bissettk
New User
My friend has a 5 yr old Highland pony who is really overweight despite her best efforts to limit his food. Can horse have diabeties? Or can anyone shed some light to this problem.
Thanx
Thanx
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Overweight pony
- Thread starter bissettk
- Start date
teddyt
Well-Known Member
Sometimes really limiting the food is counter productive because the body goes into starvation mode, the metabolism changes and the body holds onto fat stores even more.
The best way to lose weight is to soak hay, so the gut still has something to work on but without any calories and exercise- active walking and trotting. No hard feed, except a handful of low sugar chaff and a vit/min supplement or instead give a mineral block but NOT a molasses based one. If you are soaking the hay it can still be fed in large quantities. Dont rug the pony either.
Horses can become insulin resistant and this is more likely in overweight horses. check out the blue cross campaign for more help- you can even buy a pack for about a tenner that gves help with condition scoring and a weight tape.
The best way to lose weight is to soak hay, so the gut still has something to work on but without any calories and exercise- active walking and trotting. No hard feed, except a handful of low sugar chaff and a vit/min supplement or instead give a mineral block but NOT a molasses based one. If you are soaking the hay it can still be fed in large quantities. Dont rug the pony either.
Horses can become insulin resistant and this is more likely in overweight horses. check out the blue cross campaign for more help- you can even buy a pack for about a tenner that gves help with condition scoring and a weight tape.
Lucy_Nottingham
Well-Known Member
Horses can get EMS (equine metabolic syndrome) which is sort of like young horse cushings (but slightly differnet!) and it can make them retain fat.
Also, horses can get a problem due to not being fed enough (is the horse being allowed free access to hay/haylage/grass?) or too much concentrate feed, called hepatic lipidosis. This is where the horse may not eat but the liver has filled up with fat and as a result the fat is remaining in the circulation.
There are a couple of issues that could be underlying. Id maybe tell her to get the vet out for a blodo test or something.
And yes horses can get diabetes, or they become what is called Insulin resistant.
Also, horses can get a problem due to not being fed enough (is the horse being allowed free access to hay/haylage/grass?) or too much concentrate feed, called hepatic lipidosis. This is where the horse may not eat but the liver has filled up with fat and as a result the fat is remaining in the circulation.
There are a couple of issues that could be underlying. Id maybe tell her to get the vet out for a blodo test or something.
And yes horses can get diabetes, or they become what is called Insulin resistant.