Warning of possible adverse effects of SGLT2i on horses.

© Brian Sedgbeer Dreamstime.com

A group of veterinary experts have issued a warning regarding the potential adverse effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in horses. In a letter published in the Veterinary Record, Bruce McGorum and clinicians from leading veterinary hospitals like the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh, Rossdales Equine Hospital, the University of Liverpool, and the Royal Veterinary College expressed their concerns.

These medications, such as ertugliflozin and canagliflozin, are increasingly used to treat equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), particularly in horses with laminitis that hasn't responded to dietary adjustments. While these drugs have shown promise in reducing serum insulin concentrations, promoting weight loss, and managing laminitis related to hyperinsulinemia, concerns have been raised about significant adverse effects.

 

Minor side effects reported include increased serum triglycerides and liver enzymes, dullness, and increased drinking and urination. However, more serious cases have shown markedly elevated serum triglycerides (above 40 mmol/L), increased liver enzymes (such as GGT, GLDH, LDH), and bile acids, indicating potential liver damage or dysfunction. These biochemical changes were also accompanied by clinical signs such as dullness, loss of appetite, gastric impaction, bilateral laryngeal paralysis, hepatic encephalopathy, and, in some cases, death.

 

Due to these risks, the experts recommend that SGLT2 inhibitors be used only in horses that have not responded to adequate dietary or exercise management, or those with severe laminitis. 

 

Additionally, they advise against using these medications in horses with pre-existing liver disease or hyperlipaemia and emphasize the importance of regular monitoring of diet, liver enzymes, serum triglycerides, and bile acids. Horse owners should be educated about the signs of hyperlipaemia and the potential risks involved in the use of these drugs.

 

Further research is needed to fully understand the risk factors and adverse effects of SGLT2 inhibitors in horses. Until then, their use should be restricted to cases where other treatment options have failed.

For more details, see:

B C McGorum, J A Keen, S McCullagh, CM Marr, C MacKenzie, H Carslake, N Menzies-Gow, Bettina Dunkel, M Hewetson, J Reed, E Knowles.

Potential adverse effects of SGLT2i in horses 

Veterinary Record (2024) vol 195, 253

Navigating the Equine Breeding Season: Mares Webinar

Are you new to horse breeding or looking to expand your knowledge? Join the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) for a free, informative webinar on the equine breeding season.

The webinar is directed toward horse owners/managers either new to breeding horses or those with limited experience. It will cover the basics of reproductive biology of the horse, logistics of the breeding season and what to expect when breeding your mare. 

The presenter is Dr. Dale Kelley, board-certified reproduction specialist at Oklahoma State University, College of Veterinary Medicine.

 

Access is free, but registration is required.

 

Details:

• Date and time : 

 

(USA) Wednesday, Oct. 30, 8:00 p.m. ET

(UK) Thursday, Oct. 31, midnight (00:00) GMT

 

• To register go to:

https://aaep-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CHkvKjmpTlGOiPMbwhEtBA#/registration

 

• Submit questions in advance through the registration form.

 

If you miss the live event, a recording will be available.

Seasonal sycamore risk

 The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) is reminding horse owners to keep horses away from sycamore trees as their seeds can cause fatal illness, known as atypical myopathy. 

Seeds (masts or helicopters) from the common sycamore tree (Acer pseudoplatanus) produce a toxin called Hypoglycin A, which can remain present in high concentrations in seedlings. When horses eat these, either by accident or because they are lacking other forage options, some individuals will develop severe and often fatal muscle damage, called atypical myopathy. 

 

Symptoms include muscle soreness, weakness, breathing issues, and dark urine. Immediate veterinary care is crucial, as 75% of affected horses die.

 

“With leaves still on trees now is the time to identify sycamores in the vicinity of your horse’s fields and predict the future risk,” said Lucy Grieve, Veterinary Projects Officer at BEVA “Once the leaves start to turn and then drop it will be much more difficult to spot sycamores.”

