Autumn Red Flag

As autumn arrives, warm days and cool nights can stress horses with high myco-toxin levels and the energy demands of coat changes, especially if they're uncovered.

Stress is further compounded by the seasonal rise which affects all horses, but for those with ‘early’ undiagnosed Cushing’s Disease aka PPID, it can trigger laminitis.  

Autumn Laminitis is the biggest red flag for undiagnosed PPID in your horse.

Did you know 90% of laminitis has an underlying metabolic reason?

Autumn laminitis is a clear warning for early PPID detection and often the first sign something is amiss by a horse's caregiver.  Detecting PPID early and monitoring the ACTH hormone levels annually, helps prevent laminitic episodes. Screening horses over 12 years, annually, including routine Selenium blood levels and dentals plus sheath cleans for the boys, are minimum base line annual heath checks for your older horses.

Seasonal Rise - Kind of sounds like a cocktail doesn’t it?!

It simply refers to ACTH levels.  ACTH is a hormone that tells the Adrenal Glands to release cortisol.  The seasonal rise means ACTH levels naturally increases in all equines between February and May in the southern hemisphere (autumn through to early winter). In older horses the rise starts sooner, rises higher and lasts longer.

Cortisol is is essential for many bodily functions including regulating metabolism, immune response and helping the body respond to stress. But when levels are too high for too long, it causes serious issues for horses.

It can lead to insulin resistance - when cells in the body become less responsive to insulin.  IR is a significant risk factor for laminitis because it disrupts the glucose metabolism and increases the risk of inflammation in the hooves.  When they are no longer able to cope with the rise in hormones that include ACTH, they will have symptoms asides from laminitis.  While a shaggy coat is not problematic for many, the increased risk for laminitis exists. Exaggerated rise in ACTH occurs long before coats changes.

Top tips to avoid autumn laminitis

• Screen your horse (over 12 years of age - or earlier if an easy keeper and on a calorie appropriate diet) annually for ACTH levels.  This is a great way of monitoring your horses circulating cortisol levels, not unlike having an annual health check at the doctors - especially when we get past a certain age! ;)

• Feed a low starch, low sugar, no grain, clean whole feed - check out our list

• Keep an optimal mineral ratio especially Copper:Iron:Zinc:Manganese - whilst metabolic horses are more susceptible, ALL horses benefit all year round. Learn more

• Past laminitic episodes - medicate with Prascend with 6-12 monthly screening. (Chaste Berry is popular - but note it does not reduce ACTH levels)

• Regular balanced trims

• Consideration for other stresses such as Friends, Forage and Freedom, work load, environment, body issues etc

• Detox liver regularly throughout life time - horses are exposed to chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, toxins and much more on a daily basis.

• If they struggle with Prascend (aka Pergolide Veil) use adaptogen herbs alongside to help negate the side effects (lack of appetite especially hard feeds, change in personality, depressed etc) - BetaVet Prepare is highly recommended for this.

• Plenty of quality fibre - hay.  For those at risk especially easy keepers or past history - a dry lot or track may be required over this time (like spring).  If your horse is already IR - strict calorie intake including Starch no higher than 4% and 10% combined Sugar + Starch across the whole diet.  IR + PPID is harder to manage than straight PPID.

• Any hint of laminitis - get screened for PPID, especially if over 12 years