Equine health and quality of life research project

Horse owners and caretakers are being invited to participate in a new research project designed
to improve equine health and wellbeing. The project focuses on developing a questionnaire to measure health-related quality of life (HRQL) in horses.

 

Zoetis, in collaboration with VetMetrica, is leading this initiative. The work builds on many years of pain research carried out at the University of Glasgow, where similar HRQL instruments have already been successfully developed for dogs and cats. These tools are now licensed for use by veterinary surgeons in clinical practice and trials, enabling them to monitor how animals are feeling and assess the effects of health conditions on quality of life. Following the success of these tools for dogs and cats, the same approach is now being extended to horses.

 

The researchers explain that their primary focus is on chronic conditions, such as arthritis or chronic laminitis, which are long-term health problems that may persist continuously or flare up periodically. This differs from acute conditions, such as colic or injury, which tend to arise suddenly but are usually short-lived. By concentrating on chronic conditions, the study aims to capture the ongoing impact of these issues on horses’ daily lives and wellbeing.

 

As part of the project, the research team has compiled a list of words and phrases commonly used to describe horses when they are well or unwell. Horse owners are now being asked to complete a survey to help evaluate the clarity and relevance of these terms. Their input will contribute directly to the development of a practical and effective tool for monitoring equine quality of life.

 

“The survey results will support the development and validity of our new measurement tool”, said Prof Jacky Reid, “especially when used in horses living with chronic conditions like arthritis or laminitis where their quality of life is significantly compromised.”

 

All responses are anonymous and used solely for research. 

For more details, see:

https://zoetis.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5mq13ASuyVTAqLc?Q_CHL=qr

 

For further information contact Dr Cory Noble at cory.noble@zoetis.com

Managing insulin dysregulation in horses: a role for nutraceuticals

(c) Brian Sedgbeer Dreamstime.com

Insulin resistance (IR) and insulin dysregulation (ID) in horses are major risk factors for developing laminitis; a painful and potentially debilitating condition. While some horses are genetically predisposed to IR, diet also plays a critical role in its development. Because of this, there's growing interest in whether specific dietary strategies, including the use of nutraceuticals, can help reduce the risk.

A recent study led by Caroline Loos and her colleagues at the University of Kentucky's Gluck Equine Research Center, and published in the journal Animals,  explored whether supplementing the diet with a specific combination of nutrients could help improve insulin regulation in horses that are prone to IR. 

The trial involved 16 mature horses with a known history of insulin dysregulation. The horses were split into two groups:

• One group received a nutraceutical supplement containing omega-3 fatty acids, glutamine, vitamin E, and active yeast.
• The other group received a placebo.

Both supplements were given once daily for four weeks. During the study, horses were kept on dry lots, had free access to grass hay, and were also fed a grain concentrate twice daily (providing 0.5 g of starch per kg of body weight per meal).

To assess the horses’ insulin regulation, each underwent a Combined Glucose–Insulin Tolerance Test (CGIT) at the start and end of the trial. The CGIT is a diagnostic test commonly used in equine medicine to evaluate how effectively a horse’s body clears glucose from the bloodstream in response to insulin. During the test, horses receive a bolus (injection) of glucose and insulin, and blood samples are collected over a 150-minute period to track how quickly glucose and insulin levels return to baseline. The faster the return to normal, the better the horse’s insulin sensitivity.

After four weeks of supplementation, horses receiving the nutraceutical showed notable improvements:

• 61% faster glucose clearance compared to the placebo group.
• Shorter time for blood glucose levels to return to normal.
• Lower insulin levels at 75 minutes post-test, indicating reduced hyperinsulinemia.
• Glucose concentrations were also lower at 45 minutes post-test in the supplemented group.

In contrast, horses in the placebo group still had elevated insulin levels 150 minutes after the test, suggesting poorer insulin regulation.

These findings suggest that prophylactic use of specific nutraceuticals may help improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the risk of insulin-associated laminitis, particularly in horses consuming high-starch diets. By supporting faster glucose clearance and lowering insulin levels, this approach may offer a valuable management tool for horses at risk of ID or IR.

