A study looking at magnesium uptake in horses was conducted by six veterinarians at the Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, at Ohio State University.

For best results, Mueller said, the veterinarian should give oral or IV fluids plus or minus a laxative. He cautioned against administering oral fluids to horses already producing gastric reflux. Fluid Administration 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 thing to understand about salt (the sodium component in particular) is that it has to be at a certain concentration in the blood and body fluids. If you eat too much salt you trigger the thirst response and you will go and drink some water. This maintains the correct concentration. If you drink lots and lots of water without increasing salt intake you will be in metabolic trouble and can have seizures and die! Flunixin meglumine is probably the most commonly used analgesic for treatment of the acute abdomen,” Mueller said. “It has excellent visceral analgesic (abdominal-pain-relieving) properties with an onset of action of 20 to 30 minutes.”For a feed impaction, mineral oil can be used to help determine transit time but is really ineffective at breaking up the impaction. Mineral oil can help with gas colics as it breaks up some forms of bubbles. Magnesium aspartate has been approved for use in many countries for the maintenance of normal magnesium levels in humans.

It is not actually salt that hardens arteries, rather it is a build up of calcium plaque which occurs because of giving calcium without magnesium.

Summary

Magnesium constitutes about 0.05% of the body mass. 60% of magnesium in the body is found in the skeleton and about 30% in the muscle. Magnesium is important in the blood and plays a role as an activator of many enzymes and participates in muscle contractions. Within the digestive system, magnesium affects absorption of other key electrolytes including calcium and potassium. Magnesium is also involved in the formation of bone. The magnesium requirement of a typical horse was put at 13 milligrams per kilogram of bodyweight per day. Mix until salts are dissolved. Soak affected body part by immersing in a container (such as for a hoof), or by applying a wet dressing. What you need to remember here is that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Yes I agree Epsom Salts can be used in moderation, they were fine when nothing else was available and will still work, just as I am sure many of us fed a lot of bran in the past because equally it appeared to do the job.

Magnesium sulfate directly affects the heart when it is injected intravenously, forcing the heart into a state of arrhythmia. When used in larger doses, it can shut down cardiac function, resulting in subsequent collapse of the horse, and in some cases, death. This practice should never be done. Magnesium sources for horses Ichthammol. Science Direct. sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/ichthammol. Hooves will need to be trimmed and therapeutic shoes reset monthly. Feet must be cleaned out daily to prevent sole pressure. The stable must be kept dry and clean. The exposed portion of the hoof resection will need to be treated with sugardine to draw out abscesses. (Sugardine is a mixture of table sugar and 3% iodine, commonly called povidone iodine, mixed to the consistency of a paste). This will dry up abscesses and keep them from forming. Soaking the feet in an Epsom salt solution will also cause abscesses to break and drain. A drawing agent such as Icthammol 20% or an Epsom salts poultice paste can also be used on abscesses between soakings. When the diet is high in potassium the body doesn’t always register the need for a higher salt intake. Table salt is Sodium Chloride sometimes with the addition of Iodine. If you are feeding a high spec Vitamin & Mineral supplement, your horses iodine requirements will be being met. If your supplement does not contain iodine your horse will not be getting enough iodine from iodized salt.Epsom salts, or magnesium sulfate, have long been hailed for their therapeutic benefits in human health. But did you know they can also play a pivotal role in your horse’s injury recovery and overall well-being? In this blog post, we’ll delve into the various benefits of using Epsom salts with horses, particularly for injuries and recovery. So, let’s get started! Does your horse suffer from dandruff? Try an Epsom salts scrub. Mix handfuls of Epsom salts with a small amount of water and gently massage your horse in circular motions, then rinse off. This will leave its body feeling soft and the blood flow will be temporarily increased in the areas massaged. This will flush toxins and bring nutrients with the new blood flow. Fabric softener: At this time of the year, I wash all my horse blankets and rugs. Epsom salts are an effective fabric softener. Mix four cups with 20 drops of cedar oil, and add a quarter cup of this to the water you rinse the rugs with. This will make the rugs soft and also help to repel insects. Epson Salts (Magnesium sulfate) is useful a useful mineral with numerous benefits. Due to its saline properties, it can be absorbed into the skin, as well be used to treat colics and hoof abscesses. It can also be used IV is used to treat cases of anti-arrhythmics in equines. Magnesium Sulfate in IV form is used to treat ventricular tachycardia and in the management of ventricular arrhythmias not responsive to other antiarrhythmic agents. In foals, it is used to treat perinatal asphyxia syndrome. 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?