Regular swollen eye sockets

[Mizza]

Hi all,

My horse had a very mild episode of laminitis last spring and ever since I've been managing her as a laminitc - weighed soaked hay, low sugar/starch feed, limited grass or grazing muzzle, etc. She is almost totally normal now but the one thing that is really hard to reduce is the swollen eye sockets she gets. Even if she seems to have a bit too much feed or gets stressed they seem to puff up again. Everything else is back to normal - digital pulse, no heat, a good weight, etc.

Any tips on how to reduce the puffy eye sockets or ideas on what might be causing them?

Tia

 

[Pinkvboots]

It's a symptom of equine metabolic syndrome often associated with over weight horses, another symptom is fat pads on the rump, base of the tail and a cresty neck, you can have them tested for it and some vets prescribe metformin some don't use it as there is controversy over its effectiveness.
How old is your horse?

 

[Mule]

My cushings mare had this.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

My cushings mare had this.

So did one of my previous old boy's....... it was called "Cushings" then, now called EMS I understand.

Get your vet out to take some bloods as a matter of priority is what I suggest. That way you'll know what's what.

 

[windand rain]

Cushings and EMS are not the same young horses are likely to get EMS and unlikely to get cushings Old horses develop both ot either

 

[Nudibranch]

I'd go for PPID (cushings) or EMS. Keep weight right down - really slim - and worth testing for both, it's not expensive. PPID is best medicated for most horses. My vet won't use metformin for EMS but in either case getting weight off and keeping it off is the biggest factor, which you're doing as you know there's an existing laminitis risk. I do feed magnesium as our grazing is low and it may be useful in metabolic issues although there's no clear consensus. My Fell gets puffy eyes and crest unless almost starved, which is bit rubbish.

 

[Goldenstar]

It’s the classic cushings symptom in horses

 

[buddylove]

Have a look at the calm healthy horses website 😊