Cushings Disease in horses

OVERVIEW 

Cushings disease in horses or ponies(pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction) is a common disease associated with ageing.  However, it’s been reported in equines as young as 7. In a healthy horse, hormones exist in balance and play an important role in maintaining and controlling bodily functions. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland which sit at the base of the brain, are the command centre to produce hormones such as ACTH and Cortisol. In Cushing’s disease, the nerves in the hypothalamus progressively degenerate and produce insufficient quantities of a nerve transmitter called dopamine. Dopamine controls the secretion of ACTH and cortisol by the pars intermedia which is in the pituitary gland.  Cushing’s disease in a horse or pony has an imbalance of these hormones. which results in the symptoms of PPID.

SYMPTOMS 

• The best known, and probably the easiest to spot, is a long or curly coat that fails to shed fully
• A pot-bellied appearance usually as a result of muscle loss over the topline
• Abnormal fat distribution (above eyes, crest and above tail head)
• Excessive sweating
• Increased water intake so often thirsty and, as a result, urinates more frequently
• Prone to laminitis or becomes at risk before the above symptoms present themselves

If your horse or pony has one or more of these symptoms, contact your vet for a diagnosis. They’ll conduct one or more tests to detect ACTH and/or cortisol levels in the blood. PPID can be controlled with medication.  Most vets prescribe Pergolide, which stimulates dopamine receptors in the brain and replaces the activity of the damaged nerve supply to the pituitary gland. This results in a reduction of hormone production to normal levels. The dose range is wide and the improvement in clinical signs and ACTH levels is often used to determine the best dose rate for each horse. As the disease is degenerative, it’ll become progressively become worse over time, but many horses or ponies on medication can lead very normal lives.

DIET MANAGEMENT FOR CUSHINGS DISEASE IN HORSES

• Horses with Cushing’s disease can become either overweight or underweight. In the case of overweight Cushing’s horses resulting from insulin resistance, there’ll be regional fat deposits along the shoulders and tailhead, a cresty neck, etc.
• Reducing the circulating insulin levels is key to managing the diet and the condition.
• Research has shown that the macro-mineral magnesium can help reduce fat deposits, especially on the crest and base of the tail.
• The overriding factor when managing diets for Cushing’s disease in horses is the increased risk of laminitis due to the hormone imbalances. Moreso if the horse or pony has previously had laminitis.
• For those being managed with Pergolide, consider whether you want to promote weight gain/maintain condition, or encourage weight loss/avoid weight gain.
• Pergolide can affect appetite, especially at higher doses. Horses can go off their food or eat something for a while before going off it. TIP: Rather than constantly changing the overall diet, try adding extras to tempt them eg cinnamon, fenugreek, mint, or even grated apples or carrots. (Go easy on the apples and carrots due to sugar content)  It might also be wise to give medication separately from the main feed.

PROMOTING WEIGHT GAIN/MAINTAINING CONDITION 

Forage

• To help control sugar intake, forage (hay/haylage) should have an NSC content of below 10%. (NSC is the total of starch plus water-soluble carbohydrate). You need to get a hay analysis to have this confirmed. TIP: As a rule, later cut, coarser hay is generally lower in WSC. (water-soluble carbohydrate)
• Soaking hay for an hour or two before feeding helps to reduce the WSC content. Any longer and you run the risk of nutrients being lost and reducing palatability. Be careful soaking in warm weather to avoid fermentation or bacterial growth.
• Providing the above precautions are taken, forage can be fed ad-lib to provide fibre, calories and support gut health.
• Later cut forages tend to be less nutritious; soaked beet pulp can be fed as an additional source of highly digestible fibre and provides some quality protein and other nutrients.
• You need to carefully manage turnout, especially in springtime to control fructan (sugar) intake. Turning out very late at night when grass fructan levels are lowest, and bringing in by mid-morning, is safest. In winter, avoid turning out onto pastures during cold, bright conditions, eg frosty mornings, when the fructan levels increase.

Concentrates 

• Whilst calories promote/maintain condition, avoid standard hard feeds. Although they provide calories, they’re usually based on cereals supplying starch, the intake of which MUST be kept to a minimum.
• Fibregenix Platinum Pro balancer will provide quality protein, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients without the high starch or calories. You can then add “Safe” calories alongside it such as beet pulp or oil.

