “nothing comparable.” The most recent vet (mine retired after 40 years) said, “Good stuff, keep feeding it.” I had asked about stopping feeding it to my 28 year old gelding who had been on it about 2 years and still going strong. He further suggested feeding it to my young horse (9, ten in Nov).
Down side is it is expensive! It is $5/day per horse! On the other hand, I feed no other supplement. Just great hay (tested annually) and ADM Senior Pro (1/2 pound per feeding).
The ingredients are posted on their website.
Active Ingredients Per 2 Scoops (156g) Product Analysis
- Energy 700cal
- Carbohydrate (min) 55g
- Crude Protein (min) 24g
- Crude Fat (min) 40g
- Linolenic Acid (Omega-3) 12g
- Linoleic Acid (Omega-6) 6g
- Crude Fiber (max) 13g
- Ash (min) 16g
Active Ingredients Per 2 Scoops (156g) Amino Acids
- Arginine (min) 1,420mg
- Glycine (min) 1,020mg
- Methionine (min) 340mg
- Isoleucine (min) 760mg
- Leucine (min) 1,105mg
- Valine (min) 1,035mg
- Lysine (min) 1,410mg
- Tyrosine (min) 440mg
- Cystine (min) 290mg
- Glutamic Acid (Glutamine) (min) 3,785mg
- Phenylalanine (min) 820mg
- Threonine (min) 775mg
- Aspartic Acid (min) 1,685mg
- Alanine (min) 875mg
- Histidine (min) 425mg
- Proline (min) 735mg
Active Ingredients Per 2 Scoops (156g) Chondroprotective
- Glucosamine Sulfate 2KCl (min) 8,820mg
- Methylsulfonylmethane (OptiMSM®) (min) 8,200mg
- Avocado/Soy Unsaponifiables (ASU) Powder (min) 2,000mg
- Boswellia serrata Extract (min) 1,400mg
- Total Cetylated Fatty Acids
(including 50mg Cetyl Myristoleate per 156g) [min] 275mg - Hyaluronic Acid (min) 90mg
Active Ingredients Per 2 Scoops (156g) Microminerals
- Calcium (min) 400mg
- Calcium (max) 530mg
- Phosphorus (min) 750mg
- Sodium (min) 125mg
- Sodium (max) 265mg
- Magnesium (min) 450mg
- Potassium (min) 2,000mg
- Chloride (min) 1,450mg
- Sulfur (min) 2,800mg
Active Ingredients Per 2 Scoops (156g) Trace Minerals
- Copper (min) 13mg
- Iron (min) 300mg
- Manganese (min) 130mg
- Silicon (min) 2,000mg
- Zinc (min) 122mg
- Cobalt (min) 0.6mg
- Chromium (min) 0.3mg
- Selenium (min) 0.8mg
- Iodine (min) 0.5mg
Active Ingredients Per 2 Scoops (156g) Vitamins
- Vitamin A (min) 5,000IU
- Vitamin D (min) 1,500IU
- Vitamin E (min) 620IU
- Folic Acid (min) 7.5mg
- Thiamin (min) 6mg
- Riboflavin (min) 10mg
- Niacin (min) 25mg
- Choline (min) 100mg
- Pyridoxine (min) 20mg
- Pantothenic Acid (min) 48mg
- Biotin (min) 2.5mg
- Cyanocobalamin (min) 0.03mg
At 24 and becoming a harder keeper, it’s time to test for PPID first, before you throw more/new feed and/or supplements at him
Test his E and Se levels while you’re at it
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Platinum v/m is pretty relatively under-fortified. Yes, it has a lot of things, but not of alot of anything of significance (edit: for the most part)
13mg of copper is pretty insignificant, given that the average horse needs at least 100mg, and many need an additional 100-300mg to help with various conditions. It doesn’t have salt to meet basic requirements
530mg of Ca in the context of 25-30gm required by the average horse, might as well not be there. Plus, not only is the 750mg of P insignificant in the context of 15-18gm needed, the Ca:P ratio is inverted. 1.4mg lysine and < 1mg methionine and threonine isn’t significant either.
You could feed a ration balancer for $1/day for the most $$ one or more than 1lb/day, and add Cosequin ASU which has more glucosamine, cs, and asu than the CJ formula, though less boswellia and no HA (but usually you want 100-200mg, not 90), for < $4/day/horse, and more of the most significant nutrients needed. You could probably even add a good branched chain amino acid supplement if needed (most don’t need), and still be < $5
Even the 2.5mg biotin is useless (and the same can be said about the biotin content in nearly every feed, since the vast, vast majority of horses just don’t need it)
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Sorry, I forgot to include he has been tested for PPID and was negative. Thanks for the reminder!
When was he last tested, on what date, and what was the number? I just ask because if it was even just 2 years ago, then since these symptoms are new, I’d test again. If it was in March at the lowest of the seasonal low and it was the ACTH test, it could have been a false negative.
2 Likes
First off, great breakdown by JB as always!
Secondly, my arthritic dog has been on a bunch of different options but the Cosequin is the only thing that has made a verifiable difference. Better than some prescription drugs. So anecdotally, if I wanted to add a supp to an older horse, I’d reach for that first!
However, it doesn’t sound like these benefits are what this horse needs, but rather a more digestible calorie source or to be considered again for Cushings.
Agree on the Cushings re-test if the last results were at the wrong time, not very recent, or borderline.
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He was just tested in April. The vet didn’t give me the number, she just said he was very obviously negative. I was thinking if there was something to help with digestion/absorption, or a vitamin/mineral supplement. He has been steadily improving, but if there is something I could do to help him get over the finish line, I’m all for it.
He has been taking simply marvelous care of me for 18 years, so it’s the least I can do!