 

To prevent atypical myopathy, she advises:

 

·      Identify sycamore trees near fields and anticipate risk before leaves fall.

·      Collect seeds or exclude horses from affected areas using electric fencing or stabling. 

·      provide supplementary forage to prevent seed ingestion.

·      Don’t fell seed-laden trees, as it may worsen contamination.

·      Monitor horses carefully even after they have been moved from affected pasture as disease can occur up to four days after exposure.

 

For further information you can download the Royal Veterinary College’s fact sheet on  Atypical Myopathy: https://www.rvc.ac.uk/Media/Default/Comparative%20Neuromuscular%20Diseases%20Laboratory/Atypical%20Myopathy%20fact%20file%20updated%202022.pdf

 

For further information visit www.beva.org.uk.

Is faecal microbiota transplantation useful for treating diarrhoea in foals?

(c) Rookie72 Dreamstime.com

 Diarrhoea is a common problem in foals under 6 months of age. 

There are many causes, or combination of causes, including infectious, managerial, and environmental factors.  

Foal diarrhoea can lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and, in severe cases, systemic infections. In such cases, it can become life-threatening.

 

Diarrhoea and Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) in foals are interconnected conditions that demand immediate attention. While diarrhoea is a frequent occurrence, it can escalate to SIRS, particularly when associated with severe infections or when significant dehydration and systemic stress occur.

 

A common contributor to diarrhoea in foals is dysbiosis, or a disruption in the normal intestinal microbiota. Could restoring this microbial balance be a potential solution for managing this potentially fatal condition? 

 

Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been used in adult horses to reduce diarrhoea and improve alpha diversity, a measure of the variety of microbial species within an individual’s gut.

 

A recent study in Australia, published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, explored the effects of FMT in foals with diarrhoea and SIRS. The study, led by Jillian Bell, involved clinicians from three equine veterinary hospitals. It included 25 foals under six months of age with diarrhoea and SIRS who were admitted for treatment.

 

In the randomised, placebo-controlled cohort study, 19 foals were enrolled in the FMT group, while 9 were in the control group. The treatment groups received either FMT or an electrolyte solution once daily for three days. Researchers collected faecal samples from the foals on days 0 (D0), D1, D2, D3, and D7 to monitor changes.

 

The FMT solution was prepared 15 minutes prior to treatment. from fresh manure collected from healthy donor horses (previously screened for pathogenic agents). About 300 g of manure was blended with 1 L of warm chlorinated water (95°F) for 30 to 60 seconds, then strained through a wire strainer or gauze into a clean container.

 

The study found that FMT was associated with improvements in some clinical signs and certain clinicopathological parameters. FMT had no significant impact on survival rates (P = 0.3) or the resolution of diarrhoea (P = 0.4). Foals receiving FMT, however, showed a significantly lower heart rate, white blood cell (WBC) count, and packed cell volume (PCV), as well as higher serum chloride concentrations, compared to pretreatment values and the control group. Notably, on Day 3, the WBC count in the FMT group was significantly lower than in the control group (P = 0.04), and heart rate decreased over time in the FMT group.

 

Additionally, although three foals initially in the control group were later transferred to the FMT group, diarrhoea resolved in two of them after FMT treatment.

 

FMT was also associated with a greater diversity in the gut microbiota, with enrichment of beneficial bacteria such as the phylum Verrucomicrobiota, genus Akkermansia, and family Prevotellaceae. Previous studies have shown that Akkermansia is linked to the maintenance of the mucin layer in the intestines and can reduce bowel inflammation in humans. Members of the Prevotellaceae family have been associated with anti-inflammatory effects and improved intestinal health.

 

The authors concluded that FMT appears to be a safe treatment for foals with diarrhoea and can lead to some clinical and microbiota changes that suggest beneficial effects. 

 

However, further research is needed to confirm its impact on survival and long-term outcomes in affected foals.