PROMOTING WEIGHT LOSS

Avoid feeds that are high in sugar and starch. If your Cushing’s horse is overweight, avoid restricting his diet entirely.  Remove concentrates, but never restrict hay as hunger will stress him and cause other potential issues such as colic or ulcers.

Forage

• Forage intake should be restricted to the equivalent of 1.5% of the horse’s body weight per day.
• Should contain less than 10% NSC and less than 10% WSC.  Soaking can help reduce this.
• Weigh all forage before soaking. Use small-holed nets to make a small amount last longer and keep the horse chewing.
• In addition to the above guidelines regarding turnout, access to grass may need restricting by use of strip grazing, muzzling etc.
• Soaked beet pulp may be fed as a low-calorie alternative or additional fibre sources if overall fibre/calorie intake is controlled.

Concentrates

• Provide a balanced diet with Fibregenix Lami Low-Cal diet feed balancer supplement.  This low-calorie balancer supplement has a total starch/sugar (NSC) feed value of just 8.8% and will supply those nutrients likely to be lacking in forage, but without unwanted calories.   Lami Low-Cal also contains specific digestive aids to aid fibre digestibility, overall gut health and assist the insulin response.

• You can feed white chaff with the balancer supplement to encourage chewing, as can small amounts of soaked beet pulp.

As every horse or pony is an individual, if you have any queries about feeding your PPID equine you can contact us: Anita 0408 920707, email anita@fibregenix.com.au

Reviewed and amended Feb 2022

Building healthy hooves is something that doesn’t happen in a couple of weeks or even a couple of months. Yet it seems to me that some horses have a bigger shoe habit than Imelda Marcos. When you’re paying upwards of $140 every four to six weeks, it can be so frustrating if your horse has chipped, cracked or thin feet that don’t hold on to a shoe for any length of time.

Scientific studies in different countries have shown an incidence of poor hoof quality in 30-40% of the horses studied. However, nutrition is just one part of the equation in building healthy hooves. Farriery, genetics, conformation, management, and environmental conditions all play their part too.

Hoof Growth and Structure

Hoof growth is relatively slow, at around 0.2mm a day, meaning that the horn takes 9-12 months to grow from the coronary band to the weight-bearing surface. Any adverse changes, therefore, take a while to correct. You only have to look closely at a hoof to see that it’s actually highly complex in structure. Hoof wall thickness and strength are created by layers of linked cells. The strength of the hoof depends on the ability of these layers to hold together.

Building healthy hooves must, therefore, concentrate on the hoof cells and the lipid “glue” that holds the wall together.

Dietary Nutrients for Building Healthy Hooves

First and foremost, building healthy hooves requires a balanced diet – one containing appropriate amounts of all nutrients, from energy and protein down to the smallest micronutrient.

The B-vitamin biotin was the first micronutrient identified as a benefit for the production of hoof horn. Research has shown that at least 3mg of biotin per 100kg of a horse’s bodyweight is desirable. However subsequent research reveals that biotin alone will improve only 6% of cases with deficient horn quality. Subsequent research identifies that a diet balanced in macronutrients and containing more than 60 specific micronutrients is essential to optimise the horn growth rate and quality in horses.

High-grain, low-forage diets may not support hoof growth. Not only may B-vitamin production be low, but low calcium availability can also result in weakness – calcium is reported as having a direct effect on the attachment of layers of hoof horn.

It’s easy to understand why grass-fed horses may have nutritional hoof problems, as the grass is often very poor in essential nutrients.

Changing conditions such as wet and dry weather and uneven ground certainly have an impact on the physical qualities of hoof horn.  Ie it tends to dry out and crack in hot, dry conditions and becomes waterlogged and weak during the wet periods. Unless your horse has been receiving the correct lipids in its diet which can be incorporated into the hoof matrix, it’s likely to suffer from cracked hooves, collapsed heels, horn infections and frequent shoe loss.

