What is the function of magnesium in dogs?

Magnesium is an essential mineral for all mammals. Dogs also need to receive an adequate amount of magnesium. Magnesium is important for strong bones, flexible muscles, and a well-functioning nervous system. Dogs require magnesium during times of stress, high physical exertion, and pregnancy. Dogs intake magnesium through their diet, but sometimes supplementation with a well-absorbed supplement is desired.

Magnesium plays a crucial role in many bodily functions. A deficiency in magnesium can lead to increased muscle tension, stiffness, hyperactivity, and stress. A magnesium deficiency in dogs can be identified by a variety of symptoms. Sometimes these signs of a magnesium deficiency are quite subtle and fall into the category of 'vague complaints.'

Symptoms of magnesium deficiency

A magnesium deficiency in your dog can be identified by:

• Fatigue and lethargy
• Muscle weakness, stiffness, or hard muscles
• Hyperactivity
• Stress, anxiety, or nervousness
• Difficulty finding rest, poor concentration
• Low heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Nausea or even vomiting
• Shallow and/or slower breathing
• Poor resistance
• Impaired sugar metabolism/insulin response

Daily magnesium requirement

Dogs require approximately 1-2 ml of liquid magnesium per 5 kg of body weight daily. Magnesium is (partially) absorbed from daily food intake and can be administered as a supplement in various forms, such as magnesium citrate or magnesium chelate. Organic compounds like chelate are best absorbed by your dog, especially when opting for a liquid supplement. A magnesium deficiency is detrimental to your dog, while a slight excess of magnesium is not a problem and is simply excreted. Only if you were to give an extremely large overdose, a dog could experience issues such as cardiac arrhythmias.

Magnesium-rich nutrition

A portion of your dog's daily magnesium requirement is provided through its diet. Therefore, a healthy and balanced diet is crucial. Foods rich in magnesium include:

• Fish
• Offal
• Beans
• Whole grains including rice
• Green leafy vegetables

If your dog is not getting enough magnesium from its diet and you notice symptoms like muscle stiffness or stressed behavior, consider supplementing its daily diet with a special magnesium supplement for dogs.

Magnesium supplement

It is important that a magnesium supplement for your dog is well-absorbed. If the mineral does not reach the location in your dog's body where it needs to work, the supplement is ineffective. Therefore, opt for magnesium chelate, preferably in liquid form. The term 'chelate' means that the magnesium is bound to a protein. The body processes a chelate as it would a protein, making it easier to absorb. There is no competition with other minerals like calcium. For optimal absorption, choose liquid magnesium chelate instead of a powder. Another form of magnesium, magnesium citrate, is also highly absorbable and is often used as an ingredient in dog supplements. One drawback of citrate is that this form of magnesium follows the same absorption route as calcium. If you feed magnesium citrate, ensure that the ratios align with the other minerals in your dog's diet.

B-vitamins, tryptophan, and zinc

Some supplements do not only contain magnesium but also additional ingredients such as B-vitamins or the amino acid tryptophan. This can enhance the effectiveness of your supplement. For instance, Vitamin B2 ensures even better magnesium absorption. A supplement containing Vitamin B2, B6, B12, and magnesium is beneficial for muscle health and highly suitable for dogs that are highly active or sporty. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid crucial for regulating mood, sleep, stress, concentration, and anxiety. Tryptophan helps your dog release tension, improve focus, and is a great addition to a supplement.

Conclusion: Magnesium is good for your dog

The mineral magnesium is essential for various bodily processes in your dog. Magnesium helps maintain supple muscles, supports the nervous system, aids in recovery after physical exertion, and helps maintain strong bones. Additionally, magnesium reduces stress sensitivity in dogs. Senior dogs, active dogs, and pregnant or lactating female dogs consume more magnesium and have a higher risk of magnesium deficiency. The most absorbable form of magnesium is a liquid magnesium chelate supplement. Both B-vitamins and the amino acid tryptophan are excellent additions to a magnesium supplement for your dog.

Sources

Sarah Humphrey, Rebecca Kirby, Elke Rudloff. Magnesium physiology and clinical therapy in veterinary critical care. 26 November 2014
https://doi.org/10.1111/vec.12253

Stewart AJ. Magnesium disorders in horses. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2011 Apr;27(1):149-63. doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2010.12.009. PMID: 21392659.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21392659/

Hypomagnesemia in Hospitalized Horses. Anna M. Johansson, Sarah Y. Gardner, Samuel L. Jones, Laura R. Fuquay, Virginia H. Reagan,and Jay F. Levine. File # 27emJ Vet Intern Med2003;17:860–867. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2003.tb02526.x