Supplements for EMS

[zoon]

Do any products like Acetyl L carnitine, high doses of magnesium salts or cinnamon actually make a difference to reducing fat pads and cresty necks?

My EMS horse was is good health due to being kept on a track and being is work. He injured his SI joint and has been off work since and the fat pads and cresty neck are back

Are feed additives a waste of money? This is what I am suspecting, but he is restricted as much as possible food wise and he is getting as much movement as possible with his injury (including rehab work inhand, but this is walk only at the moment - it was fast work that kept him in shape)

 

[Sossigpoker]

There's no evidence that any of those things make a difference. What's probably more useful is a balanced diet that's as low in WSC as possible.
My section A no longer looks metabolic (he used to be skinny with massive fat pads) a year on. He just gets a handful of Fast Fibre, Dodson and Horrel Daily vitamins and salt (because all horses need salt ).

 

[visa_bot]

When my horse was first diagnosed with EMS I got some drugs from the vet that helped with weight loss as I struggled whilst she was on box rest. Once it was off I’ve been able to keep it off but needed that help at the beginning. It worked really well. I can’t remember the name but I think it ended in flozin. Might be worth a discussion with your vet.

 

[PurpleSpots]

The drugs would be either canagliflozin or ertugliflozin - prescribed if insulin levels are high even when on a suitable diet.

It's actually now felt to be the combined value of ESC (ethanol soluble carbohydrates) and starch combined which give a 'safe' diet, rather than WSC (water soluble cabohydrates) as previously thought.

ForagePlus and the ECIR group are fantastic sources of advice and evolving knowledge - they can blow your mind a bit at first though!

 

[Follysmum]

Have good results with the following
Ceylon cinnamon
Mag ox
Salt
If I drop off pony gets really cresty so I know it works.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

Have good results with the following
Ceylon cinnamon
Mag ox
Salt
If I drop off pony gets really cresty so I know it works.

Ditto on these
Mine are also on Metformin and prascend but stopping any of the above makes a noticeable difference in above eye puffiness on one and crest hardness on the other

 

[JenJ]

I use L94 from Trinity Consultants, which anecdotal evidence on the ECIR group rates very highly.

 

[Sir barnaby]

I use metabolic support supplement contains all natural ingredients for my ems Shetland pony with soaked hay and fast fibre after a diagnosis last year, with strict turnout he is looking amazing and with a good farrier every 8 weeks being trimmed the hooves are back to normal, unfortunately doesn’t get any excercise except for a walk out now and again, I spread his hay out in a long line which keeps him moving instead of hanging up a Haynet.

 

[HopOnTrot]

Nope.

Have a look at The Laminitis Site, they’re a small charity but their website is full of useful info and it’s about a tenner a year to be a member. They’re my go to for unbiased factual help.

 

[scats]

Honestly, I have tried everything and nothing helps. Polly has severe EMS. Even when she is ribby, her crest never shifts. It gets less prominent over winter but as soon as May arrives, it goes rock solid. She’s still in her winter field but the crest has gone hard and she’s got her strange fat deposits on her quarters.
I’ve tried everything under the sun and no supplement does anything.

She is worked 3-4 times a week mostly in trot, but can’t do any more as she has PSD. I know I’ll lose her to it one day. It’s an utter nightmare to be honest. She’s 15 now so I just take it day at a time and give her the best life I can. The day it gets out of control and I can no longer do that, I’m afraid she will go.