Nutrients for Hoof Health you never thought about…

Nucleotides – these molecules make up the structural units of DNA and RNA.  They promote rapid cell proliferation aiding the growth of the hoof wall. Another benefit of adding nucleotides to the diet is their role in maintaining a healthy immune system.  This means that any bacterial infections present, particularly common in the hoof, can be fought effectively.

Omega 3 essential fatty acid – Omega 3 is particularly important in the role of hoof care with its healing and natural anti-inflammatory properties.  A horse normally gets Omega 3 from forage. However, if the pasture is scarce or unavailable, a deficiency can and will exacerbate hoof wall problems.  Therefore, preventing deficiencies in this nutrient is paramount.

Tips to keep your horse’s hooves healthy

• Practice good equine husbandry on a daily basis when caring for your horse’s feet
• Ensure your horse receives regular expert care from a competent qualified farrier
• If your horse has poor feet, take into account the nutrient supply from forage and hard feed. Look for gaps, most likely in vitamin, mineral and trace elements
• Feed a supplement known to supply the essential micronutrients for building healthy hooves which you can combine with forage only or an alfalfa-based low cereal diet.
• Feed a Fibregenix balancer which contains calcium, nucleotides, Omega 3 and a potent and comprehensive hoof improvement supplement of biotin, methionine, lysine, and organic chelated zinc and copper. These amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients are very important when building healthy hooves.

Article reviewed and updated April 2021

Do Chelated Minerals Perform Better than Non-chelated Minerals?

Many people ask me do chelated minerals perform better than non-chelated minerals?  This is a very valid question as it impacts the cost of feeds and supplements.

It’s important to be aware that not every mineral benefits from being in a chelate form.  However, research and many validated studies demonstrate that there are certain minerals that are very beneficial in chelate form.  So, here are some common and not so commonly asked questions to clarify what’s behind the hype…

Chelate Minerals – the Facts.  What is a Chelate Mineral?  

A chelate is a chemical compound consisting of a metal molecule (the mineral) combined with an organic molecule (the ligand).(See diagram)

The ligand is the critical component of a chelate.  Primarily because it transforms the previously inorganic molecule (the mineral) into an organic mineral form.  This makes the mineral more biologically effective than its inorganic form, and that in turn makes it more bioavailable.

What’s the benefit?

Chelates prevent trace minerals from interacting with certain feed components and other minerals in the horse’s body.  Because of their enhanced bioavailability, at least a 33% reduction in supplement rates is possible compared with inorganic minerals.  Interestingly,  this reduction rate doesn’t compromise performance.  

However – not all chelates are created equal. Some chelated minerals are more bioavailable than others. Who knew!

How environmentally friendly are my horse’s mineral supplements? Are They Necessary and Do Chelated Minerals Perform Better?

Inorganic trace minerals are poorly absorbed by horses, so traditional practice has involved over-supplementing them in feed formulations. However, horses can only absorb a certain level of specific minerals.  When over-supplemented, they simply pass through the system and are excreted – literally ‘peeing/pooping’ money away.

Minerals that aren’t absorbed are excreted in faeces and urine and find their way into soil and waterways. This contaminates both surface and ground water.  Additionally,  it can have a detrimental effect on soil microorganisms which are essential to maintaining soil structure and quality.

Research has shown organic minerals demonstrate improved absorption with no need to supplement them in excess of recommended daily allowances. This means feeding organic minerals to your horse can help alleviate much of the negative environmental impacts from horse excretions. In today’s environmentally friendly climate, this is a bonus.

What about just adding a larger proportion of a less effective but cheaper mineral?

Minerals within the body interact with each other and there are certain mineral ratios that need to be be taken into account. Be aware that a large intake of one mineral can actually block digestibility/absorption of another mineral.

The Feed Manufacturer’s dilemma.

Most minerals occur in several forms. For example,  feed manufacturers can choose from at least six forms of manganese. So what makes one form more desirable than another?

Feed manufacturers usually take into consideration two factors –  digestibility and cost.  As you’d expect, the most easily digestible mineral forms are also those with the highest cost.

How Readily Absorbed is the Chelate Mineral I’m Feeding my Horse?

