Photo above: Many nutrients are responsible for outer health. Magnesium plays an essential role in keeping horses healthy.) How much Magnesium should a horse have? It will, of course, depend in part on whether the soils on which a horse is grazing are deficient in the element. The equation makes it clear that magnesium oxide provides the greatest available amount of magnesium among these three.

A good rule of thumb for how much salt to add to feed is a minimum of 10gms per 100 kgs live weight. For example if your horse weighs 500kg, he needs approximately 50gms of salt per day – this is approximately 2 heaped tablespoons. More if he is in hard work or sweats for any other reason. Epsom salts are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. When used in a warm soak or poultice, they can help reduce swelling and inflammation in your horse’s muscles, joints, or hooves. This makes them particularly useful for conditions like laminitis, abscesses, or sprains. Traditionally used in a weekly mash and to replace lost mineral salts after exertion, but also valuable as a salt bath. The chronic form is the result of an acute case that has recovered but the foot is damaged and has not fully healed. It can be a nuisance that keeps a horse from being sound. Chronic foundered horses generally have a hoof toe that is dish shaped and rings that are wider at the heel than at the toe. They require regular farrier maintenance and especially strict attention to diet and avoidance of stress. How horses handle stress varies with each horse.Veterinary MRL: Report on ICHTHYOL-substances” (PDF). European Medicines Agency. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-07-18. For that reason, Epsom salt can be fed as a laxative, no more than two tablespoons for a 1,000-pound horse. When fed in combination with psyllium fiber, Epsom salt has been shown to carry sand out of the intestines in horses prone to sand colic. Acute laminitis is very frustrating. Putting the suffering animal to sleep (called euthanasia) may appear to be the most humane and practical thing to do. Usually the vet will administer a purgative (laxative) such as mineral oil, to evacuate the bowel and prevent absorption of toxins. In most cases a pain killer is prescribed. These drugs should not be used for an extended period as they may cause the horse to further damage the laminae by excessive weight bearing, since the foot no longer hurts. Blood tests are done to determine if an infection is present. Radiographs (X-rays) are necessary to determine the amount of bone displacement and the condition of the bone tip. The more bone displacement and erosion of the bone tip – the less the chance of a full recovery. In conjunction with the farrier, a veterinarian may perform a toe resection to relieve pain and drain abscesses. What Can the Farrier Do? My vet is Angela Hawker from Cambridge Equine Hospital, Unless you live in New Zealand you wouldn't know her. She is one of eight equine specialists that look after the multi million dollar racing industry. Cambridge is home of thousands of racehorses, stallions at stud, stud farms, broodmares as well as general riding horses.

She cautioned that Epsom salt in the diet can upset the balance of the gut microflora, the colony of bacteria that maintains a healthy gut. She warned not to give it to a horse whose gut already is compromised or in horses with impaired kidney function or restricted access to water. Symptoms of excess magnesium are depression, muscle flaccidity, and uncoordinated gait.Laminitis in horses can be caused by ongoing physical trauma to the feet, i. e. by working the horse too hard and too often. Laminitis can also occur if your farrier trims the horse's feet too short, and makes it unbalanced. Lastly a poor diet can also cause laminitis. General advice on how to manage a horse with laminitis:

I've used it for over 40 years on all the riding school horses and ponies who's average age is around 20yrs at any one time. I feed my own the same. A common belief is that magnesium in Epsom salt used topically can be absorbed through the skin to benefit the body. Humans suspected of a magnesium deficiency are advised to soak in an Epsom salt bath. In general, a horse is likely to get between 60 per cent and 100 per cent of its daily magnesium needs through a normal forage diet. Epsom salts have a diuretic effect, meaning they increase urine production and can potentially lead to dehydration if not administered with caution. Horses may experience excessive thirst, dry mucous membranes, and decreased skin elasticity as signs of dehydration. It is crucial to ensure that horses receiving Epsom salt treatments have access to clean drinking water at all times. 2. Electrolyte Imbalance Horses’ gastrointestinal tracts must be well-hydrated to function properly. So, not surprisingly, one key goal of treating colic is to ensure the patient isn’t—or if he is, doesn’t remain—dehydrated.

The Decision to Refer

Mueller said veterinarians have several options for getting endotoxemia under control, including antiserum, equine plasma, and the antibiotic Polymixin B. These products help neutralize, bind, or eliminate the endotoxins from the bloodstream. Wrap the wings around the outside of the hoof wall. You can also use a square piece of sheet cotton wrapped around the bottom of the hoof. Both options will help keep the poultice in place. Consulting with a veterinarian is essential before incorporating Epsom salts into a horse’s diet. They can assess the horse’s individual needs and provide proper guidance on the appropriate use of Epsom salts, taking into consideration the horse’s overall health, existing medical conditions, and any other medications or supplements they may be receiving. Veterinary supervision will help ensure that the horse receives the potential benefits of Epsom salts without any adverse effects. Fisher S, Ziv M (July 2020). “Efficacy of topical ichthammol 10% for hidradenitis suppurativa: Case series and systematic review of its use in dermatology.” Dermatologic Therapy. 33 (4): e13868. doi:10.1111/dth.13868. PMID 32558051. If you try both at once, and you get a positive result, you have no way of knowing which is delivering the desired outcome, short of taking the horse off one and seeing what happens.

Insect bites: Mix six tablespoons of Epsom salt with three cups of warm water, wet a facecloth and hold it over the affected area. If the bites swell into welts, add a tablespoon of nettle root and one of rosemary to the mix. This will help soothe the bites even further. Magnesium aspartate has been approved for use in many countries for the maintenance of normal magnesium levels in humans. Repellent: Mix half a cup of Epsom salts with four cups of water and some lavender and citronella oil in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture around the stables, home and garden to repel insects without the use of chemicals. the treatment of mild lameness due to hoof abscess or bruise. Severe lameness requires veterinary care immediately. Hoof abscess can be extremely painful and stressful for the horse. In each case, horses can expected to be able to make use of about 70 per cent of the available magnesium in each of these minerals.

While sodium is the major cation (positively charged), Chloride is the major anion (negatively charged). Chloride is, among other things, required for maintaining correct body pH and for the manufacture of hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach