Equine Metabolic Syndrome Research Paper

Equine metabolic syndrome Obesity is a common health issue amongst humans, but rarely identified as an aliment in animal. Obesity is one of the main symptoms Equine Metabolic Syndrome. This paper will explore the history, symptoms and the future implications of the disease. Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) was first proposed, by P.J Johnson in 2002. Johnson recognized that the symptoms of EMS were similar to that metabolic syndrome (MetS) in humans. MetS determines the risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Currently there is little data to determine the true prevalence of EMS. The syndrome has been difficult to define since there is difficulty in fully diagnosing. EMS is currently defined as a clinical syndrome that is associated with

Obesity is defined as the accumulation of fat that impairs the health of the patient. Horses with obesity tend to be considered “easy keepers”. Meaning that they can ingest little and continue to gain or keep on weight. The prevalence of obesity in 2008-2011 was 19-40% of the population. Due to the variation in breed standards tend to make it difficult to diagnose obesity in horses. With the use of the Henneke scale the body condition score of horses can be assed by veterinarians. The scale goes from 1 to 9 where a 1 is extremely poor and 9 being extremely fat. Horses falling at a 7 and above are considered obese. Yet the scoring systems do have limitations in finding the true estimation. Using girth measurements is a more accurate way of determining the size of the horse. When looking at the horse it is important to look at the neck, fat deposits can occur resulting in what is known as crusty neck. Other fat deposits also occur on the tail region and are visible. Obesity can cause swelling due to the expansion of the tissue and edema due to a lack of return in the lymphatic

Age, sex and breed can have an affect on the predisposition of both obesity and insulin resistance. The environment plays a big role in both as well. Animals that are allowed to over eat can cause obesity. Even the lack of exercise can cause obesity as well. Obesity can result in the occurrence of insulin resistance. Laminitis is the final factor that is present with EMS. Laminitis is an inflammatory condition of the tissues inside the hoof. The tissue is known as Laminae. This tissue binds the hoof wall to the coffin bone. Laminitis is the result in the lamina weakening in the hoof. Which causes the surrounding support structures to tear. There are two layers with in the hoof wall. There is a non-sensitive layer that similar to the fingernail. This layer is attached to the sensitive layer, which is like the skin under the