Most horse owners are now familiar with Cushing's syndrome and its symptoms in horses. A disease with very similar symptoms is equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). In its early stages, it is therefore often confused with equine Cushing's syndrome. But what is the difference?
In most cases, poor performance is the first symptom that we as owners notice in our horses. As with Cushing's syndrome, fat deposits may appear above the eyes, on the crest of the mane, and at the base of the tail. Affected horses are often overweight overall. Increased drinking and urination are also characteristics of this disease. Recurring episodes of laminitis of unknown cause should also alert the owner, as this disease is one of the late effects of EMS.
The exact cause of this syndrome has not yet been conclusively researched. The condition can affect any breed of horse, but it is more common in ponies, small horses, and heavy cold-blooded breeds, as their exercise levels are often not in line with their energy intake. Many horses are fed too much energy-rich feed and get limited exercise. They become overweight and develop the fat deposits described above because not enough sugar from the blood is used up by muscle activity and is instead converted into fat. The messenger substances formed in the fatty tissue in turn influence insulin and sugar metabolism. This is followed by so-called "insulin resistance" (inhibition of insulin activity), the blood sugar level continues to rise and the horse develops diabetes. Fat cells also contain an enzyme that is responsible for converting inactive cortisone into active cortisol. This causes cortisol levels to rise and increases the risk of laminitis, which is another stressful situation for the horse, leading to even more cortisol being produced. A vicious circle develops. EMS is therefore not caused by an overall malfunction of the hormone balance, as is the case with Cushing's syndrome, but by a metabolic imbalance.
Even if the symptoms seem very clear, always consult a veterinarian to ensure that an accurate diagnosis is made. In addition to identifying the main symptoms, various blood tests may be used.
Unlike Cushing's disease, there is no specific medication available to treat equine metabolic syndrome. Depending on the severity of the disease and the veterinary findings, anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers may be used as supportive treatment. Your vet will advise you in detail on a case-by-case basis.
However, with strict feeding and exercise management, the disease can be successfully controlled. Excess weight and fat deposits must be reduced so that less insulin is produced. Regular and sufficient exercise ensures an effective reduction in blood sugar levels.
Accordingly, the diet must then be switched to low-starch feed. Unfortunately, many of the popular horse mueslis are no longer recommended here, as they mostly contain barley and corn, both of which are extremely starchy energy sources. Plain oats offer the advantage of having a lower starch content but a high fat and fiber content. Oats also have a positive effect on the performance of our four-legged partners, but the amount of feed must always be precisely adjusted to the horse's energy requirements. A good alternative to oats are ready-made feeds specially tailored to the needs of horses with EMS, which are now also available in stores. Horses that are easy to feed can also gain weight from too much hay. It is therefore recommended to limit the daily amount of good hay to 1% of the animal's body weight. You can reduce the sugar content of the hay by using second or third cut hay. Silage (acidification) and grazing (high sugar content in fresh grass) should be avoided.
With a well-thought-out exercise plan and a low-carb diet for weight loss, insulin resistance in your horse with EMS can be reversed. If laminitis (see related article) has already developed, the corresponding prognosis must be taken into account.
With a diet that is strictly tailored to the breed, type, and activity level of your horse, especially in terms of carbohydrates, you can effectively prevent metabolic disorders.
The petsXL health passport allows you to clearly record and monitor your horse's weight data.
This infectious disease, medically known as foal septicemia, is often fatal and affects newborn foals up to 4 weeks of age. The pathogens enter the bloodstream in various ways and can spread throughout the entire organism. However, the disease most commonly manifests itself in the joints, which is why it is colloquially known as foal paralysis.
Dogs and cats can go blind for various reasons. However, this does not mean "the end" for our beloved four-legged friends. Dogs and cats in particular, who live together with us humans, are very good at compensating for their loss of sight with other senses and can continue to lead almost normal lives.
The tendons are part of the musculoskeletal system and act as the connecting links between the muscles and the skeleton. They consist of strong, flexible tissue, transfer energy from the muscles to the bones, and thus enable targeted movement. Their special structure, consisting of parallel connective tissue fibers grouped together in bundles, gives them enormous tensile strength and elasticity. The flexor tendons of the front legs are particularly exposed to extreme stress in horses, as more than half of the body weight has to be carried by the forehand. Tendon damage is one of the most common causes of lameness, especially in sport horses. In most cases, the structures affected on the front leg are the superficial flexor tendon, the deep flexor tendon, the suspensory ligament, and the fetlock joint (see diagram). As there are very few nerves and blood vessels in the tendon tissue, healing is very slow.
Myiasis is the medical term for fly maggot infestation in rabbits, which occurs primarily in the warm summer months and in injured or weakened animals. The disease is often underestimated, but can be life-threatening for rabbits.
This muscle disease, which was only discovered in recent years, occurs primarily in Quarter Horses and cold-blooded animals and is characterized by the storage of excessive amounts of glycogen (animal starch stored in cells) in the horse's muscles. It is known as polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM).
Syncope refers to fainting or circulatory collapse that occurs suddenly without warning and leads to a temporary loss of consciousness in animals. The dog collapses suddenly and shows no signs of life. After a short time, it regains consciousness and behaves as it did before the syncope.
Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease that primarily affects cats but can also be transmitted to humans, which is why it is classified as a zoonosis. Humans are considered intermediate hosts, although clinical symptoms do not usually occur. It only becomes truly dangerous when pregnant women come into contact with toxoplasma for the first time and the pathogen infects the unborn child.
Just like in humans, the lung tissue of dogs can become inflamed. Medically referred to as pneumonia, this condition is also a serious illness in dogs and can lead to death if left untreated.
Heatstroke occurs when the internal body temperature rises above 41 degrees Celsius, which can cause life-threatening physical damage. Sunstroke, on the other hand, refers to heat accumulation in the area of the meninges caused by intense sunlight on the animal's head, which can also lead to the death of the patient in severe cases. The body temperature does not necessarily have to be elevated in sunstroke.
The air sacs of horses are part of the upper respiratory tract. They develop in foals as a mucous membrane protrusion on both sides of the Eustachian tube (the connection between the middle ear and the nasopharyngeal cavity), each with a capacity of approximately 300 ml. Air sacs are found exclusively in equines and some other odd-toed ungulates, making them a unique feature. There are various theories about the function of the air sacs. The most likely is that they serve to cool the brain. There is a connection between the horse's throat and the air sacs, which is why infections of the upper respiratory tract can also spread to the air sacs. The most important diseases of the air sacs are described below.
Sticker's sarcoma is an infectious tumor of the external genital organs of male and female dogs. It is also known as transmissible venereal tumor or venereal sarcomatosis. The disease occurs worldwide, but is primarily found in tropical and subtropical countries (Mediterranean region, Africa, Eastern Europe, South America) where there is a large population of stray dogs.
Botulism is a serious neurological disease caused by the ingestion of botulinum toxin (a poison) from contaminated feed. Even the smallest amounts of this toxin can cause severe poisoning in horses, leading to death.
