Equine Metabolic Syndrome/Insulin resistance

[akashapachamama]

Hi,
My mare has been diagnosed with EMS.
I'm worried about how to manage the situaton, especially as she is not ridden and my vet said exercise is the most important way of managing the condition.
Ive done some reading but it would be really helpful to have some peoples experiences and advice aboutdealing with this condition.

 

[touchstone]

I have a mare that is classic IR/EMS. The most important aspect of management is diet, and when my mare had to have two years off for a tendon injury there were no problems as I was very strict with her diet, even though she couldn't exercise.
Are you able to lunge/long rein instead? A few minutes a day lungeing can make a difference.

I feed soaked hay, fast fibre, Hi fi lite and Benevit supplement along with magnesium oxide. Naf Slimline is another supplement with magnesium and seaweed that helps to boost metabolism. Generally following a diet suitable for laminitics is helpful. Some people have found adding cinnamon helps to speed up the metabolism too.

There is a metabolic horse group on Yahoo which gives good advice and has owners going through the same issues.

 

[Janesomerset]

My pony is on a very similar diet to touchstone's mare, for the same reasons. I got magnesium oxide and cinnamon from a company called Natural Horse Feeds, recommended to me by someone on this forum. They were a very helpful company. I used to feed Hi Fi Lite but fusspot decided he had gone off it and is now very content with Happy Hoof instead. My friend's horse has EMS. He was on Metformin but has gradually been weaned off it and is now fine on Hi Fi Lite, magnesium supplement and soaked hay.

 

[foraday]

EMS is quite easily managed with daily metformin and mondrenal-its the keeping away from sugars which is vital so no grass!!!!! Concrete is better!

You need a good antioxidant to prevent any Laminitus attacks that may occur

Good farrier and vet cooperation

Check your feed that you give-a lot have the 'laminitus trust' sticker on! Just take care on these!!!!!! Some have MORE sugar in than necessary! A a good broad spectrum supplement/balancer and either plenty of soaked hay or haylage depending on your horse

My EMS boy has 4 feeds a day of fibergy which has a lot of his supplements in and lamiguard

He has his metformin and mondrenal in a syringe in sugar free juice so we KNOW he has had it. He has ad lib haylage as sadly he's totally allergic to hay-even soaked stuff makes him cough!

Good luck though am sure you will be fine