Insulin dysregulation (ID) is central to the pathophysiology of equine metabolic syndrome
(EMS), putting the horse at risk of laminitis. There is a paucity of information on the
status of EMS in Nigeria. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of EMS, clinical
manifestations, and associated risk factors in Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was
carried out. Selected horses underwent an insulin 2-step response test to ascertain
insulin dysregulation; a physical examination was carried out to diagnose laminitis and
obesity. Risk factors were assessed using a questionnaire. The overall prevalence of EMS
was 43.10%. Breed and sex were significantly associated with EMS, but age was not. Horses
diagnosed with laminitis showed two signs of laminitis, namely, divergent hoof rings and
widened white lines. Risk factors significantly associated with the prevalence of EMS were
as follows: being a West African Barb horse (60.00%), being a stallion (67.86%), being a
leisure horse (67.86%), only walking horses during exercise (68.00%), exercising horses
once every 5 months (82.76%), tethering horses to a stake in the ground (67.86%), obesity
(92.86%), and abnormal neck crest (83.33%). The risk of ID remains higher in obese horses.
However, some of the horses with ID were not obese, indicating that there are other
possible underlying causes of EMS.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.