Insulin resistance is, unfortunately, a very common problem in our horses and ponies but is often not spotted by owners until it is too late. If, when you read this, you recognise any of the symptoms in your pony, please speak to an adult and ask them to get in touch with your vet. Insulin resistance can lead to laminitis if left untreated, and laminitis kills many ponies every year.
What is insulin resistance?
Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body’s tissues do not respond as they should to the hormone insulin. Insulin is essential for our ponies as it causes them to take up glucose from the blood to either be used for energy or stored to be used for energy later on. As insulin-resistant ponies don’t respond normally to insulin, the glucose cannot be taken up from the bloodstream as it should be, so the level of sugar in the blood stays very high! Because the sugar levels stay high, more insulin is released to try and get the body to take the extra sugar out of the bloodstream. This means that your pony with insulin resistance has high blood sugar levels and high blood insulin levels, both of which cause big health problems.
What causes insulin resistance?
We don’t know exactly what causes insulin resistance. Some vets think it is a genetic condition, some think it is an allergy, and some think it is a condition that develops because of one of these risk factors:
- Obesity (being very overweight) – This is thought to be the biggest risk factor.
- Old age – Ponies over 20 are more at risk.
- Diet – Feeding a diet high in sugar and starch is believed to be a risk factor.
Symptoms of insulin resistance
The symptoms of insulin resistance are not very specific, but if you notice even one or two of these in your pony, you should chat with your vet. These symptoms include:
- Obesity (being very overweight)
- Abnormal fat deposits, usually on the crest, rump and above the eye. Some ponies will also have a fatty sheath or udder.
- Excessive urination
- Thirst
- Low energy levels
- Muscle wasting
- Loss of body condition
- Laminitis
Testing
Your vet will probably want to do blood tests to see if your pony has the condition.
Treatment
As with everything, prevention is the best cure, and even though some vets believe the condition cannot be prevented, reducing the risk will help all ponies.
Feeding a proper balanced diet, making sure your pony gets plenty of exercise and not allowing him to get too fat can all reduce the risk of your pony developing insulin resistance.
If your pony is already insulin resistant, you need to change the diet to have less sugar and starch, increase his exercise levels and arrange regular farrier visits to ensure his feet stay healthy. Soaking his grass to reduce the sugar content and managing how much green grass he has access to will also be important.
The good news is that if you manage insulin resistance well, your pony should stay happy and healthy for many years to come.
