Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity

adipose cells release too much adipokines. Some of these adipokines are responsible for insulin resistance. Visceral fat organ fat rather than total fat is thought to release most of the adipokines responsible for insulin resistance.
Most people have heard the terms insulin resistance or even glucose intolerance. Insulin is a vital hormone produced by the pancreas that travels through the blood. It is secreted when the glucose sugar level in the blood is too high. Cells in the body need glucose to function just like cars need fuel. The insulins job is to open the channel from the blood to the inside of the cells so that the glucose can pass from the blood to the cells. Insulin resistance refers to a condition in which the level of glucose in the blood needs to be higher than normal for the insulin to do its job and make the cells absorb the glucose. The blood sugar level remains elevated because the glucose is not reaching the cells which so desperately need it. The excess glucose in the blood is then transformed into and stored as fat. Insulin resistance therefore promotes weight gain Obesity leads to insulin resistance
We also know that obesity can cause insulin resistance. At this point we have too little information to confirm that the disease occurs in lean horses but research might find otherwise in the future. On the same note not all obese horses have the same degree of insulin resistance.
Once a horse is diagnosed with insulin resistance it is crucial to work with both a veterinarian and a nutritionist to develop a proper and complete treatment plan for that horse. Insulin resistant horses do not have a normal metabolism and their cells do not respond to insulin like they should. It isnt only about giving them less food but also different types of food that are digested in such a way that the level of sugar in the blood does not spike rapidly but instead glucose is released into the bloodstream slowl
Hypothyroidism leads to weight gain
The thyroid gland plays a big role in energy level and metabolism. An abnormal or malfunctioning thyroid gland can wreak havoc on the body. Although hypothyroidism is fairly common in dogs little is known as to how much of the equine population is affected. The symptoms of hypothyroidism in the horse include weight gain low exercise tolerance lethargy and poor coat condition.