Equine Metabolic Syndrome

What is it?

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is an endocrine and metabolic disorder, where insulin resistance (IR) is the primary problem encountered, and this condition increases the risk of pasture-associated laminitis.

EMS is defined by the detection of chronic IR in a horse or pony. Affected horses are usually middle-aged (10 to 20 years of age) when EMS is first recognized, but the condition can affect younger (5 to 10 years old) horses. EMS is often first recognized when laminitis develops. The horse is usually being kept on pasture, and the episode occurs after the pasture has gone through a period of rapid growth or entered winter dormancy. Horses with EMS may be predisposed to hyperlipemia, and mares may have abnormal reproductive cycles.

Affected animals will either suffer from generalized obesity and have an overall overweight appearance, or look more normal in appearance but have enlarged fat deposits in the neck and tailhead regions. The presence of enlarged fat deposits in these locations is referred to as regional adiposity and the thickened neck region is often called a “cresty neck.”

How can KERx help?

Because horses with EMS tend to be obese with cresty necks, feeding programs should focus on reducing body weight while providing adequate protein, vitamin, and mineral intake. Though it should be a forage-based program, pasture intake should be restricted with a grazing muzzle and limited turn-out, or completely avoid during times of lush growth. The hay chosen for these horses should be good-quality, free of mold, dust, and foreign debris, but rich legumes such as alfalfa and even high-quality grass hay may provide too many calories. Since caloric restriction is important, a concentrated balancer is necessary.

I.R. Pellet provides the vitamins and minerals necessary for optimal health to those horses that maintain their weight on forage-only diets.