Why Magnesium?
Magnesium is a crucial mineral needed by your dog in order for their body to operate properly. This is second to Potassium with regard to overall importance. But why is Magnesium so important for your dog?
Good question and one we are going to answer right now.
Magnesium is a cofactor and/or controls all of the following functions in your dog’s body:
So, what does this really mean then? Well, it means that improper Magnesium levels can affect the major systems of your dog’s body and cause things to go awry. These things can include:
Please keep in mind that these things can be related to other issues with your dog’s body besides a Magnesium deficiency. This can include having a higher than normal intake of Calcium or Phosphorus. When this occurs, it prevents the proper absorption of Magnesium. This situation can make the Magnesium levels appear low, when in reality, your dog is getting plenty of Magnesium.
Therefore, taking a look at their Magnesium intake via the foods you give them is a really good place to start. Don’t forget to take a look at the Calcium and Phosphorus levels also though. Tracking this information can only help your Vet with making a diagnosis when there is something abnormal going on with your dog.
How Much for Your Dog?
Now that you know just how important proper Magnesium is for your dog, just how much should he be getting?
The amount is going to vary per dog. This is due solely to the age and weight of your furry friend.
The general rule of thumb for Magnesium requirements, as a minimum, is .04% of your dog’s body weight. But if you want your dog to be at optimal health, then you should aim for closer to .3%, or 12.3% per kg, of their body weight in Magnesium.
What this translates to is: The average amount required for an adult dog is 150 mg (milligrams) of Magnesium per day.
Here is an even more in-depth way to look at it:
Smaller Breeds (<20 lbs) = Minimum Requirements: 45 mg – 80 mg Optimal Requirements: 28 mg (5lb dog)- 112 mg (20 lb dog)
Medium Breeds (21 – 50 lbs) = Minimum Requirements: 84 – 200 mg Optimal Requirements: 117 mg (21 lb dog) – 279 mg (50 lb dog)
Larger Breeds (>51 lbs) = Minimum Requirements: 204 – 200 mg Optimal Requirements: 285 mg +
Diagnosis of Magnesium Deficiency in Dogs
See the veterinarian immediately if your dog appears weak, has trouble walking or is seeming uncoordinated as these may be signs of magnesium deficiency. This deficiency should be corrected swiftly to avoid fatal heart problems. Tell the veterinarian about any changes to your dog’s diet, any other treatment your dog has received, and whether your dog’s habits have changed with regard to urination and defecation. Sometimes, if your dog has been treated with diuretics (drugs that help to evacuate excess fluid), it may lose too much magnesium in the process of urinating out all this fluid.
The veterinarian will listen to your dog’s heart, and if any abnormality is detected, will likely order an ECG. An ECG is a medical device which displays the patterns of your dog’s heartbeat on a screen using terminals taped to your dog’s chest. This is a simple machine and most veterinarians will have one. The classic signs of low magnesium are prolonged PR intervals, widened QRS complexes, depressed ST segments and peaked T-waves.
For the next step, even if your dog does not exhibit these cardiac symptoms, the vet will likely order a blood electrolyte test, which will measure the amounts of minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium and sodium in your pet’s blood, in addition to some other common electrolytes. This gives a definitive picture of what is and is not making its way into your pet’s bloodstream. This test will need to be sent to the lab and may take a short while to perform. If these come back with low magnesium your vet will discuss treatment options.
Magnesium – How Much Magnesium Does The Body Need – Why Does The Body Need Magnesium
There aren’t many nutrients more important than Magnesium. It’s essential for more than 300 functions in your pet’s body. It’s a VIP compound that your pet needs to consume each and every day! This post covers everything you should know about this mineral and your pet.
Magnesium’s a mineral. And while you hear all the time about essential vitamins your pet should consume, minerals aren’t often discussed. But don’t let that fool you. They’re just as important as their vitamin counterparts, especially when we’re talking about Magnesium! Magnesium has a hand in cognitive function, metabolism, cardiovascular function, nerve function, and more. In fact, there isn’t much this mineral’s not involved in!