Abstract
BackgroundObesity and insulin dysregulation (ID) predispose horses to laminitis. Determination of management practices or phenotypic markers associated with ID may benefit animal welfare.ObjectivesDetermine ID status of a population of Finnhorses using an oral sugar test (OST) and compare phenotypes and management factors between ID and non‐ID Finnhorses.AnimalsOne hundred twenty‐eight purebred Finnhorses ≥3 years of age.MethodsOwners were recruited using an online questionnaire regarding signalment, history, feeding, and exercise of their horses. Selected contributing stables within a predefined area were visited. Phenotypic markers of obesity and the weight of each horse were recorded. After fasting overnight, horses received 0.45 mL/kg corn syrup PO. Serum samples before and at 60 and 90 minutes after syrup administration were analyzed for insulin by chemiluminescent assay. Horses met ID criteria if insulin concentrations were ≥33 μIU/mL at T0, ≥66 μIU/mL at T60 or T90 or some combination thereof. Associations between phenotypic markers, feeding and exercise variables, and ID were examined using mixed effects logistic regression modeling.ResultsSeveral phenotypic markers of obesity were significant on univariable analysis but in the final multivariable model, only obesity (body condition score ≥8) was associated with ID (P = .04). Over half of the horses (60% [95% confidence interval (CI), 51%‐68%]) were considered overweight or obese whereas 16% (95% CI, 10%‐23%) were classified as having ID.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceBecause obesity is associated with ID in cold‐blooded type horses, objective monitoring of phenotypic markers by owners may be beneficial for health outcomes.
Highlights
2 Obesity is a major risk factor for insulin dysregulation (ID) and a substantial health problem among 3 horse populations worldwide[1,2,3]
Several phenotypic markers of obesity were significant on univariable analysis but in the final multivariable model, only obesity was associated with ID (p = .043)
Over half of the horses (60% [95% confidence interval (CI), 51-68%]) were considered overweight or obese whereas 16 % were classified as having ID
Summary
2 Obesity is a major risk factor for insulin dysregulation (ID) and a substantial health problem among 3 horse populations worldwide[1,2,3]. One study found that cases of primary endocrinopathic laminitis (induced by ID with or without pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction) were more likely to occur in native British ponies compared to native Nordic ponies, cold-, warm-, and hot-blooded horses[15]. We evaluated the ID status of a population of Finnhorses in southern Finland by determining insulin response to corn syrup OST. Blood was collected into 6 mL serum tubes (Vacuette, Z serum clot activator, Greiner Bio-One, Kremsmünster, Austria) before syrup administration and at 60 (T60) 118 and 90 (T90) minutes thereafter. Determination of management practices or phenotypic markers associated with ID may benefit animal welfare
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