While more research is needed to confirm long-term benefits, this study highlights the potential of targeted dietary supplementation in supporting metabolic health in horses.

 

For more details, see:

 

Loos, Caroline, Annette Castelein, Eric Vanzant, Emma Adam, and Kyle R. McLeod. 

Nutraceutical Supplement Mitigates Insulin Resistance in Horses with a History of Insulin Dysregulation During a Challenge with a High-Starch Diet

Animals (2024) 14, no. 23: 3385. 

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14233385

Survey on SGLT2 Inhibitor Use in Horses with EMS or PPID

(c) Brian Sedgbeer Dreamstime.com

Have you used an SGLT2 inhibitor (one of the          "-flozin" drugs) to treat your horse? If so, the Equine
Cushing's and Insulin Resistance Group (ECIR) invites you to contribute to an important research initiative.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), such as ertugliflozin and canagliflozin, are increasingly used to manage equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), particularly in horses with laminitis that has not responded to dietary changes. These drugs have shown potential benefits, including reducing serum insulin levels, aiding weight loss, and improving laminitis associated with hyperinsulinemia.

However, concerns have arisen about possible side effects, such as elevated serum triglycerides and liver enzyme levels, lethargy, and increased drinking and urination.

Dr. Kellon of the ECIR Group has created a survey to investigate factors that may influence the outcomes of SGLT2 inhibitor use in horses. This includes individual horse characteristics, comorbidities, and dietary factors that may contribute to or mitigate adverse effects.

If you are an owner, veterinarian, or caretaker of a horse receiving one of these drugs—such as canagliflozin, ertugliflozin, or dapagliflozin—you are encouraged to participate in the survey. Your insights will help enhance understanding and improve the management of metabolic disorders in horses and ponies.

The survey can be found here www.surveymonkey.com/r/YM5JD9G 

 

See also:

Eleanor M. Kellon, V.M.D. (Equine Nutritional Solutions) 

www.drkellon.com

 

Equine Cushing's and Insulin Resistance Group Inc.

www.ecirhorse.org

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

Advances in endocrinology take centre stage in latest EVJ

The endocrine system plays an essential role in balancing the horse's health. Unfortunately, it is
prone to malfunction.

The March issue of the Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ) highlights the latest work advancing veterinary understanding of equine endocrinology.

  

In a press release, EVJ guest editor Melody de Laat, said “Knowledge, diagnosis and treatment of equine endocrinopathies has improved dramatically over the past 25 years, with progress driven by the publication of peer-reviewed papers and the application of evidence-based medicine.” 

   

Obesity, PPID (Equine Cushing’s), insulin dysregulation (ID), thyroid disorders and the effects of corticosteroid administration are all covered. Articles include:

 

• ·     The BEVA Primary Care Clinical Guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of PPID, directed at equine practitioners in an ambulatory setting. The evidence review supports clinical signs such as hyperhidrosis, regional adiposity, epaxial muscle atrophy, laminitis, weight loss, recurrent infections or delayed healing, behaviour changes, or polyuria and polydipsia as prompts for moderate suspicion of PPID in animals of more than 10 years of age. The review supports the assessment of basal plasma ACTH concentrations or ACTH responses to exogenous thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) administration. It also supports the use of pergolide as a therapy for PPID.

• ·   Lumbar vertebral bone density is decreased in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction explores the infrequent finding of pathological fractures in aged horses with advanced PPID.

• ·       Influence of feeding and other factors on adrenocorticotropin concentration and thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test in horses and ponies and Clinical implications of imprecise sampling time for 10- and 30-minute thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation tests in horses stresses the importance of exact timing when these samples are collected. 

• ·      Obesity and obesity-associated metabolic disease conditions in Connemara ponies in Ireland showed a 50% prevalence of laminitis in obese ponies. 

• ·       Development of a body condition index to estimate adiposity in ponies and horses from morphometric measurements presents an alternative method for measuring adiposity.

• ·          Associations between feeding and glucagon-like peptide-2 in healthy ponies looks at the role of glucagon-like peptide-2 in the development of hyperinsulinaemia in ID.

