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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat Is EMS in Horses?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
EMS stands for equine metabolic syndrome. EMS in horses is a disorder where the body produces excess insulin, leading to weight gain and other health issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This condition typically occurs when a horse has been fed too much grain or sweet feed without enough exercise over time. It’s closely related to obesity and laminitis, but it can get triggered in horses of any body condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Normal Insulin Levels in Horses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Horses with EMS typically have very high levels of insulin<\/a> circulating in their blood. The average horse has between 2 and 15 micro IU\/ml insulin levels. Horses with EMS have insulin levels two to three times the average range for a healthy horse. This is a condition that can be deadly if not treated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many people are unaware that their horse has diabetes until it suffers from laminitis. Don’t allow laminitis to occur. Stop immediately if you are feeding your horse too much grain or sweet feed. Exercise your horses regularly to promote the breakdown of glucose in their body. This helps reduce insulin levels, which will prevent EMS or laminitis from occurring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Diabetes mellitus (type 1 or insulin-dependent diabetes) is somewhat more common in horses than people. Weight loss, frequent urination, and increased thirst & hunger are the most common symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These symptoms may appear in horses with other metabolic diseases, and blood tests can assist in the distinction of diabetic animals from those with a specific condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other diabetes in horses symptoms include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Insulin resistance in horses is a condition that you can manage through dietary, exercise, and management changes. The most common treatment for equine insulin resistance in horses is to reduce grain and sweet feed and increase hay and pasture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once your horse is diagnosed with EMS, there are three feeding options you can choose from to treat it. These are high starch diets, low starch diets, and the feeding of highly fermentable carbohydrates. Each one has its benefits to your horse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, horses on a high starch diet will often experience reduced insulin secretion than those on a low starch diet. However, there is still an increased risk of these horses developing laminitis. Conversely, horses on a low-starch diet will not risk developing laminitis because they produce less insulin in their pancreas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should keep horses affected by EMS at a lean body condition, which can be achieved by increasing exercise and keeping them on a strict diet. Exercise is also an essential aspect in reducing insulin production and ensuring that the body is getting used to breaking down glucose without the help of excess insulin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This dietary change must also include the appropriate supplementation with vitamins and minerals to ensure that the horse is getting all of its other necessary nutrients. Exercise is also an essential aspect in reducing insulin production and ensuring that the body is getting used to breaking down glucose without the help of excess insulin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This disease is challenging to manage but has been made easier due to the advancement of equine veterinary medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Equine metabolic syndrome is common in obese horses fed sweet feed or grain without enough exercise. It can also develop when a horse has rapidly gained weight over a short time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This condition typically develops in older horses, but it can also occur in younger horses. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect that your horse may have this condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can look for many signs if you suspect your horse has EMS. These include excessive drinking and urination, weight gain despite diet and exercise, increase in appetite but poor body condition, and finally, decreased body condition despite increased appetite and diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you have identified these symptoms in your horse, the next step is to get it tested by a veterinarian. The veterinarian will perform various lab tests on your horse and take its history and blood type into account when deciding to test for EMS. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The insulin and glucose levels in the blood are commonly what vets screen for EMS, and this is useful for detecting animals with mild to severe insulin imbalance. However, in non-affected animals, metabolic problems may not yet be tough enough to detect, and dynamic tests are required to identify insulin resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Intravenous and oral glucose tolerance tests assess bodily responses, particularly for abnormally high insulin responses. For example, underweight horses will often have a higher insulin concentration in their blood. <\/p>\n\n\n\nDiabetes in Horses (Symptoms)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Insulin Resistance in Horses (Treatment)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When Does Equine Metabolic Syndrome Develop in Horses?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Diagnosing EMS in Horses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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