Equine Metabolic Syndrome

[tteam4me]

Does anyone have any experience with a horse or pony diagnosed (?) with Equine Metabolic Syndrome. My Welsh Sec A has lost condition, sweats more, drinks & pees more, but so far the tests we have done for Cushings have come back negative (she is 14 years old). My vet is suggesting a glucose tolerance test for this EMS but the only research I can find seems to indicate that these horses are overweight - not the case here? Would love to hear if anyone else has come across this, and what success they have had with any treatments. Thanks

 

[samp]

I am sorry but I have never heard of this. Have they tested the thyroid gland or diabetes? These are classic signs of both conditions?

 

[tteam4me]

Hi - we've done all the usual blood tests, thyroid function was normal, liver function and glucose tests indicated Cushings. My vet then did a dexamethazone (spelling?) test which was negative for Cushings. Last Saturday we took a urine sample which has shown glucose and some protien, like diabetes but horses are not affected the same way as humans and dogs apparently. My vet contacted the Glasgow Vet school who raised the possibility of EMS, but of course Poppy (pony) is not obese. I don't know whether to subject her to the stress of a long (4 hour) journey to the vet school for this additional test. Any feedback very gratefully received!

 

[samp]

Has the vet put her on Pergolide on anything for now? I would see if I could get her on some medication at the mo and she how progresses. However, if insured then I would get tests done etc - before they add a clause on your policy!

 

[beaconhorse]

They are normally overweight BUT it can happen to horses who are not overweight at all. Just ignore the part about overweight and see what the rest says.

www.ruralheritage.com is a fab site and Dr Beth is good at answering emails even to none members

 

[brighteyes]

Get in touch with Jackie Taylor - you can find her on the Yahoo group the metabolichorse. She is red hot on all the Cushing's EMS IR stuff and helped me lots

Good Luck

 

[tteam4me]

Is Peroglide a treatment for Cushings? One of our options maybe to put her on some Cushings medication and see if she responds. If she does then it's Cushings and if she doesn't then its maybe EMS. At the moment she doesn't seem to be sweating so much, but then it's got colder recently. She is in at night, out during the day with ad-lib hay and then two small feeds with Happy Hoof and a small amount of Ride and Relax, plus I've got her on Hepaphyte from Hilton Herbs to help support her liver. I checked with them whether the herbs would affect the Cushings but its okay - they do a blend for Cushings too, but as we are still at the testing phase I don't want to change anything in her routine or diet at the moment.

She is such a wee sweetie, I just want to know what to do for the best.

 

[tteam4me]

Thanks - I'll have a look on the Yahoo forum for her.

 

[amurchie]

I hope it ok to ask you how your pony is? I have almost a mirror problem with my 12.2 14 year old welsh pony. I have been through so much with her over the years and now it sounds like I am at the same stage you were at in November. I am going down the route of Cushing's Disease drugs at the moment, but if you shed anymore light on this dreadful condition I would be very grateful.
Alexis

 

[Beanyowner]

I posted this on another EMS thread so thought I would add it on here so you guys could see.

Equine Metabolic Syndrome was first confused with Cushings disease as some of the symptoms are very similar, however treatment using Perigolide (the usual cushings treatment drug) is unsuccessful which usually prompts the vet to look at other causes. It can be linked to Laminitis due to its links to over weight horses.

Basically, glucose cannot enter the cell walls due to an increased cortisol level. Cell membranes break down, pedal bone comes away from the connective tissues and founder (pedal bone rotation) occurs.
Obesity appears to be the central problem in both humans and horses suffering from metabolic syndrome. Although body fat is commonly viewed as a useless substance that functions solely as a storage form for energy, this is not true. Body fat (especially that stored within the abdomen, liver and skeletal muscle) contains cells that are very active metabolically and hormonally, and if present in excessive amounts their effects can trigger a spiral of metabolic problems leading to insulin resistance and persistent hyperglycemia. These abnormalities, show a variety of negative effects on the cardiovascular system, cartilage and bone. One of these effects is increased synthesis and release of cortisol within the peripheral tissues of the body, which may account for the predisposition to laminitis in affected horses.

At the moment, treatment for equine metabolic syndrome focus almost solely on reversal of obesity and insulin resistance through strict dietary modification and implementation of an exercise program, if that is possible. Of course, horses suffering from laminitis cannot be exercised until founder has been brought under reasonable control.

Hope that helps...I have pictures too if you would like to see some however I would have to upload them etc!

Claire x

 

[tteam4me]

Hi - sorry I've only seen this, I've been on the Metabolic Horse forum on Yahoo for the past few months and missed your post.

Poppy is fine and we are managing her well at the moment. She was on Pergolide for almost 3 months but didn't respond well to it at all, was depressed, no appetite and she seemed to lose more weight! After much discussion with my vet we stopped the Pergolide on 29th Jan, blood tested her after a week and then started her on Vitex Agnus Castus tincture. She has now been on the Vitex for 5 weeks and is responding well, back to normal appetite and being quite cheeky too! Her sweating has stopped and she is starting to put weight on slowly, so I'm very hopeful about this - just had her blood tested again so I hope that her insulin and blood sugar levels are coming down. Next week I'm getting a homeopathic vet to come see her as well.

This has been a huge learning curve for me, I've totally changed her diet (and that of my other horses) - don't feed anything with a high sugar value - not even carrots - much to the horror of all my horsey friends! I also had my hay analysed by Dodson and Horrell and I can highly recommend that to anyone with a horse with metabolic issues.

I've got my fingers crossed that whilst we can't cure Poppy of this - at least I'm more informed about how to manage her.

 

[tteam4me]

Oh no Alexis - i've just realised that this was you on here. Sorry if I've upset you by replying.

Ali