Equine metabolic syndrome: part 2

Summary

# Equine Metabolic Syndrome: Part 2 — Johnson (2024) Equine metabolic syndrome remains one of the most prevalent and clinically significant conditions affecting horses today, characterised by a triad of obesity, insulin dysregulation, and increased susceptibility to endocrinopathic laminitis. Johnson's 2024 review synthesises current understanding of the predisposing factors and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms driving this syndrome, moving beyond traditional management approaches to examine emerging therapeutic strategies with demonstrated efficacy. The article emphasises how insulin resistance and adipose tissue dysfunction perpetuate metabolic dysfunction independent of body weight alone, highlighting the need for targeted interventions beyond caloric restriction. Several novel treatment modalities show promise in clinical settings, offering practitioners evidence-based alternatives to conventional management protocols. For those managing at-risk populations—whether through nutritional intervention, lameness prevention, or veterinary treatment planning—this review provides updated scientific context essential for understanding why certain horses develop the condition and how contemporary approaches may improve outcomes and welfare.

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Key Findings

• •Obesity, insulin dysregulation, and predisposition to endocrinopathic laminitis are the three major cornerstones of equine metabolic syndrome
• •New information on predispositions and pathophysiology of EMS is now available
• •Newly emergent and effective treatments for equine metabolic syndrome have been identified

Conditions Studied