​                                                      Glencadam Shetland Ponies - Alba

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Equine Metabolic Syndrome - Insensitivity to Insulin

(Insulin dysregulation syndrome, Equine syndrome X, Peripheral Cushing Disease.

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Equine metabolic syndrome is a condition that usually affects horses between 8 and 18 years of age. Affected horses are often overweight. Horses with this condition develop fat deposits much like those found in Cushing’s disease in horses. Fat may be deposited on the shoulders, loins, neck, tailhead, and just above the eyes. Some horses grow a pot belly. The horse may have bouts of equine laminitis, affecting the hooves. Horses with equine metabolic syndrome often drink more water and urinate more often than healthy animals. In people, this condition is sometimes referred to as pre-diabetes. If measures are not taken to control this syndrome, it can progress to insulin resistant diabetes.

Equine insulin resistance is one of the main characteristics of this disorder. In other words, the horse’s blood sugar runs on the high. There are several tests that your equine veterinary specialist can use to diagnose or rule out equine metabolic syndrome. The veterinarian will want to rule out equine Cushing’s syndrome and hypothyroidism. Unfortunately, these tests are expensive because they cannot be conducted in the field. The horse will be given an intravenous drip and blood samples are taken at regular intervals.

There is no cure or medical treatment for equine metabolic syndrome. There are, however, two things you can do to help control the condition-nutrition and exercise. Your veterinarian can tell you if your horse is overweight. You may have to restrict the amount of food you give to your horse and eliminate or limit pasture grazing time. The second thing is to increase the amount of exercise your horse gets. Just like you, your horse should get exercise on an almost daily basis. You can lead your horse by hand on a walk, long-line the horse, or go for a ride. The exercise and time together will benefit both you and your horse.

The drug metformin can also be prescribed and tried.

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pedal bone

the distal phalanx of ungulates, especially the horse.

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pedal bone rotation

causing penetration of the sole of the horse's foot; a characteristic of severe laminitis.

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pedal fracture

fractures of the pedal bone occur most commonly in horses. They may involve a wing or extensor process. They are usually transverse in cattle.

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pedal osteitis

a rarefying osteitis of the pedal bone in the foot of the horse. Causes local pain and lameness.

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And so we have it! Leos results came back positive in relation to all of the above.  Having chatted in depth with our vet, we agreed that quality of life over quantity was paramount for us and that we would decline veterinary medications and allow Leo to enjoy life with Hudson on a carefully "Managed" feeding regime and would treat Hudson the same as a "preventative measure"

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Managed Regime - little to no grass, soaked hay (ad lib), regular re-alignment trims every 8weeks, body score on the thinner side 2.5 - 3, weight maitained by additional feed morning & night - Sugar free, mollasses free alfalfa apporved by the laminitic trust for ponies not working.

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