• ·         Expression of the GCG gene and secretion of active glucagon-like peptide-1 varies along the length of intestinal tract in horses demonstrates that both the large and small intestines are sites of equine GLP-1 secretion and that the genetic coding is identical in horses with and without ID.

• ·            Relationships between total adiponectin concentrations and obesity in native-breed ponies in England and Short-term induced hyperinsulinaemia and dexamethasone challenge do not affect circulating total adiponectin concentrations in insulin-sensitive ponies show that total adiponectin is not as strongly correlated with body condition, body shape and breed as expected and inducing short-term ID does not alter total adiponectin concentrations. 

• ·            Factors associated with insulin responses to oral sugars in a mixed-breed cohort of ponies and Epidemiological investigation of insulin dysregulation in Shetland and Welsh ponies in Australia determine that the insulin response to oral sugar is associated with multiple variables but cannot be predicted from the physical appearance. 

• ·            Insulin, but not adiponectin, is detectable in equine saliva using an automated, commercial assay in a pilot study in the UK demonstrates that insulin is measurable in equine saliva, but this method is not currently a viable alternative to blood. 

• ·        The effect of pre-dosing with metformin on the insulin response to oral sugar in insulin-dysregulated horsesshows the lack of efficacy of metformin (dosed at 30 mg/kg) on the insulin response to an oral sugar test.

• ·           Intra-articular trimacinolone acetonide injection results in increases in systemic insulin and glucose concentrations in horses without insulin dysregulation shows that intra-articular triamcinolone does not result in circulating insulin concentrations likely to induce laminitis in insulin-sensitive animals. 

• ·           Diagnosis and management of thyroid disorders and thyroid hormone supplementation in adult horses and foals reviews thyroid gland pathophysiology in adult horses and foals, blood thyroid hormone concentrations and the use of T4 supplementation in equine practice. 

 

“This robust collection reflects the continual dedication of equine veterinary researchers to developing our understanding of equine endocrinology,” said Professor Celia Marr, Editor of the EVJ. “Such work is enabling the application of evidence-based medicine to improve the diagnosis, management, treatment and quality of life of animals with endocrine disorders.”

 

The March issue is available to read free:

 

https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/20423306/2024/56/2

Funding offered for Cushing’s and Insulin Resistance research

The Equine Cushing's and Insulin Resistance Group Inc. (ECIR Group) is now accepting funding requests for 2024. These proposals should focus on researching Equine Metabolic Syndrome/Insulin Resistance (EMS/IR) and Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID). 

The ECIR Group's mission is to improve the well-being of equines with metabolic disorders through a blend of basic research and practical clinical experience. Their primary objective is to prevent laminitis. 

 

"Quality scientific research is critical to the continuous advancement of knowledge to benefit metabolic equines." said Dr. Kathleen Gustafson, ECIR Group Inc. Research Director. "Our goal in 2024 is to fund research and encourage collaboration between scientists, scholars, veterinarians, and hoof care professionals to positively affect the health and welfare of these equines."

 

"Through the sharing of their in-the-barn experience, ECIR Group supporters have helped build effective protocols for metabolically challenged equines." said current President, Nancy Collins. "It is an honor that now, through member financial support, the ECIR Group has expanded to also fund equine metabolic research."

 

Proposals seeking funding should focus on EMS and PPID, covering topics such as diagnosis, diet, hoof care, exercise (referred to as DDT/E) and preventing laminitis. Any proposals meeting these criteria will be considered.

 

Applications must be submitted via the ecirhorse.org research portal. Deadline for submission is May 31, 2024.

 

Researchers will find more information at https://www.ecirhorse.org/research-proposals.php

Lean animals can also be at high risk of laminitis, concludes new study

It’s not just obese ponies who can be at high risk of laminitis, a newly published study has
confirmed. Obesity, despite its significant health hazards, may not be a reliable indicator of poor metabolic health and associated laminitis risk, because lean animals have been shown to be at high risk too.  