 

For more details, see: 

 

Bell J,  Raidal SL,  Cuming RS,  Trope G,  Hughes KJ.  

Effects of fecal microbiota transplantation on clinical outcomes and fecal microbiota of foals with diarrhea. 

J Vet Intern Med.  2024; 38(5): 2718-2728.

https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.17185

Equine feed manufacturer announces free webinar series

 

 The SPILLERS™ Brand has announced a new series of free nutrition webinars designed to
elevate horse owners’ understanding of equine nutrition and wellbeing. 

 

The four webinars, to be held over the winter months, promise to provide valuable insights from nutrition, veterinary and welfare experts. 

 

The first webinar Forage fundamentals will be held on 24th October 2024, led by equine nutrition expert, Sarah Nelson. She will explore the role of forage in the horse’s diet, covering essential topics such as the different types of forage, their nutritional value, and how to choose the most suitable type and amount of forage for different horses and ponies. 

 

“This webinar is the perfect opportunity for horse owners to deepen their understanding of forage management and in turn, be better placed to support their horse’s digestive health and wellbeing,” said Sarah Nelson.

 

The first webinar will be followed by: 

 

Stabling horses: Can we do it better? – 21st November 2024, with Isabel Harker, head of the SPILLERS Care-Line team, and Sarah Hallsworth, Equine Behaviour Manager at Redwings Horse Sanctuary

Caring for the senior horse – 16th January 2025, with SPILLERS Nutritionist and Product Manager, Sarah Nelson, and Professor Pat Harris, a leading authority on veterinary clinical nutrition and senior horse nutrition.

Spring into action: Effective strategies to help your horse shed the pounds – 27th February 2025, with SPILLERS Nutrition Advisor, Isabel Harker, and Nicky Jarvis, Head of Veterinary and Care at Redwings Horse Sanctuary. 

 

To register visit: https://www.spillers-feeds.com/webinars

Managing thin soles in performance horses

(c) Matz et al 2024

 Thin soles and poor palmar angles are common issues in performance horses, significantly impacting their comfort, movement, and hoof health. Horses with thin soles are more prone to lameness due to increased sensitivity, pain, bruising, and a higher risk of developing solar abscesses.

Managing thin soles can be challenging for farriers and hoof care professionals. Many owners turn to protective footwear, while supplements rich in biotin, methionine, and zinc are often used to promote hoof growth. 

One potential therapy gaining attention is Pulsed Electromagnetic Frequency (PEMF) therapy. Widely used in equine therapy, PEMF promotes healing, reduces pain, and supports overall health and performance. Could it also play a role in managing thin soles?

 

A recent pilot study led by Madelyn Matz, published in the Journal of Equine Rehabilitation, explored the effect of PEMF therapy on hoof parameters in ten adult horses of various breeds. The horses were divided into a PEMF group (n=6) and a control group (n=4).

 

All horses underwent standard hoof trimming the day before the study began, with no further farriery work during the trial. Radiographs were taken before treatment and again 30 days later, measuring sole depth and palmar angles (see figure).

 

The PEMF group received treatment at a frequency of 22 Hz for ten minutes per session, applied to both hooves three times a week (on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) over a 30-day period, while the control group received no intervention.

 

The study found no significant differences between the PEMF and control groups in terms of sole depth under the apex of the proximal phalanx or palmar angles. However, there was a trend towards increased sole depth beneath the distal processes of the right hoof in the PEMF-treated horses.

 

While this pilot study showed no significant improvement overall, the trend towards increased sole depth suggests that PEMF therapy may offer some benefit. 

 

The researchers concluded that further investigation is warranted, as PEMF therapy could become a non-invasive option for managing thin soles in horses.

 

 

For more details, see:

 

M.M. Matz, D.L. Alexander, J. Moore, C.E. Fedorka,

Evaluating the effect of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy on sole depth of the equine hoof: A pilot study,

Journal of Equine Rehabilitation, (2024) Vol 2,100010,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eqre.2024.100010