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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / Effects of magnesium with or without boron on headshaking be...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2019; 33(3); 1464-1472; doi: 10.1111/jvim.15499

Effects of magnesium with or without boron on headshaking behavior in horses with trigeminal-mediated headshaking.

Abstract: Oral administration of magnesium and boron might have a beneficial effect on headshaking behavior in horses. Objective: Evaluate the effects of oral magnesium alone or in combination with boron on headshaking behavior in affected horses. Methods: Twelve geldings (6 healthy controls and 6 affected). Methods: Prospective randomized controlled dietary trial over 42 days in 12 horses (6 horses diagnosed with trigeminal-mediated headshaking and 6 unaffected healthy controls). All horses received a hay diet and were randomized into 3 treatment groups: pelleted feed combination (PF), pelleted feed combination with magnesium (M), and pelleted feed combination with magnesium-boron (MB) with a week washout of hay only between treatments. Headshaking behavior and biochemical blood variables were assessed at baseline (hay only) and then after each week of supplementation. Results: All 3 diet interventions increased blood ionized and total magnesium. Groups M and MB further increased Mg2+ when compared to PF. Horses receiving treatments had a significant reduction in headshaking behavior, as measured by incidence rate ratio (IRR), when compared to unsupplemented hay diet (44% for PF, IRR, 0.558; CI, 0.44, 0.72; P < .001; 52% for M, IRR, 0.476; CI, 0.37, 0.62; P < .001; and 64% for MB, IRR, 0.358; CI, 0.27, 0.48; P < .001). Conclusions: Magnesium in combination with boron had the greatest decrease in headshaking. Oral supplementation with magnesium or magnesium in combination with boron should be considered in horses affected with headshaking.
© 2019 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2019-04-16 PubMed ID: 30990929PubMed Central: PMC6524471DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15499Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article explores the effects of magnesium alone or in combination with boron on headshaking behavior in horses. The dietary treatment was found to reduce the headshaking behavior in horses, with the combination of magnesium and boron showing the greatest effects.

Objective

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate how oral administration of magnesium, with or without boron, can impact headshaking behavior in horses.

Methods

  • The research was carried out as a prospective randomized controlled dietary trial over a period of 42 days.
  • The trial included 12 horses, of which 6 were healthy controls and the other 6 were diagnosed with trigeminal-mediated headshaking.
  • The horses were randomized into three treatment groups: pelleted feed combination (PF), pelleted feed combination with magnesium (M) and pelleted feed combination with magnesium-boron (MB). There was a week of only hay between treatments to washout any effects.
  • Researcher assessed headshaking behavior and biochemical blood variables at the beginning (baseline) and after each week of supplementation.

Results

  • The results showed an increase in blood ionized and total magnesium following all three dietary interventions.
  • Groups M and MB showed a further increase in Mg2+, as compared to the PF group.
  • Significant reduction in headshaking behavior was observed in all treatment groups. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) measured the reduction as 44% for PF group, 52% for M group and 64% for MB group.

Conclusions

  • The study concluded that the combination of magnesium and boron demonstrated the largest decrease in headshaking behavior in horses.
  • Oral supplementation with magnesium or a combination of magnesium and boron should be considered as a treatment option in horses afflicted with headshaking.

Cite This Article

APA
Sheldon SA, Aleman M, Costa LRR, Weich K, Howey Q, Madigan JE. (2019). Effects of magnesium with or without boron on headshaking behavior in horses with trigeminal-mediated headshaking. J Vet Intern Med, 33(3), 1464-1472. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15499

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 33
Issue: 3
Pages: 1464-1472

Researcher Affiliations

Sheldon, Shara A
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California.
Aleman, Monica
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California.
Costa, Lais R R
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California.
Weich, Kalie
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California.
Howey, Quinn
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California.
Madigan, John E
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Boron / administration & dosage
  • Boron / blood
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Head Movements / drug effects
  • Horse Diseases / diet therapy
  • Horses
  • Magnesium / administration & dosage
  • Magnesium / blood
  • Male
  • Trigeminal Nerve

Conflict of Interest Statement

Platinum Performance provided oral magnesium and boron supplements and partial support for a graduate student.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
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  4. Aleman M, Sheldon SA, Jospin G, Coil D, Stratton-Phelps M, Eisen J. Caecal microbiota in horses with trigeminal-mediated headshaking. Vet Med Sci 2022 May;8(3):1049-1055.
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