Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity

Years ago veterinarians recognized that obese horses develop a different metabolism than healthy horses. They often find it difficult to lose weight even when on a strict diet and are prone to laminitis. Researchers began to investigate the cause of this altered metabolism which was eventually attributed to equine metabolic syndrome EMS. EMS is not a disease in itself. Rather the term is used to describe a condition characterized by symptoms which may include insulin resistance hypothyroidism and obesity. The definition of EMS is continually changing as we learn more about the syndrome and its components. Although at this time there is no consensus among members of the scientific community as to a specific definition for EMS it is clear that the syndrome is closely linked to and may be caused partially or even wholly by obesity.

As with people obesity in horses is a major health problem that can lead to several diseases. Being overweight can reduce the efficiency of reproductive and body temperature control as well as placing stress on heart and lungs and increasing the risk of laminitis and the severity of osteoarthritis. Obesity can also trigger insulin resistance and equine metabolic syndrome. Here is an overview of how your horses excess weight will affect his health.
Fat is not only underneath the skin
Fat is stored in the body in adipose cells which put together constitute adipose tissue. Fat is not only underneath the skin it surrounds each organ inside the body as well. By the time a horse is visually overweight most of the internal organs such as kidneys and heart also have fat deposits. Most of the visceral fat the fat in and around the organs is stored in the abdomen in the omentum and the mesentery which are two curtain like organs that are part of the gastrointestinal system.
Fat tissue acts like a gland
The adipose cells or fat cells have a function just like the cells in other organs. Fat tissue or adipose tissue actually acts like a gland. It can secrete hormones and send and receive messages to and from the rest of the body via transmitters and receptors. There are over 100 substances called adipokines that are secreted by the adipose tissue. These adipokines play a role in inflammation feeding behaviour production of bone tissue production of red blood cells blood pressure reproduction immunity and general metabolism. Obese individuals that have an excess of