Talk to me about EMS

[windand rain]

Thought we might have prevented it but fat filly is showing signs this year. Fat pads and big crest. not right but not laminitic yet. moves beautifully free but gets tight and has bucked when ridden, back, saddle, teeth and vet checked in the last 2 weeks. Only clue is possible EMS. Welsh A 5 year old saddle checked by 2 different fitters as it was my first thought.
Currently being managed as laminitic reduced movement lower than low starch and sugars soaked hay etc

 

[shortstuff99]

Unless you want to go the medication route (metaformin) the only way to treat EMS is as you would a laminitic, low sugar, low starch etc. Restricted grazing, soaked hay and I would use straw if he really needs to lose weight, the straw is good as it makes them feel full but has little calories.

 

[holeymoley]

As above. And if she's Welsh, I personally believe there's a genetic link to EMS. It's not scientifically proven yet though.

 

[Chinchilla]

As above. And if she's Welsh, I personally believe there's a genetic link to EMS. It's not scientifically proven yet though.

Alleles at certain genes which protect against EMS have been found so it's quite likely

 

[shortstuff99]

As above. And if she's Welsh, I personally believe there's a genetic link to EMS. It's not scientifically proven yet though.

This is pretty close to proving it
https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/evj.13053

 

[HappyHollyDays]

The key to keeping EMS under control is diet and exercise.

My 10 yr old WB pony has had it since he was 5 and his sister was PTS at 11 after losing her battle with laminitis and whether it has been proven or not I firmly believe in some cases it is genetic. It is hard work but manageable and in many cases with weight loss it is completely reversible. Signs in geldings are very stubborn fat pads behind the shoulders, bloated tummy, swollen sheath and swollen bulges above the eyes. If there is swelling it means the insulin is high and immediate action is needed. Metaformin doesn’t work for them all but can be useful in an emergency.

During the summer which is harder work than the winter he is on a strict regime of out at night muzzled when the sugar level is at its lowest because I don’t have access to either a track system or a grass free paddock. In during the day on soaked hay and two tiny feeds of low calorie Honeychop Lite and Healthy to hide his salt and magnesium which can help with fat pads, exercised most days with a lot of hill work and as much cantering as we can fit in ground permitting and tomorrow he gets to go swimming ? Winter is easier, partially clipped, naked, no muzzle, exercised less and I don’t have to soak hay.

I love winter ?

 

[windand rain]

Thank you I have a track which is probably why we haven't noticed it until now as she has been with a laminitic who is always restricted but we had a new pony arrive which meant we needed to use her friend to stop it trashing the fences so she was was on a shortened version of the track to restrict her grass. with hindsight it would have been better to make it narrower rather than shorter. She is in a small pen until we get some of the weight off but will re arrange the track so she can be back with the dartmoor as soon as it is apparent she is less fatty. Will do what is needed of course but will not condemn her to living in if we cannot control it it will be quality over quantity of life

 

[Mucking out - still]

I have had similar experience to Lindylouanne with both of ours last year. Always prone to being porky in summer, but last year they got horrendous - I was ill for the whole year so wasn't riding too much and took my eye off the ball (and yes, I will never stop feeling bad for that) and one got laminitis and had metformin for a few months. They spent the winter unrugged and with less hay than previously (weighed rather than add-lib). They weren't clipped as I wasn't riding. They came out of winter looking ok - the cob a bit overweight still, but not bad. This summer, they've been muzzled, both accepted it fine....and they're looking great. All fat pads have gone and Ididn't expect that! Best of luck - muzzles have certainly made it easier for us.

 

[Goldenstar]

Diet and exercise , lots and lots of exercise .

 

[GinaGeo]

My Connemara got hit with it badly last year whilst he was off work with a Check Ligament injury.

I have to Heavily restrict his eating anyway but without the exercise we were stuffed. He lives on an all weather track and doesn’t get to go near grass.

I really struggled to bring him back in to work post check ligament because his feet were sore. He was miserable and sore and hungry. It was awful.

The turning point for him was Metformin. It made a massive difference within a week. He was back to his jolly self, he was marching out and not pottery.

We have got his dose down to half a scoop a day and that seems to be his happy point. Any lower and even with the exercise he starts looking a bit miserable again.

We’ve just got to the point in his rehab that I’m starting some proper fast work again with three aim of getting him out Eventing again. I’m hoping having him proper proper fit again will let me drop off it completely, but we will see ?

 

[holeymoley]

The key to keeping EMS under control is diet and exercise.

My 10 yr old WB pony has had it since he was 5 and his sister was PTS at 11 after losing her battle with laminitis and whether it has been proven or not I firmly believe in some cases it is genetic. It is hard work but manageable and in many cases with weight loss it is completely reversible. Signs in geldings are very stubborn fat pads behind the shoulders, bloated tummy, swollen sheath and swollen bulges above the eyes. If there is swelling it means the insulin is high and immediate action is needed. Metaformin doesn’t work for them all but can be useful in an emergency.

During the summer which is harder work than the winter he is on a strict regime of out at night muzzled when the sugar level is at its lowest because I don’t have access to either a track system or a grass free paddock. In during the day on soaked hay and two tiny feeds of low calorie Honeychop Lite and Healthy to hide his salt and magnesium which can help with fat pads, exercised most days with a lot of hill work and as much cantering as we can fit in ground permitting and tomorrow he gets to go swimming ? Winter is easier, partially clipped, naked, no muzzle, exercised less and I don’t have to soak hay.

I love winter ?

This over again. I could’ve wrote that myself! Everyone hates winter but I love any excuse for the rest of them to come off the fields, makes me feel not as bad for mine being in.

When my guy’s insulin levels were too high his give away was the bulges above the eyes especially, and a his sheath was swollen. Unfortunately I wasn’t ‘clued up’ about that and he proceeded to come down with laminitis. Now that he’s back fighting fit I check all his ‘symptoms’ every day. He lost around 50kg in weight while recovering and is managed a bit different than before. He’s fitter than he’s ever been and great fun.

 

[Gloi]

Diet and exercise , lots and lots of exercise .

And then some more exercise

 

[windand rain]

This is my bugbear I was trying really hard to get her worked hard but because she is 5 the kids instructor kept telling mum she only needed 20 minutes every other day. They told me that they were working her hard daily so I didnt expect this. Shouldn't have trusted them to be doing enough and should have done it myself on the lunge my fault entirely will be lunging and long reining once she is a bit better. Strangely she is back to herself tonight so it might be we are on a right track

 

[fusspot]

My Welsh D was diagnosed at 9 with it although very very fit and not much feed.I controlled it for about 3 years with diet,exercise and a muzzle. I then had to put him on Metformin as diet etc wasn’t controlling it.Metformin worked for about 2 years and then kept getting recurrent abscesses which was permanent low grade laminitis.
Soaked hay,molasses free feed,as much movement as possible.We were convinced it was genetic which seems to be more likely true these days, so unfortunately the Metformin will only control it for a certain amount of time.