b'STEP BY STEP TheHorse.com/Step-By-StepHEATHER SMITH THOMASHoof Care for EMS HorsesFrom the founder-prone chubby pony to the chronic endocrine-related laminitis case, heres how to keep your EMS horse comfortablets morning turnout time, and your I easy-keeping Welsh pony isnt quite himself. He hesitates before stepping out of his well-bedded stall onto the hard COURTESY TRAVIS BURNS/DR. R. SCOTT PLEASANTconcrete, so you figure hes a little foot-sore. After a few days of stall rest and some veterinarian-prescribed Bute, hes sound. You chalk it up to a foot bruise. In reality, your horse could have just suffered a small bout of laminitis (inflam-mation of the laminae/lamellaethe interlocking leaflike tissues attaching the hoof wall to the coffin bone) tied to an as-yet undiagnosed case of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). And it might not haveSubtle physical signs that a horse is at risk of or developing laminitis include a stretched white line been his first.(left) or growth rings that are wider at the heel than at the toe (right).The problem with the endocrine case is that there is cumulative damage overare both endocrine disorders that canhorses at a higher risk of endocrine-timeoften for many years, says Amynegatively affect insulin levels and lead torelated laminitis (e.g., ponies, Morgans, Rucker, DVM, an ambulatory veterinar- laminitis. Horses and ponies with EMSArabians, and Warmbloods; horsesian in Central Missouri who has a specialproduce too much insulin in responsethat are obese and/or have regional fat interest in equine feet. The first time theto feed and are often (but not always)deposits) should have their veterinarians owner recognizes that the horse has lami- overweight. Pituitary pars intermediaperform initial blood tests to screen for nitis might not be the first time the horsedysfunction affects horses and poniesID (and PPID in older animals), followed had the problem. as they age and can have similar effectsby regular repeat testing.So how can you recognize when aon insulin regulation. Both conditionsFarriers can also help identify at-risk horse is at risk for developing EMS- develop so gradually that by the timehorses before laminitis sets in. As farri-related laminitis? And what can you doowners notice and veterinarians diagnoseers, we see the horse more often than the to either prevent or manage it so he staysthem, many horses are already sufferingveterinarian, says Travis Burns, lecturer sound? Lets find out.from the effects of laminitis. and farrier at the Virginia Maryland Col-The problem we often see withlege of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Pinpointing the Problemendocrine-related laminitis is that it oftenTech, in Blacksburg. If a horse starts to The terms equine metabolic syndromedevelops insidiously and quietly, saysgain weight or become a little tender-foot-and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunctionAndrew van Eps BVSc, PhD, MACVSc,ed, we can help the owner realize there is (PPID, or equine Cushings disease) oftenDipl. ACVIM, associate professor ofa problem. If the horse becomes insulin-go hand-in-hand. And theyre frequentlyequine musculoskeletal research at theresistant or stays in a chronic state of accompanied by conditions such asUniversity of Pennsylvanias School ofinflammation, the feet will drift too far in laminitis and insulin dysregulation (ID,Veterinary Medicine, in Kennett Square.the wrong direction and we wont be able which is either hyperinsulinemia, excessBy the time the owners realize thereto stop the damage.levels of insulin in the blood, or insulinis a problem, they are often shockedLook for subtle changes in weight, resistance, a decrease in tissue sensitiv- at how advanced it is before the horsebody condition, and hooves, as well as ity to insulin). So whats the connectionactually shows any lameness or outwardsigns of a metabolic issue, such as a between all these words? abnormality. cresty neck or a thickened hair coat that Equine metabolic syndrome and PPIDFor this reason, he says, owners ofdoesnt shed normally.50TheHorse.comTHE HORSE March 2018'