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Is your horse young, overweight, laminitic, and getting almost nothing to eat? Horses that are easy keepers, have laminitis for no apparent reason, have a cresty neck and fat pads on the tail head and behind the shoulders may be Insulin Resistant. Diagnosing and managing this condition early is critical to avoid a lifetime of chronic pain due to laminitis.
Signs
Insulin Resistance is similar to Cushing’s Disease. It has been called Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity-Associated Laminitis Syndrome. These horses are overweight, have difficulty losing weight, and have the fat distribution typically associated with hypothyroidism (cresty neck, slab-sided, fat rolls at the tail-head). Geldings often have a swollen sheath, mares are often infertile, and all are prone to laminitis (founder). Affected horses may have hair coat changes and body condition changes. They do not have the long hair coat and the increased drinking and urination often associated with Crushing's Disease, and they are usually much younger. There seems to be a breed predisposition in Spanish type breeds, Peruvian Pasos, Paso Finos, Mustangs, Saddlebreds, Morgans, other gaited horses, and ponies.
Testing
Testing for Equine Metabolic Disease includes blood levels of insulin, glucose, ACTH, cortisol, triglycerides, and a general blood chemistry. The Insulin test must be done after the horse has been fasting for at least 4-5 hours. These horses are Insulin Resistant, so they have elevated blood levels of insulin and glucose. Thyroid hormone (T4) may be normal, or may be low as a secondary aspect of the disease.
Treatment
Treatment for Equine Metabolic Disease is Chromium and Magnesium supplementation for life. Both of these minerals help to control the horse’s natural insulin resistance. A balanced routine exercise program should be instituted as well. The fasting insulin level can be checked every 6 months to monitor response and help determine the lowest effective level of Quiessence.
Dietary Recommendations
A low carbohydrate diet is essential. Sweet feed, molasses, grain (oats, barley, and corn, etc), treats, wheat bran, and oat hay should be minimized or eliminated. Feed a good quality grass hay, or a mixed hay with no more than 25% of alfalfa at a rate of 1.5% to 2% of body weight. Over weight horses or laminitic horses should not be fed alfalfa. Beet pulp and/or rice bran can be added for more energy if needed. There are some low carbohydrate feeds available: Triple Crown Lite and Low Starch, Safe Starch Forage and Purina Ultium, Well Solve L/S, Nutrena Smart Choice, Nutrena Lite Balance. These can be used to add energy or to mix with the supplements to aid in palatability.
1 - Safestarch forage from Triple crown (pre-analyzed, Mg supplemented, bagged, and chopped hay) +
Chromium supplement (easiest option)
2 - Soaked (20 minutes) grass hay (to bring down sugar levels to <
10%) + Quiessence (Mg,Cr) (labor intensive)
3- Buy a large batch of hay after having it tested for NSC (sugar)
levels and verified that it is less than 10% (usually only feasible
for large operations) + Mg.Cr
Any of these should be in conjunction with plenty of exercise (if comfortable), no treats (yams are OK), and caution not to overfeed (total daily calories).
If additional calories are needed or if you need to feed oral medications, feed fully soaked and rinsed or molasses free beet pulp.
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