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Treatment of equine metabolic syndrome: A clinical case series.
Abstract: Treatment of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is essential to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the risk of laminitis. Calorie restriction and increased exercise are the mainstays of treatment but there is potential for poor owner compliance. Objective: To determine whether significant weight loss accompanied by improvements in measures of insulin sensitivity can be achieved in horses and ponies with EMS managed by their owners in their normal environment under veterinary guidance. Methods: Retrospective clinical case series. Methods: Horses and ponies attending 2 university hospitals for investigation and treatment of suspected EMS were eligible for inclusion in the study. Animals underwent a clinical examination, basal and dynamic endocrine testing; those with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) were excluded. Owners were given individually tailored diet and exercise programmes to follow for between 3 and 6 months. After the treatment period, clinical examination and endocrine tests were repeated and results compared to the initial assessment. Results: Nineteen animals were recruited to the study, 17 with a history of laminitis. All animals showed a reduction in body condition score (P<0.001) and 18/19 had a reduction in bodyweight (P<0.001) between assessments. There were significant (P<0.05) reductions in basal insulin, insulin at 45 min during a combined glucose insulin tolerance test (CGIT), time for blood glucose concentration to return to baseline during a CGIT and mean area under the glucose curve. Conclusions: A diet and exercise programme tailored to the needs of the individual animal and implemented by the owner results in weight loss accompanied by improvements in insulin sensitivity.
© 2015 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2015-06-18 PubMed ID: 25808563DOI: 10.1111/evj.12445Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article describes a study investigating the effectiveness of owner-implemented diet and exercise programs on treating Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), a hormonal disorder in horses. The study found these tailored programs to be successful in achieving significant weight loss and improvements in insulin sensitivity in horses.
Objective and Methodology of the Research
- The main objective of the research was to determine if significant weight loss accompanied by improvements in insulin sensitivity could be achieved in horses and ponies suffering from EMS. They aimed to study these effects when the treatment was managed by the animals’ owners in their normal environment, under veterinary guidance.
- The study was a retrospective clinical case series, involving horses and ponies attending two university hospitals for investigation and treatment of suspected EMS.
- Prior to inclusion in the study, all the animals underwent a clinical examination and basal and dynamic endocrine testing. Animals with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) were excluded from the study.
- Owners of the animals included in the study were then given individually tailored diet and exercise programs to follow for between three and six months.
- After the treatment period, a repeat of the initial clinical examination and endocrine tests were conducted, with the results compared to the results from the initial assessment.
Results of the Research
- There were nineteen animals that were recruited for the study. Out of these, seventeen had a history of laminitis, a painful hoof condition.
- On analysis of the results, all animals showed a reduction in body condition score, and eighteen out of the nineteen had a reduction in body weight, showing significant improvements.
- The study also saw significant reductions in basal insulin, insulin at 45 minutes during a combined glucose insulin tolerance test (CGIT), time for blood glucose concentration to return to baseline during a CGIT, and mean area under the glucose curve.
Conclusions from the Research
- The research concluded that diet and exercise programs, tailored according to the individual needs of each horse or pony and implemented by their owners, proved to be effective in managing EMS.
- These programs resulted in significant weight loss and improvements in insulin sensitivity in the studied animals. This demonstrates that owner compliance with veterinary guidance can significantly contribute to the successful treatment of EMS.
Cite This Article
APA
Morgan RA, Keen JA, McGowan CM.
(2015).
Treatment of equine metabolic syndrome: A clinical case series.
Equine Vet J, 48(4), 422-426.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12445 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, UK.
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK.
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK.
- Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Male
- Metabolic Syndrome / therapy
- Metabolic Syndrome / veterinary
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Retrospective Studies
- Weight Loss
Citations
This article has been cited 16 times.- Kellon EM, Gustafson KM. Use of the SGLT2 inhibitor canagliflozin for control of refractory equine hyperinsulinemia and laminitis. Open Vet J 2022 Jul-Aug;12(4):511-518.
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- Carslake HB, Pinchbeck GL, McGowan CM. Equine metabolic syndrome in UK native ponies and cobs is highly prevalent with modifiable risk factors. Equine Vet J 2021 Sep;53(5):923-934.
- Delarocque J, Frers F, Huber K, Feige K, Warnken T. Weight loss is linearly associated with a reduction of the insulin response to an oral glucose test in Icelandic horses. BMC Vet Res 2020 May 24;16(1):151.
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- Bertin FR, Taylor SD, Bianco AW, Sojka-Kritchevsky JE. The Effect of Fasting Duration on Baseline Blood Glucose Concentration, Blood Insulin Concentration, Glucose/Insulin Ratio, Oral Sugar Test, and Insulin Response Test Results in Horses. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Sep;30(5):1726-1731.
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