Adiponectin, a hormone coming from fat deposits, can be measured in the blood, and is thought to improve sensitivity to insulin.  Previous work has shown that low blood concentrations of adiponectin reflect an increased risk of laminitis.  Decreased concentrations of the hormone have been found in association with obesity, but this new work has shown that decreased levels of adiponectin can also be found quite commonly in lean, native-breed ponies.

 

In this latest study, led by Marine Barnabé , data collected during three previous studies involving native-breed ponies, were retrospectively analysed.  Funding for the study was provided by Waltham Petcare Science Institute and the Royal Veterinary College Mellon Fund. An open-access report is published in the Equine Veterinary Journal

 

Total adiponectin was compared between 734 ponies of different body condition score (BCS) classification (ideal-weight, overweight, and obese), breed, and body shape, with and without a history of laminitis. Age, breed, sex, weight, height, and weight:height ratios were recorded. BCS was assessed on a scale of 1 to 9 and was determined by a single assessor. Blood samples were collected from non-grain fed but not forage fasted animals to determine basal insulin and total adiponectin. 

 

The results showed that total adiponectin was weakly positively correlated with BCS, height, weight, and weight:height ratio. There were significant differences in adiponectin concentrations in ponies with different BCS group classification, body shape, and breed. More of the obese (54.6%) than ideal-weight ponies had normal total adiponectin concentrations and a greater percentage of ideal-weight (38.6%) than obese ponies showed low adiponectin concentrations. 

 

“This study together with our previous work has provided us with the important take-home message that you cannot presume that just because your horse or pony is lean or of ideal bodyweight it is automatically at reduced risk,” said Sarah Nelson, Product Manager at Mars Horsecare, home of the SPILLERS brand. 

 

“They may still have insulin dysregulation and/or low adiponectin concentrations and so be at an increased risk of laminitis. If you are concerned it is important to speak to your vet and have your horse or pony tested. It’s also advisable to contact your nutrition advisor to ensure you provide the best diet to manage your individual.”

 

Another valuable initial observation from the study was the significant difference in total adiponectin concentrations between ponies of different body shapes. The middle-heavy body shape was associated with higher total adiponectin concentrations than both other shapes, suggesting this fat accumulation pattern may be less detrimental in ponies. This is similar to research in humans that has shown increased thigh fat or a ‘pear’ shape may be protective against insulin resistance compared to increased visceral fat or ‘apple’ shape. However, more work is needed to investigate these initial findings.

 

Barnabé  concludes that body condition scoring and other morphometric measures of obesity do not reliably reflect circulating total adiponectin concentrations and should not be used to assess metabolic risk factors for EMS or endocrinopathic laminitis in ponies. 

 

“Basal hyperinsulinaemia and hypoadiponectinaemia may be highly prevalent in lean native-breed ponies and circulating concentrations of both these hormones should be measured in animals with predisposing factors, regardless of BCS.”

 

She added: “Understanding the modifiable factors that are associated with total adiponectin concentrations may help to identify targets for preventive or therapeutic intervention, with the goal of reducing the development of endocrinopathic laminitis in at-risk horses and ponies.” 

 

For more details, see:

 

Relationships between total adiponectin concentrations and obesity in native-breed ponies in England

Marine A. Barnabé, Jonathan Elliott, Patricia A. Harris, Nicola J. Menzies-Gow

 Equine Veterinary journal (2023)

https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14013

Prevalence of laminitis in Norwegian ponies

New research highlights the problem of laminitis in the Norwegian Nordlandshest/Lyngshest pony breed.

Ponies, in general, are prone to laminitis and field observations suggest Norwegian breeds are no exception

 A recent study by Sigrid Lykkjen, Ingrid Hunter Holmøy from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, and Linda Koldal Stenbakk from the Forus Hesteklinikk, sheds light on the prevalence and risk factors associated with laminitis within this pony breed. A full report of the study is published in Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

 

The Nordland or Lyngshest, native to Norway, is typically small to medium-sized, standing at 12 to 14 hands (48 to 56 inches or 122 to 142 cm) at the withers. With a compact and muscular build, these ponies are well-suited for tasks in challenging mountainous terrains, commonly employed in riding, driving, and therapeutic riding programs.

