Strange reaction to MSM?

[manyspots]

I have to ask because this is the only thing to change in my gelding's diet. I had him on SmartFlex I (which contains 5,000 MSM) up until a week ago, when his new smartpaks arrived with SmartMSM. I decided to switch to just MSM due to its numerous benefits, including joint health.

So after one week on the SmartMSM, he has been pacing like a mad man for several hours a day. He is on 24/7 turnout with a buddy and at first I figured something was out in the field or woods adjacent to their paddock. But now he just seems to have too much energy.

He is on beet pulp/alfalfa pellets/small amount of oats and grass hay for a diet. Other supps are SmartCalm (which has been fantastic for under saddle issues) and Smart Vite multi vite.

Has anyone had strange reactions to introducing MSM?

[Simkie]

I've not had one that responded in that way, but this sure isn't the first time I've heard about it! Some horses just don't tolerate MSM.

[dwblover]

It seems strange that he didn't react to the MSM in the other supplement though. Is there a significant amount more MSM in the new supplement? I've had a bunch of horses on MSM and never noticed any changes.

[manyspots]

The change in MSM amounts was doubled, from 5,000 in the SmartFlex I to 10,000 in SmartMSM.

I am considering pulling the MSM from the supplements for a week to see if he goes back to "normal"...

[dalpal]

I know a person who owned a horse who acted like a maniac on MSM.

[Texarkana]

You might find this thread interesting...

http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=187994

[Christa P]

I tried my TB Stallion on MSM several years ago. His hormones went nuts and he became extremely difficult to handle. Took him off the MSM and had my sensible horse back.

Christa

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

I think it is the msm...I am switiching to Glanzen GL when his supps for this month run and out and will update you all if he is better. It was interesting, I ran a spreadsheet yesterday and with the Glanzen I will go from 3 different supplements to 1 and save money by buying a bulk bag. Glanzen has glucosamine (sp?) and no msm.

They are sending me a free sample first...picky boy

Christa, funny you should mention hormones, one of my geldings more interesting behaviors that have gone haywire this winter has involved acting very stud like with inappropriate (full) erections and tensing in his back. Makes mounting fun.

[Melyni]

MSM can interfere with Mg absorption.
You need to reduce the amont of MSM and increase the Mg (SmartCalm).
or change to a different joint supplement , one which does not contain MSM.
Yours
MW

[manyspots]

Melyni... would it make any difference to feed the SmartCalm in the AM and the MSM in the PM so there would be about a 12 hours space between feeding each supp?

He is a little quieter today but who knows why... sun is out, it's a Wednesday... hard to say. Still more energetic than usual.

Just got my reminder from Smartpak about my next order, so need to contemplate what to do.

[Buffyblue]

I had a horse have a reaction to MSM years ago and haven't used it since.

[buck22]

my older gelding started having a reaction to msm about 2 years ago... I decided to introduce it to his diet and within 48 hour he went from a sweet 26yr old to acting like a complete and utter jerk. The reaction was so swift, it was easy to pinpoint the new addition of msm.

my friend's aged arab x gelding was the same, but even worse, just became a nervous, pacing, irritable jerk.

[Altamont Sport Horses]

This makes sense. A couple of weeks ago I added MSM to the diet of a horse with uveitis. He has been quite irritable lately and I suspected the MSM but wasn't sure. I actually just started adding magnesium to his diet thinking that might help.

[ZiptotheStar]

This is an interesting thread – I have some info that might be helpful. MSM is well established as a powerful detoxifier (detox helps fight inflammation, which is why joint supplements include MSM). Horses can show a change in behavior when you put them on high doses of MSM because the detox process affects their metabolism temporarily. In my experience giving the horse as much exercise as possible makes a big difference, and in time the start to act normal as their bodies even back out. Personally I think the benefits of MSM are worthwhile, but every horse is different! Hope this helps.

P.S. these horses might also just be “feeling their oats” in the cold weather because MSM can make their joints, etc. feel so much better.

[blackhorse6]

I have my 4 yr old on MSM.. Last summer I took him to a small schooling show.. This horse is normally wonderful and easy going. OMG...he was a lunitic.."dangerous". The judge told me that she would not allow me to get on him. I could not understand how a horse could change in disposition so drastically..Come to find out that he was given double the dose of his suppliments that morning..Yep, two times the amount of MSM... I think on another thread someone mentioned that it is as if the horse wants to get out of his own skin...I firmly believe MSM when used in to high of a dose will make a horse act out and display undesirable behavior. :eek::eek:

[Melyni]

Melyni... would it make any difference to feed the SmartCalm in the AM and the MSM in the PM so there would be about a 12 hours space between feeding each supp?

He is a little quieter today but who knows why... sun is out, it's a Wednesday... hard to say. Still more energetic than usual.

Just got my reminder from Smartpak about my next order, so need to contemplate what to do.

The basic answer is "i really don't know". I hadn't thought of separating them.
You could try it and then report back to us and let us know if it makes a difference.
Also try cutting out the MSM all together and see what happens.

I'd try it myself but I don't have any horses who react to MSM.
And yes some horses do react badly to MSM, they should not get it.

All horses are different and if one horse reacts badly it does not mean that all of them will. But if you have one that does don't feed it.
Or don't feed too much of it!

Yours
MW

[manyspots]

Very interesting discussion!

My guy is more like himself, but still a little jumpy/edgy. I did not give him his MSM this morning and am going to add it to his dinner tonight to see if that makes a difference. If I don't see him go back to his old self within a week I will pull the supplement and/or decrease the dose.

Right now he is napping in the sun and not pacing like a nutcase!

[manyspots]

UPDATE:

I decided to split the supplements up and feed the SmartCalm (mag supp) in the morning and the MSM in the evening. Since doing that, my gelding as completely returned to normal. No more agitation, explosiveness or flighty behavior. Who knows if it is a coincidence or not, but I think this is how we are going to handle the MSM supp from now on!