It depends. Trace mineral uptake from the digestive tract relies on how soluble it remains until it reaches its site of absorption.  And from then on, how efficiently it’s absorbed into the blood.

Organic mineral forms have become far more commonplace in the market, so it’s important to understand why some chelated mineral forms have advantages over others.

So What Makes One Form Superior to Another? Are Chelates better-absorbed minerals?

IT’S THE FORM THAT DEFINES THE FUNCTION!

3 Common Chelate Forms found in feeds/supplements

1. Proteinates

Many companies describe their chelates as hydrolysed proteins (proteinates).  This means they’re chelated with short-chained peptides and amino acids derived from hydrolysed soy proteins for better stability.  Furthermore, it also means they’re less reactive in the digestive tract. The downside is that the molecular size of metal proteinates is sometimes is higher than the desired size.  This actually decreases their bioavailability.  They’re less expensive compared with single amino acid chelates, and unfortunately not much more beneficial.

2. Polysaccharide complexes

The mineral is coated with polysaccharide molecules. They’re larger molecules based on chains of simple sugars known to be highly soluble in the digestive tract. However, many studies have reported no beneficial effect on animal performance.

3. Amino-acid chelates

The mineral is chelated with a single amino acid. Due to higher bioavailability, amino acid chelates are a better chelate compared to polysaccharide and proteinates forms.

The best example of these also happens to be the most expensive form – glycinates.

Why Glycinates?  Do these chelate minerals perform better than non-chelates?

• Glycinates are derived from glycine and readily absorbed in the gut. Compared to the amino acids Methionine, Cysteine etc  glycinate chelates get transported right into the intestinal cells.
• The low pH of Glycine chelates reduces their sensitivity to the acidic conditions in the digestive tract, so the absorption of the mineral is improved.
• They remain as a chelate until absorbed and they don’t interact with other gut constituents.
• Added bonus – Glycine chelates are non-hazardous AND are environmentally safe.

Chelate Minerals in Fibregenix

All the balancers in the Fibregenix range include specific glycinate minerals as they are better-absorbed minerals.  Why? Because based on the latest research, our ethos is – we’re committed to your horse’s health. We want the very best for him.  That’s why we ensure that every ingredient in our formulations passes the test of absorption.

Now that level of detail is something you don’t find in your average feed balancer….

© Fibregenix, April 2021.  Ref Sources: Chelated Minerals Enhance Nutrient Bioavailability, KER Equinews, Supplementing Trace Minerals Safely and Organically, Steve Elliott  

Caroline Noble & her mare fed on Platinum Pro

Feeding the endurance horse – when nutrition is paramount

In many equine sports, it can be possible to get away without dotting all the I’s and crossing all the t’s in preparing the horse.  But there is nowhere to hide at the top of endurance racing. When exercising at the limit, nutrition is one of the fundamentals of performance. Feeding the endurance horse is highly specific. From the overall forage to concentrate ratio down to the details of electrolyte balance. The speeds at which elite endurance horses travel when racing means their muscles work aerobically most of the time.  It’s only when tackling steep hills or in the sprint to the line that they go anaerobic. Muscles are most efficient when working aerobically, and to do this a horse can “burn” either fat (lipid) or glycogen. The dietary source of the lipids is either volatile fatty acids from the digestion of fibre or the oil supplied in the diet.

The Importance of Fibre when feeding the endurance horse.

Fibre is probably the most important nutrient (after water) for the equine endurance athlete. The digestion of fibre takes place slowly. The energy it releases is produced more evenly and for longer after the end of the meal. This means you get more ‘kilometres per litre’. Additionally, fibre seems to bind water as it passes through the gut, acting as a fluid and electrolyte reservoir.

Fatigue and diet

Notwithstanding poor training, when feeding the endurance horse the onset of fatigue can be affected by nutrition. Fatigue is measured not only by time but at the vet checks during a race. If the horse’s heart rate exceeds 64bpm after 2min you are out. Depletion of muscle glycogen stores, combined with insufficient dietary fibre, is one of the main sources of fatigue. So is dehydration. Fluids and electrolytes are lost in sweat and, if not replenished, affect performance markedly.

