Diabetic horses

[moodiestmare]

Please don't shoot me for asking a stupid question but does anyone have a diabetic horse?!

I never realised anything other than humans could be diabetic but now that I have an insulin dependant cat I was just wondering if horses could get it too.

 

[lhotse]

Yes, we have a pony with diabetes melitus, he's also been diagnosed with cushings and the two are connected. He drinks and pees a lot and also never seems to sweat but is perfectly healthy and showing no signs of the cushings although he has had laminitis in the past and was very ill at one time. He is not on any medication and we have him on loan from our vet as he is a bombproof pony for my niece to learn to ride on.

 

[Eaglestone]

Not a silly question at all but as Ihotse suggests, Cushings is related to this condition

 

[Donkeymad]

Is it more commonly known as Insulin Resistence in horses, or that a different condition?

 

[Eaglestone]

Oh yes DonkeyMad that the name of the condition .....

 

[hellybelly6]

All mammals can develop diabetes. There are 2 types in humans non-insulin dependent which is diet controlledwith/without tablets and insulin dependent which is controlled with diet and insulin.

Cushings can cause diabetes in horses, but a diabetic horse does not necessarily mean Cushings. Diabetic horses are rare, but not unheard of.

Insulin resistance is where a fat horse/pony (usually native, not always) is resistant to insulin due to the fat deposits rather than diabetic.