What Is Horse Diabetes Called?

Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is a hormonal disorder similar to Type 2 diabetes in humans.

What causes horse diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus is uncommon in horses and the few reported cases have included insulin resistant and type S DM, secondary to pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (1,3–11). Other reported causes of diabetes in horses include chronic pancreatitis, granulosa cell ovarian tumor, and pregnancy (1,6,8,11).

What are the signs of diabetes in horses?

Typical signs are weight loss, frequent urination, and excessive thirst. These signs may be found in horses with other metabolic conditions, and bloodwork can help to separate diabetic horses from those with a different problem.

Do horses get diabetes mellitus?

As with their human counterparts, horses may develop type 2 DM as a result of IR and EMS, but DM is relatively uncommonly identified in the equine species.

What triggers EMS in horses?

What causes EMS? EMS is a result of genetic predisposition combined with environmental and physiological factors such as obesity, high sugar diets, lack of exercise, and concurrent illnesses. Horses and ponies with EMS are often described as being “easy keepers” and have a tendency to become overweight.

Is laminitis similar to diabetes?

Extreme insulin resistance may be associated with clinical laminitis in ponies, contributing to a diabetic-like state in which the pancreas is unresponsive to changes in circulating glucose despite remarkable persistent circulating insulin concentrations.

How do you prevent diabetes in horses?

Feed forage with a hay net or slow feeder and consider soaking your hay to remove sugars. Remove grain, fruits, vegetables, and treats that contain sugar from the diet as they are usually high in NSC content. If your horse is overweight, high-fat feeds may need to be restricted due to their high energy content.

What are 5 common symptoms of a pre diabetic?

Symptoms

• Increased thirst.
• Frequent urination.
• Increased hunger.
• Fatigue.
• Blurred vision.
• Numbness or tingling in the feet or hands.
• Frequent infections.
• Slow-healing sores.

What happens when a horse has too much sugar?

The sugars in horse feed are known as water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and too much can lead to diet-related metabolic disorders. As well as weight gain, too much sugar can lead to more serious health implications for horses such as Laminitis, Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance.

What treats can you give a diabetic horse?

If you have a horse with IR, EMS, Cushing’s, or another metabolic concern, here are the proper treats for insulin-resistant horses:

• Strawberries.
• Celery.
• Apple Peels.
• Commerical Low Starch Treats.
• Pumpkin Seeds.
• Chopped Low-NSC Forage.
• Watermelon Rinds.
• Molasses-Free Beet Pulp.

Does sugar cause laminitis in horses?

When large quantities of sugar are absorbed into the blood stream there is a spike of insulin release – intended to drive the sugar into cells for energy production or storage. However, in extreme circumstances, especially when there is underlying insulin resistance, this can cause laminitis.

What do you feed a horse with insulin resistance?

Select a horse feed low in sugar and starch (20% or less) to normalize blood glucose and insulin levels for your horse with IR. Beet pulp and soy hulls contain very low levels of soluble carbohydrates, so select a feed that is based on one of these ingredients.

What causes high insulin levels in horses?

Hyperinsulinemia, which is defined as an unusually high blood or plasma insulin concentration, with or without hyperglycemia, is common in horses. Pituitary dysfunction and obesity can cause IR and both are correlated with an increased risk of laminitis.

Can horses recover from EMS?

Treatment. The good news is that EMS can be reversed. Due to the complex nature of EMS, there is likely to be weight loss resistance.

Is EMS the same as Cushings in horses?

In general, Cushings affects older horses, whereas EMS first develops in young and middle-aged animals. Although they are two separate conditions, they can overlap. All breeds are susceptible but ponies are most at risk.

What are the signs of insulin resistance in horses?

Early signs of Insulin Resistant Horse:

• Abnormal weight gain or weight loss.
• Increased or excessive water consumption.
• Loss of stamina and muscle tone.
• Tendency to develop laminitis or colic.
• Abdominal bloating.
• Increased blood triglyceride levels.

How do you get rid of laminitis?

Treatment. Your vet is likely to prescribe painkillers and advise a period of box rest with a deep bed of shavings. Once the pain has initially been managed, your horse’s hooves may have to be trimmed by your farrier to relieve any pressure and sole or frog supports fitted.

Can you reverse laminitis?

Laminitis is irreversible and once clinical signs are observed, the damage is already underway. At this point, it is important to minimize further progression. Treatment largely involves pain management and supportive care.

What is the best treatment for laminitis?

Laminitis is a medical emergency and horses should be seen by a vet so that they can receive treatment as soon as possible. Various medicines can be given to control the pain including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as phenylbutazone (‘bute’) or flunixin and opiates like morphine and pethidine.

Why do they cut off legs for diabetes?

Because of reduced blood flow, wounds may be slow to heal or not heal at all. As a result, tissue can become damaged, and an infection can develop and spread to the bones. Once this happens, amputation is often the only option to prevent more damage.

How common is diabetes in horses?

Cells (beta cells) within the pancreas produce the hormone insulin, which is vital to normal metabolism. Diabetes mellitus (insulin-dependent diabetes) is failure of these cells to produce insulin for any reason. True insulin dependent diabetes is very rare in horses.