FOUNDER AND DIABETES

[Sandy S.]

WE HAVE A MORGAN MARE THAT FOUNDERED THE FIRST TIME AT AROUND 8 YEARS OLD. WE OWNED HER DAM ALSO AND SHE ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS WITH FOUNDERING. AFTER YEARS OF FIGHTING FOUNDERING THE EQUINE VETERINARIANS STARTED REALIZING THAT HORSES HAVE DIABETES TOO. SHE WAS CHECKED AND SURE ENOUGH SHE IS DIABETIC AND THAT WAS WHAT WAS CAUSING HER TO FOUNDER. NOW SHE IS KEPT ON A STRICT DIET. IN TALKING WITH OUR EQUINE VET, HE IS SAYING THAT JUST LIKE PEOPLE THAT HORSES ALSO PASS THIS ON TO THEIR OFFSPRING. SO WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH ANY HEALTH PROBLEM THAT CAN BE PASSED ON?

WE LOST A 4 1/2 MONTH OLD FILLY OF WHICH WE ALSO LOST ONE THAT WAS RELATED AT ABOUT THE SAME AGE 4 YEARS AGO TO AN INFECTION THAT WAS RARE. BOTH WERE NOT LOST TO THE SAME INFECTION. OUR EQUINE VET SAYS THAT SOME HORSES HEREDITARY WISE ARE MORE PRONE TO INFECTIONS OR HEALTH PROBLEMS JUST LIKE PEOPLE. WOULD YOU USE THE RELATED HORSE AGAIN? IF YOUR HORSE IS DIABETIC WOULD YOU USE THEM AGAIN.

WE HAVE DECIDED THAT ALL OF OUR HORSES ARE LIKE ARE CHILDREN, ALL ARE GOING TO BE GELDED AND NO MORE FOALS AT LEAST FOR NOW. BUT CHECKING TO SEE WHAT EVERYONE WOULD DO ABOUT THESE SITUATIONS.

 

[kaykay]

sandy i have talked about this with a lot of vets and horse owners. Most vets/universities will say that a diabetic horse is a very very rare thing. I know i met a breeder about 2 yrs ago thats been in this forever. His theory is that most mini horses that founder have thyroid problems and if you put them on thyroid L they will not founder. Its really conflicting info as I have always been told that most (not all) founders are caused by feed problems or an un related illness.

As to your other question on some horses getting infections. I have been told that some do because of in breeding (or intense line breeding) their immune systems just dont work well because they have too much related blood. I talked to a vet at the u of i that insisted miniatures are way too inbred adn that the problems would only get worse unless the gene pool got some new blood. I also yrs ago talked to a breeder that had a very in bred stallion. His first foal crop the foals were very deformed etc.

Okay dont anyone flame me Im just stating what I have been told talking to professionals lol

 

[whitney]

The Horse Journal has an article about just this thing this month.

 

[HGFarm]

I dont know a lot about the health things.... I was told here on the forum that the thyroid problem is linked to an insulin resistance issue. And my neighbor, who has had Morgans for over 20 years advised that this is a problem with the breed.

Our vet, from a reproductive standpoint, has always told us that if you have a problem mare, you will likely get problem foals if and when you can even get one, but again, this is in relation to problems relating to not being a dependable broodmare.

I have one mare that was just diagnosed with a thyroid imbalance, but is doing great on the thyroid meds and her last blood test came back normal.

Not sure what is going on with your infections thing. It seems that some people are seeming to get sick more often than others, but I would wonder what and why? Is their immune system not functioning well or do they fight allergies of some kind that also weakens the system and are more prone to getting sick?

Without knowing all the hidden reasons as to what the infections were and why they got them, or what was going on (and probably spending a FORTUNE to find out) I am not sure there could be a clear cut answer.

Perhaps some of the folks here will have more insight than I on this one.... just some thoughts on my behalf.

:

 

[susanne]

What doctors and vets don't know about diabetes could fill many volumes. As a type I diabetic, I frequently run into doctors and nurses whose knowledge regarding this condition and its manifestations is rather benighted.

Insulin resistance is frequently discussed regarding horses...well, that is a form of diabetes. I would imagine that, with time, diabetes will be recognized in horses.

 

[Hosscrazy]

As many of you know, I also moderate the Yahoo Cushings/Insulin Resistance website and from what you are describing, it sounds like your horse is IR.

I have 2 offspring from my mare who was both Cushings and IR. From what I understand, there CAN be a tendency for the offspring of an IR horse to also develop IR. No matter how small the chance, I am doing everything I can to NOT go through what I went through with my Cushings/IR mare Misty. So because of that, I keep both offspring on an IR diet and I am intentially not breeding the daughter (the other one is a gelding). It's just not worth the risk to me, no matter how small.

Best wishes,

Liz R.