How Equine Metabolic Syndrome and PPID affect horse welfare and modern management approaches.
Equine endocrine disorders represent some of the most significant preventable welfare problems in senior horse management. PPID causes progressive muscle wasting, a distinctive pot-bellied and muscle-wasted body shape, immune suppression, and dramatically increased laminitis risk — all while horses may maintain normal appetite and behavior for years without diagnosis. Annual hormone testing from middle age enables early diagnosis when medication is most effective and welfare consequences least severe. The combination of PPID management with dietary modifications for EMS provides comprehensive endocrine welfare management. Horses diagnosed and managed appropriately can maintain comfort and reasonable quality of life for years after diagnosis — the welfare benefit of proactive screening is substantial.