 

The study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors for laminitis in the Norwegian Nordlandshest/Lyngshest pony breed. To address the question, the research team used questionnaires distributed among members of the Norwegian Nordlandshest/Lyngshest breed association..

 

Analysis revealed age, sex, and regional adiposity as notable risk factors for laminitis. Moreover, the level of exercise and outdoor housing was significantly correlated with a reduced prevalence of laminitis.

 

For horses over nine years old, the lifetime prevalence of laminitis approached 20%. However, the overall lifetime prevalence across the entire population was comparatively lower. The researchers attributed this lower prevalence to the study's inclusion of a substantial number of young animals (24% aged five years or less), suggesting their contribution to the overall lower incidence of laminitis.

 

In conclusion, the researchers emphasize that laminitis poses a considerable welfare challenge within the Nordlandshest/Lyngshest pony breed.

 

“The identified risk factors, namely age, sex, and regional adiposity, underscore the importance of heightened diagnosis and monitoring of EMS/insulin dysregulation in the breed. Additionally, the findings highlight the necessity for enhanced owner education and awareness of strategies aimed at reducing the risk of laminitis.”

 

For more details, see:

 

Prevalence and risk factors for laminitis within the Norwegian pony breed Nordlandshest/Lyngshest

Sigrid Lykkjen, Linda Koldal Stenbakk & Ingrid Hunter Holmøy 

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica (2023) vol 65, Article number: 22 

Insulin Dysregulation: not limited to overweight ponies

  

Body condition score alone does not reliably predict the risk of a pony developing laminitis
according to recent research. 

 

The study, by Edd Knowles, Post-doctoral researcher at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and Internal Medicine Specialist at Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic. with colleagues at the RVC, and Pat Harris of the Waltham Equine Studies Group, is published in the Equine Veterinary Journal.

 

The findings show that insulin dysregulation (ID), which is linked to an increased risk of laminitis, may occur in ponies across a wide range of body conditions, ages and levels of exercise, not just in those that are overweight. The study also showed that ID was less common in ponies that undertook more exercise, including low-intensity activities.

 

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. The release of insulin is the signal for cells, largely in muscle and liver tissue to absorb glucose (sugar) from the blood. Insulin dysregulation (ID) is a term that includes a high basal or ‘resting’ insulin (in the blood), an exaggerated insulin response to consuming starch and/ or sugar and tissue insulin resistance (a failure of cells to respond to insulin). 

 

An association between ID and laminitis is well-established, and early detection of ID is likely to be useful in helping to prevent the disease.

 

In this study, the concentration of insulin was measured in the blood of ponies before and sixty minutes after they were given, orally, a sugar syrup (an oral sugar test (OST)). 

 

A total of 1763 OSTs were taken from 367 non-laminitic ponies over four years. The ponies were visited and tested in the Spring and Autumn unless they developed laminitis. Various physical parameters were recorded at the time of each OST including weight, height, body length, neck length, heart girth, belly girth, body condition score and cresty neck score. Owners/carers were asked to complete a questionnaire concerning the specific characteristics, diet, management, duration and intensity of exercise and health for each pony at each visit. 

 

The study concluded that associations between InsulinT60 and physical and owner-reported variables were limited. Season, owner-reported and physical features only explained 10%– 27% of the differences in InsulinT60 risk status in the study population.

 

The findings support previous work that suggested body condition scoring alone was not sufficient to determine insulin dysregulation (ID) status and emphasises the value of using an oral sugar test to screen for ID status.

 

Lead author Edd Knowles stated: “Our work has shown that while physical and owner-reported features can be used to identify ponies with a higher risk of ID, veterinarians should not limit testing for ID to ponies in which these risk factors are present. Doing so would miss identifying ponies at moderate to high risk of laminitis.” 

 

The study also indicates that relatively small increments in equine exercise routines may be beneficial. 18% of samples from ponies that were reported to do no trotting exercise were in the high-risk InsulinT60 category compared with only 9% of samples from those reported to undertake 1–2 h of trotting per week. 

