Anyone with experience of EMS?

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PixiePony

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Hi I've lurking on here for a while so I thought it about time I signed up! I could do with a little help from you guys. I have a 12hh Welsh Sec A who I suspect may have EMS. She's showing a lot of the symptoms – fat deposits over eyes and on rump, cresty neck and a bot bellied appearance. She has had a couple of mild bouts of lami although not for a couple of years.
My question is has anyone had experience of EMS or have a pony who suffers with it and if so how do you manage them?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

She is currently on very limited grass, high fi light and multi vits and fair quality hay (weighted) (can't really soak it at the moment due to freezing temps).

Many thanks.
 
I've just had one of my ponies tested for insulin, and it came back at 350 - the normal range is below 40 but levels can go over 1000, so he pretty definitely has EMS as he is only 10 and it's unlikely to be cushings.

Vet's advice is to keep him slim and feed low sugar everything, so I have just invested in a low sugar haylage (like you struggling to soak hay at the moment - chipped the haynet out of the bin last night and nearly got frostbite!.

I find any small trigger will tip him over the edge - if he isn't ridden for a couple of days, if I turn him out on sunny frosty mornings, even if I over rug - so I am being very careful.

I joined a Yahoo online group - The Metabolic Horse - which offers lots of great advice and support so might be worth googling that.
 
My boy has it very severely, and has done for a few years. I keep him on Metformin- 10 tablets a day, regular exercise and very limited grazing.
Once you get the balance right, its ok to maintain...
 
Hi, thanks for your response. From what I've read exercise seems to be the key with EMS. Another challenge at the moment with short days, frozen ground and no school! The joys of winter! I'll take a look at the metabolic horse website.
Thanks again.
 
Hi Lubuzz, does your pony look more 'normal' now you have things under control, ie not cresty and chunky? Was Metformin recommended/supplied by your vet?
Cheers
 
My mare who has has had severe behavioural problems when ridden and handled couldnt be exercised normally, although im restarting her slowly now, this definitely been a challenge when dealing with her EMS. As she lives out, i designed a track system all around the field with hay points, a water point, salt lick point, etc all dotted around the track to make sure she keeps moving, this ensures she "exercises herself" as while being on restricted grazing, she isnt in a tiny field with nowhere to move.
I really recommend you readd Jamie Jackson's book "Paddock Paradise" which is where this idea came from.
Along with minimal rugging, and a sugar free diet (she is not impressed with the lack of carrots and apples in her life) im keeping everything undercontrol without medication.

I second the metabolic horse group... has been very useful.
 
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