Figuring Out Supplement Dosages

[Jackie]

I've been puzzling over this for a while, but then I thought I'd ask the experts

When you supplement, do you dose for a horse, or do you scale it down for a mini?

i.e., Remission calls for 1 ounce for a 1,000 lb horse to get 6,000mgs of magnesium.

If I scale it down, my 200 lb mini Rocket will only get 1,200 mgs of magnesium.

What do you all do?

Thank you! Jackie

 

[chandab]

I try to scale it down by weight for my minis. [Pretty much all supplements are based on weight, and should be scaled down for minis.] With Remission, I use the small end of the enclosed scoop, once a day (my minis are mostly Bs, so around 325-350#). [The large end of the scoop is 1 tablespoon, the small end is 1 teaspoon: 3 tsp = 1 tbs. so the small end is approximately 1/3 dose.]

 

[disneyhorse]

Usually I give 1/4 of whatever is recommended for an average saddle horse.

The only exception is vaccines, which are dosed the same whether it's a mini or a draft horse.

 

[Minimor]

I do the same as chanda--for a Mini (36" Mini) I give the small scoop of Remission once per day. I would not want to give a mini the same amount as I would give to a full size horse.

There are negative side effects that are possible from an overdose of magnesium, so definitely divide the dose for a smaller animal.

 

[Jackie]

Actually, magnesium is water soluble and they pass what they don't use. Just FYI. So, to understand - if a 1,000 lb horse needs 6,000mgs of magnesium, a 200 lb horse only needs 1,200mgs? Just checking, that's what I've been doing, too...but then my brain started to think too hard LOL!

 

[chandab]

With supplements, yes that is correct. Feed based on weight.