 

This finding supports earlier research, on the benefits of low intensity exercise, conducted in collaboration with the WALTHAM® Equine Studies Group, which provides the science behind SPILLERS®,

 

“This work confirms that while body condition is a useful indicator, we can’t simply assume that ponies with obvious physically apparent attributes such as excess weight are the only group likely to have ID,” said Sarah Nelson, Product Manager at Mars Horsecare, home of the SPILLERS brand. 

 

“We must consider multiple variables when targeting ponies for ID screening, in order not to miss those potentially at increased risk of laminitis, who may have a ‘healthy’ body condition score.” 

 

“The association with even low-level exercise is also an important practical management message for horse owners” she added.

 

For more details, see:

 

EJ Knowles, PA Harris, J Elliott, Y-M Chang, NJ Menzies-Gow.

Factors associated with insulin responses to oral sugars in a mixed-breed cohort of ponies. Equine Vet J. 2023.

https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13983

Study of ertugliflozin in management of hyperinsulinaemia and laminitis

 A recent report suggests that a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes in people could be effective in reducing insulin levels in horses and ponies with equine metabolic syndrome. 

Hyperinsulinaemia, characterised by abnormally high insulin levels in the bloodstream, is a primary contributor to most cases of laminitis. The exact mechanism by which elevated insulin levels lead to laminitis is still not fully understood.

 

Managing insulin dysregulation can be challenging, with diet and exercise (unless laminitis is already present) being the primary strategies. Unfortunately, these methods may not always yield satisfactory results.

 

Currently, there are no approved medications specifically designed to address this issue. 

 

However, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), a class of drugs commonly employed in the treatment of type 2 diabetes in humans, show promise in reducing insulin concentrations in horses by promoting the excretion of glucose through urine.

 

Studies have demonstrated that these drugs can limit the increase in insulin levels after meals and prevent diet-induced laminitis. One such drug in this class is ertugliflozin, which some veterinarians have been using off-label to manage laminitis associated with hyperinsulinaemia.

 

A study conducted by Tania Sundra from Avon Ridge Equine Veterinary Services, in Western Australia, along with Erin Kelty and David Rendle, reviewed the clinical records of 51 horses that received ertugliflozin for the treatment of hyperinsulinaemia. The findings of this study are published in Equine Veterinary Education.

 

According to the authors, horse owners were informed about potential side effects such as loss of appetite, colic, increased drinking and urination, lethargy, or changes in behaviour, and were instructed to report any unusual signs or events immediately.

 

All horses had already been placed on a restricted diet. The diet and management for each horse remained consistent during the treatment period, allowing for a comparison of pre- and post-treatment results. Similarly, the timing of testing in relation to feeding was kept consistent for each horse.

 

After 30 days of treatment with ertugliflozin, the authors report a significant reduction in insulin levels, with the median dropping from >300 μu/ml to 43 μu/ml. This reduction was accompanied by a significant improvement in lameness, as indicated by Modified Obel lameness scores, which decreased from a median of 10/12 to 1/12.

 

During the treatment, there was an increase in serum triglyceride concentrations (from 0.6 mmol/L before treatment to 1.4 mmol/L after treatment). However, none of the horses developed clinical signs of hyperlipaemia.

 

Owners reported that 10 horses experienced increased drinking and urination while undergoing treatment with ertugliflozin, but no other adverse effects were noticed.

 

The authors suggest that ertugliflozin could potentially reduce insulin levels in horses and ponies affected by equine metabolic syndrome. Moreover, they propose that its use might speed up the recovery from laminitis that is linked to hyperinsulinaemia.

 

 

For more details, see:

 

Preliminary observations on the use of ertugliflozin in the management of hyperinsulinaemia and laminitis in 51 horses: A case series.

Tania Sundra, Erin Kelty, David Rendle

Equine Veterinary Education (2023) Vol 35, Pp 311-320

https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.13738  

Strip grazing reduces eating but not moving, new study shows

Studies have already shown that strip grazing is an effective way of restricting grass intake in ponies.

Now, new work indicates the added benefit that eating less doesn’t automatically mean moving less.

Restricting grass intake is an essential part of many weight management programmes. Having shown in a previous study that strip grazed ponies gain significantly less weight than ponies with free access to restricted grazing over a 28-day period, SPILLERS and their research collaborators set out to discover whether eating less as a result of strip grazing also means moving less in the field. 

