Feeding PPID and IR Senior Horses

From reducing PPID-associated muscle wasting to managing IR and obesity, here’s what to consider for your old horse.
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Feeding PPID and IR Senior Horses
Loss of muscle mass, especially in the gluteal muscles and along the topline, is a common effect of aging in horses, but even more common in senior horses with PPID. | Photo: iStock

An estimated 30% of senior horses suffer from a common endocrine condition called pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). That means up to a third of aged horses could be affected by PPID’s effects and clinical signs, such as abnormal hair growth, increased drinking and urination, a pot-bellied appearance, muscle loss, abnormal fat distribution, and chronic or relapsing laminitis.

Although PPID is an endocrine disorder, with it comes many nutrition-related challenges, meaning a significant number of owners and managers must devise precise feeding plans to keep horses with PPID healthy and reduce the likelihood of complications. And, while not all PPID horses are insulin resistant (IR), studies have shown that many are, which adds another level of complexity to designing an appropriate diet.

Fortunately, owners don’t have to go it alone. At the University of Kentucky’s (UK) senior horse care mini-symposium, held Sept. 28 in Lexington, Kristine Urschel, PhD, shared advice on feeding horses with PPID and/or insulin resistance. Urschel is an associate professor of equine science in UK’s Department of Animal and Food Science

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Erica Larson, former news editor for The Horse, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.

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