Help ! EMS, Lamintis, IR related query

MoodyMare11

MoodyMare11

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Hey guys,

I need some help with my boy, my yard owner got on him today and told me just how cresty he was she says that if it gets any worse it'll collapse soon! I mean he's always been a cresty boy ever since I got him I knew he had previous laminitis problems, 18months ago he was diagnosed with Equine Metabolic Syndrome and I was told because of this he was Insulin Restsitant he's been on a strict diet and just been brought back into work (September) and his crest hasnt changed I was advised by both my farrier and an equine nurtitionist of ways to help reduce the crestyness of his neck but since moving yards 3 weeks ago it seems to of gotten worse :( He's still on a restricted grazing schedule now currently sharing a field with 3 other boys - soon to be 4.

Since moving yards he is now on a Straw bed with 4/5kgs of Haylage a day I am going to start soaking the haylage to remove some of the nutrients as I have been told that this could work? My yard owner suggests feeding him from the floor as using a haynet tied up is making him build up all the wrong muscles the only thing I'm worried about feeding him off the floor is that he'll munch it too quickly would a hay bar in his stable be just as good 'cause then atleast that way I can still put a haynet in there to slow him down.

Does anyone know any other things that'll help me with this step backwards? I'm sorry about all the writing I'm just trying to explain it all as much as possible-I'm pretty sure I could of missed something else out :/



Any help would be mucho appreciated :)

Anna&Briggles

x
 
Hi, Personally i wouldnt feed him loose haylage as he will eat it quicker than if its 'double netted' say. Can you feed him soaked hay double netted or does it have to be haylage?

What is his restricted grazing like? Is there a lot of grass on it or is it bare?

Also, Magnesium helps with Lami risk horses and is also supposed to help reduce fat deposits and help with weight loss.

Lunging him a few times a week will also help as well as riding - exercise in general.

Hope this helps a little bit :)
 
I think that you probably need a vet to have a look. It does sound like the EMS needs to be controlled and that may have to be by drugs.

i would feed hay rather than haylege if possible and also put a grazing muzzle on.
 
I know someone with an EMS horse who has had fantastic results since switching to a diet devised by Dr Kellon. If I had a horse with a metabolic condition I would definitely shell out for a consultation.
 
Join the group linked on this page. http://www.ecirhorse.com/#

Haylage doesn't suit all metabolic horses sadly and the change of grass may be a factor. Perhaps get the vet and consider retesting bloods and include the test for cushings. The wobble factor of the crest can be a good guide so well done for seeing that.
In the mean time try him off grass completely (if possible) and observe his response. Might give you a clue to the main reason. Is he overweight as well? If so a strict diet will be in order along with more exercize. I don't mean galloping about btw. lol A good forward walk is best.
 
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We only have haylage or Straw on the yard so haylage is the only real option :( theres not really alot of grass out there tbh especially as there is 4 of them all together, I fed magnesium over a course of 6 months as that is what spillers recomended I will be going to get some again tomorrow. over the last few weeks he's not really had a day off even if I havent had time to ride I've lunged for 20mins just so he's done something

When he was originally diagnosed I was told to treat it as Laminitis which is what I have been doing.


Thanks for the advice so far guys :)

x
 
Is he eating his bed??i only ask because my IR horse would finish all hay then get going on the bed!hes now on shavings. When he was first diagnosed due to an attack of laminitis he was put on a course of metformin, this really helped him shed the weight considering he couldn't be exercised. He has since made a full recovery, someone suggested cinnamon which he is also on and appears to have kept the weight off. May be worth a try?failing that,definatly worth chatting to your vet regarding merformin.good luck.
 
Thanks for the replys guys :) he has previously eaten his bedding i think he only eats the new stuff i put in now. :/
Cinnamon? Oo id never of thought of that?! Where do you get it from? Like cinmamon you put in food? -silly question probably!
Thank you :)
X
 
Feedmark do one,it does sound quite strange but I've given it a go and havent had any problems since.as I said though, I think the metformin got the weight off initially and then cinnamon maintained it maybe?its supposed to be good for insulin related conditions.
 
How big and heavy is your boy?

My boy has always been a bit cresty but a combination of getting his diet sorted (forage analysis and mineral balancing) and increased exercise has helped.

I don't like feeding from haynets - for the reasons stated but I feed half from a net and the rest from the floor - that way he is only actually eating from the net for what equates to a couple of hours a night rather than all night...
 
His crest is due to his EMS as it changes their fat distribution. They also pile it on like they've been starved as the hormone imbalance makes their body think it IS being starved, regardless of how much they've actually getting. To loose the crest completely he would have to be really skinny but balancing his diet can help.

Try feeding a good 'barefoot' diet: magox, brewers yeast, linseed etc and cutting all sugar out the diet. Replace most of his halylege with straw and mix it with soaked hay. Cinnamon can help (ebay!) and it might be worth getting a mineral analysis. If you PM'd Oberon or CPtrays they'll give you more info(proper barefoot diet buffs)
 
Is he on metformin? I put one of mine on it 2 years ago for just one month as part of his treatment for laminitis within a couple of weeks his crest had almost gone and it has not come back, if you have not yet used it it could make all the difference. Sometimes they can just have it short term and with a careful diet are safe to reduce or stop the treatment.
 
He's not on Metformin but by the sounds of it I should be giving the vet a call to help with more advice, they may also tell me other things that our previous vet didnt.

xx
 
I am surprised that it was not suggested, normally vets are quick enough to use drugs they know will help, especially as you had a diagnosis, mine just offered to try it without doing tests as we were struggling at the time to get the pony right and he had just the short course which really helped. Wagtail has, I think recently put her mare on it with positive results so far.
 
It's no good pratting about soaking hay or haylage for these sort of horses, if you let them graze. They have to be off grass altogether, on a track or large yard, but certainly not grass. It's the grazing that is killing these horses and the molassed feed and cereals. Getting rid of the molasses and cereal is easy, stop grazing and increase the workload will improve the overall health, soak the hay and haylage, only feed forage derived fibre as hard feed.
 
Pale Rider said:
It's no good pratting about soaking hay or haylage for these sort of horses, if you let them graze. They have to be off grass altogether, on a track or large yard, but certainly not grass. It's the grazing that is killing these horses and the molassed feed and cereals. Getting rid of the molasses and cereal is easy, stop grazing and increase the workload will improve the overall health, soak the hay and haylage, only feed forage derived fibre as hard feed.
Click to expand...

^^This^^

That's a big weight gain in just 3 weeks so if you can get off the grass and up exercise that should help considerably. I would also start soaking your haylage immediately so that you are not having to reduce fibre intake.
 
I second speaking to vet about metformin.....my lami is on it and he lost weight really easily as he had always been a chubby boy no matter how hard we worked him.
 
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