To evaluate the effects on ‘activity levels’ of ponies strip grazing individually, behavioural data from the previous study was analysed. In addition, a second study was evaluated, that had been carried out in collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College, to look at the effects of strip grazing on the behaviour of ponies turned out in groups.

In the second study 10 ponies were randomly assigned to one of two adjacent paddocks. Both paddocks were the same size, had been managed in the same way and subjectively had the same amount of very limited grazing available. Paddock B was divided into seven strips (using electric fencing) with ponies given access to one additional fresh strip of grazing every day; ponies in paddock A had access to the entire paddock for the duration of the study.

In both studies, behaviour and activity levels were assessed on several occasions using a combination of direct observation and activity monitors attached to the poll strap of the ponies’ headcollars. 

The research team found no significant difference in the over-all time strip grazed ponies spent grazing, standing, or moving regardless of whether a back fence was used or if they were turned out individually or as a group.

“The results of both studies showed that the strip grazed ponies moved just as much as the unrestricted ponies,” said Clare Barfoot RNutr, Marketing and Research and Development Director at Mars Horsecare UK, home of the SPILLERS brand. “Similar amounts of time were spent grazing, standing and locomoting (which included walking, trotting and cantering) within the different groups and encouragingly, performance of behaviours related to stress and frustration were low in both studies too.”

“While we were unsurprised to see that the strip grazed ponies preferred to graze the newly accessible grass and spent most time grazing in the four hours after the fence had been moved, we believe this finding could be useful when deciding if and how those prone to laminitis should have access to grass.”

The researchers are now looking into the effects of strip grazing on the water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) or ‘sugar’ content of the grass as well as pasture recovery.

For more details, see:

The effect of strip grazing on physical activity and behaviour in ponies.
A Cameron, A Longland, T Pfau, S Pinnegar, I Brackston, J Hockenhull,  PA Harris, NJ Menzies-Gow. (2021).
Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, (2022) 110, 103745. 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103745

Factors associated with laminitis in donkeys

Recent research suggests that guidelines for laminitis treatment and prevention in horses cannot necessarily be extrapolated to donkeys.

The study found that laminitis is common in donkeys, but factors associated with laminitis in donkeys differ from those reported in horses.

 

Nicola Menzies-Gow and colleagues checked the medical records of all 707 donkeys living on eleven farms run by the Donkey Sanctuary in the south-west of the UK. They found that over a period of 42 months, nearly half (48.5%) of donkeys experienced at least one bout of laminitis. Most (65%) of these episodes involved chronic laminitis.

 

The researchers compared the medical records of donkeys that did or did not experience laminitis, to identify factors that differed between the groups.

 

They found that affected animals were: 

 

1) less likely to have had concentrate food

2) less likely to have another medical condition

3) less likely to have undergone dental work, diagnostic imaging or surgery in the month before developing laminitis

4) more likely to be younger when they first had laminitis

 

A full report of the research is published in the Equine Veterinary Journal. 

 

The authors conclude that factors associated with laminitis in donkeys cannot necessarily be extrapolated from horse and pony studies. 

However, they caution that these results may not apply to the wider donkey population and they suggest the need for further investigation in animals kept under different management conditions.

 

For more details, see:

 

Cross-sectional study to identify the prevalence of and factors associated with laminitis in UK donkeys

Nicola J. Menzies-Gow, Frederica Wakeel, Holly Little, Jesus Buil, Karen Rickards

Equine Veterinary Journal (2021)

 

https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13505

Brush up on your nutrition and laminitis knowledge with free webinar

Horse owners can take advantage of a series of free nutrition-themed webinars, thanks to SPILLERS™.

The first webinar, to be held on 20th January 2022 at 8pm (GMT), will be hosted by SPILLERS™ nutritionist Gina Burgoyne, and is entitiled “Tips for winter weight gain.” It will cover forage, calories, fibre and oil diets and practical advice.