Feeding the endurance horse 

Top tips

• The laws of physics dictate that the power to weight ratio (max power/min weight) will mean faster speeds.  However, the reserves an endurance horse calls upon mean that it can’t be unduly thin.
• Energy should come predominately from fibre and oil. Fibre should come not just from forage and some alfalfa. It also can include compounds containing soya hulls and sugar beet pulp. Typically, hard feeds with 6-10% oil are used, but huge amounts will make the horse fat and can affect fibre digestion. It’s not necessary to cut out starch altogether. The horse needs some to maintain muscle glycogen levels, necessary for the “power” work of going up hills or galloping.
• Water and electrolytes are crucial throughout and after a ride.
• If you go slowly on endurance rides, you just need forage and low-energy feed. Horses have evolved to cover long distances like this. It’s only when going at a speed that the extra feed counts.

The role of the Feed Balancer when Feeding the endurance horse

Feed balancers can be a highly useful feedstuff for an endurance horse.  They can partially or fully replace any grain feed being fed. Additionally, they’ll provide the vitamins and minerals required on a daily basis.  Fibregenix also includes quality digestible protein, fibre and essential fatty acids.  So a Fibregenix balancer alleviates the need to feed additional supplements except for electrolytes.

The Fibregenix balancers for feeding the endurance horse

For shorter distances up to 60km, Fibregenix Prime Original is ideal. Fibregenix Platinum Pro suits longer distance racing.  This requires an elevated level of vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients such as the key antioxidants, Vitamin E, Vitamin C and selenium.  Both balancers contain a natural form of Vitamin E.  This powerful antioxidant is essential for the endurance horse that is often under stress. Natural vitamin E has been found to be 5 times more bioavailable than synthetic vitamin E. Platinum Pro also contains a comprehensive blood-building formula which aids oxygen transportation to the working muscles.

Digestive health – a key factor in feeding the endurance horse

Fibregenix Platinum Pro contains 4 key digestive aids to tackle both hindgut and foregut health.  Its foregut gut health pack consists of FOS and MOS prebiotics.

FOS Prebiotic

The unique FOS is a short chain of sugar molecules, providing a feed-source for the beneficial gut micro-organisms. Scientific support has proven that this specific FOS may:

• Positively modify the gut microflora
• Enhance digestive health
• Reduce the risk of digestive upsets
• Reduce putrefactive compound production
• Strengthen the immune system (GALT)
• Improve insulin sensitivity in the obese horse.

MOS (Mannanologosaccharides)

With the digestive system already compromised through the stress of competing and travelling, there could be a large population of ‘bad’ bacteria. The ‘good’ bacteria may thrive, but harmful bacteria will still cause an unhealthy gut, negatively affecting the horse’s general health. Platinum Pro’s MOS mimics the cursor that the harmful bacteria bind to on the gut wall. Once the harmful bacteria have bound to the MOS, they can’t be released. So they’re rendered useless and ‘flushed out’ of the digestive system. This promotes the overall health of the digestive system, so the beneficial bacteria can thrive, which ultimately aids weight gain.

Live Yeast probiotic

The hindgut digestive enhancer gut pack in Platinum Pro contains high levels of an equine approved live probiotic yeast. Studies have proven it can double fibre digestibility. This enables fibre to be utilised more efficiently which is ideal when feeding the elite endurance horse.  Furthermore, it helps to improve and maintain weight and condition.

Nucleotides

The digestive enhancer pack also include Nucleotides. They’re considered essential nutrients as they’re the building blocks of DNA and RNA. Present in the horse’s natural diet but at low levels, they can’t be stored by the horse. Nucleotides often become ‘limited’ during periods of strenuous activity or stress. Therefore there are real benefits to adding purified nucleotides to the diet. The specific blend of purified nucleotides in Fibregenix is designed to balance the lower levels found naturally.

They provide three main advantages:

• Aid cell replication – particularly important for the endurance horse and for recovery after exercise or from an injury.
• Increase the length and surface area of the intestinal villi which aids nutrient absorption.
•  Act as immune facilitators aiding the immune cells’ response when infection or disease is detected. Regular travelling and competing can compromise the endurance horse’s immune system, making them more susceptible to infections.

Reviewed and updated April 2021