Cribbing & Magnesium Supps

[appychik]

Reading the other cribbing thread got me thinking, is there any correlation between cribbing and being on magnesium?

Gus was cribbing this spring when he went on stall rest. We think it was a combination of many things, but one being because of pain. The others were stress, possible ulcers, etc. So he got his "Rambo" band added - i.e. Miracle Collar. Cribbing has stopped with the collar, but he still attempts to crib at times (mainly around feeding).

Over the summer he stopped, so we removed the collar. Noticed that he had started back up again this fall. He did reinjure himself this fall, so was back on stall rest for another three weeks.

But, during the spring & summer he was on a magnesium supplement. I discontinued it when I ran out this last time. But, now I'm wondering if that someone helped with the cribbing... I also have noticed with pictures I've taken that he looks like he's getting cresty again. The magnesium seemed to help with that in the past.

So, has anyone noticed a correlation between cribbing and magnesium? If I put him back on magnesium, what do you recommend? My vet and massage therapist (two separate people) recommended at least 7000mgs daily. I've used United Vet Magnesium 3000 and their Magnesium 5000 in the past. Both are palatable, but the Mag5000 is pelleted :). Any suggesions?

[jaimebaker]

I had my 'chewy' gelding on Magnesium all summer and he still chewed everything. However, I have noticed less chewing since I put out Horse Mineral 12:12 mineral supplement a month ago. My theory is he's chewing because of some sort of mineral deficiency.

[appychik]

Bump.

Anyone else? Just curious. I suppose I could do my own trial... probably will. Would be interesting to see if he does stop cribbing (again) with the added magnesium as the pain is currently under control with Previcox :D.

[pines4equines]

Is he a died in the wool cribber or just a wood chewer?

I'll be very curious about this thread as I have two cribbers. Neither crib more or less due to pain...They just need their daily "cigarettes."

I would love to be able to change cribbing but I think it is an addictive behavior that really can't be changed by supplements but please tell me I'm wrong...I'll buy whatever you're touting!

[Brockstables]

I posted on the other thread regarding cribbing, and I think I will do my own trial on magnesium and supplements as well with our current cribber. If someone else wants to run a trial at the same time with similar products, I would be interested in their ideas, plans and results as well...

[pines4equines]

I'm in for the trial. I've got two cribbers. Who's trying what? Are we trying the same brand to see results or different brands...

[appychik]

He never was a cribber until winter 2007/2008. We caught him cribbing on his feed bucket. Switched to a feed pan on the floor and the problem stopped.

But, when he went on stall rest due to a torn CCL, he started cribbing. We thought it was bordem (probably was, to an extent) but I think the stress of being in pain was getting to him too. He could barely walk for a couple weeks. We thought it was time.

The Miracle Collar works. But, over the summer we stopped using it and the cribbing had stopped to. He was back out during the day also, so not on stall rest. But he was also on the Magnesium 5000 by United Vet (getting 10,000mgs daily).

So, I don't know if there is a correlation or not. He started cribbing again shortly after the supp ran out and shortly after he reinjured himself.... so, who knows?

He seems to crib most when his food is outside his stall and he can't get to it... so, not sure if it's a bit of an attention issue, or what. We thought he may have uclers, but again, who knows?

[appychik]

Hey, well then I'm in for a trial too. I'll do the United Vet Equine's Magnesium 5000, supplementing at 10,000mgs daily. Would that work? Do a thirty day trial? Sixty day? I'll have to check with the BO to see if we can pull his crib collar after a couple weeks... to make sure it is working.

Let me know!

[HiddenStars826]

I'm pretty sure I've posted this somewhere in the past, but I don't recall when/where.
Purely anecdotal, but it was enough.

My horse was a bad cribber. At one point, I happened to put him on Dynamite's Izmine product for something unrelated to the cribbing. I believe he was on 1oz/day of it, and it was just added to his grain like his other supplements. I noticed after about a month that his cribbing seemed to be reduced, and as I paid more attention to it I realized that him being on the product made a big difference in slowing down the cribbing. The product is largely magnesium I think, even though he didn't get a lot of the product. I feel that the reduction in cribbing was related to the Izmine since coming after the Izmine daily he increased the cribbing again.

[2869]

A friend of mine has her horse on magnesium because the accupuncturist said it would help relax him. He still cribs like crazy. Did not make a difference w/cribbing at all

[mypaintwattie]

My die hard cribber is on a vit.B/magnesium supplement- no difference in the frequency she cribs being on it or off of it. The only thing that slightly helped has been her ulcer treatment.

[appychik]

Interesting... how it's helped some horses while doing absolutely nothing for others. I forgot that I have Gringo's SmartPak SmartCalm Ultra still at home. So, I'm gonna give Gus the 1/2 dose for a few weeks... so that's just 5000mg. Shouldn't hurt him... and I can't justify using all of it up (hence not doing 10,000mg) and Gus really doesn't need the other stuff in the SmartCalm. He's a pretty laid back guy, in general.

Anyhow... I'll report back with my "findings". :) I'm hoping it helps...