 

On Thursday 10th February, 8pm, Gina Burgoyne will present a webinar on “Tips for horses prone to gastric ulcers.” The discussion will cover: who is at risk; what to look out for; how nutrition plays a role; and forage.

 

The third webinar, on Thursday 3rd March, 8pm, “Managing your laminitic horse” will be hosted by Isabel Harker and Sarah Nelson. Topics will include: who is at risk; symptoms; how nutrition plays a role; body condition; and grazing tips.

“Whether you have a horse or a pony, and whether you are looking for safe weight gain, weight loss or a maintenance diet these webinars are for you,” said Clare Barfoot RNutr, Marketing and Research and Development Director at Mars Horsecare UK, home of the SPILLERS brand. 

“The webinars incorporate answers to many of the questions we receive via our Care-Line, together with the latest in equine nutrition science, making them highly relevant for every level of horse owner. And the best news is they are free and accessible to all.”

The webinars will be hosted on Microsoft Teams. Each session is free of charge and will last for approximately one hour. 

 

If you would like to join, sign up at:

 

https://www.spillers-feeds.com/webinars

 

 A link to join the webinar will then be emailed to you the day before the session.

Effects of lockdown on horses and owners

 The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on horses, owners and people working with them, has been
studied in new research. 

The work was conducted at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) in collaboration with the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, during the lockdown restrictions imposed by the pandemic.

 

It showed that the coronavirus lockdown had a negative impact on the mental health and wellbeing of horse owners. It also highlighted the need for guidelines on care of horses and ponies at risk of obesity and laminitis during such restrictions.

 

The researchers explored how horse owners and those working with horses were affected by challenges brought about by the Covid-19 lockdown.

 

The study questioned 22 members of the equestrian community in Aberdeenshire, including horse owners, equine veterinarians, and farriers, as well as two welfare centre managers in England. A report of the work is published in the journal Animals.

 

Findings from the interviews indicate that pandemic-related obstacles to communication and limitations on horse owner interaction with their animals were sources of distress and frustration for interviewees.

 

The report also highlighted the stress placed on equine veterinarians who could be at risk of overwork and burnout as they managed their responsibility to protect public health during emergency scenarios such as the pandemic.

 

However, the study also identified several positive outcomes where the equine community undertook action to help overcome financial stresses and social isolation.

 

Ashley Ward, PhD student and lead author of the report, said: “From this study, we have been able to better understand the importance of human-animal interactions and the role that horses played in lessening the detrimental impacts of isolation and anxiety associated with uncertainty around lockdown.

 

She added: “It is also of note that the pro-social actions undertaken by individuals to benefit the community had the potential to improve the wellbeing of those undertaking the activities - as well as the community they sought to benefit.

 

“It is hoped that such information will promote action within the industry to protect the mental health and wellbeing of its community, using actions which combat the issues raised in this research.”

 

In a related study, published in the journal PLoS ONE, the research team assessed the impact of the pandemic on the management of horses and ponies susceptible to laminitis.

 

Their findings suggested that recommendations for supporting the management needs of horses under reduced supervision were not clearly defined, or were not sufficiently disseminated, across the equine industry.

 

“We discovered that lockdown-associated factors had the potential to compromise the welfare of horses and ponies at risk of obesity and laminitis,” said Ashley Ward. “These included: disparate information and guidance, difficulties enacting public health measures in yard environments, and horses having reduced exercise during the pandemic.

 

“Our conclusion was that guidelines should be developed for the care of horses and ponies at risk through collaborative input from veterinary and welfare experts. This would help to reduce the negative impacts of future lockdown events in the UK.”

 

For more details, see:

 

The Human Aspect of Horse Care: How the COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted the Wellbeing of Equestrian Industry Stakeholders 

Ward A, Stephen K, Argo C, Watson C, Harris P, Neacsu M, Russell W, Grove-White D, Morrison P. 

Animals 2021, 11(8), 2163

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082163

 

 

COVID-19 impacts equine welfare: Policy implications for laminitis and obesity. 

Ward AB, Stephen K, Argo CM, Harris PA, Watson CA, Neacsu M, et al. (2021) 

PLoS ONE 16(5): e0252340. 

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252340