HYPERLIPAEMIA IN PONIES

Hyperlipaemia is a condition where excessive amounts of triglycerides (fats) accumulate in the blood and tissues (especially liver) due to increased mobilisation from body reserves at times of negative energy balance. It occurs most commonly in obese ponies either because of increased energy demand (eg pregnancy, lactation, parasites, illness, stress, weaning, etc) or decreased energy intake (eg on a diet, poor pasture, illness etc).

Clinical signs may include inappetence and lethargy, ventral oedema, drowsiness, stupor and sometimes a pasty, foul smelling diarrhoea. Blood samples show cloudy to opalescent, fatty white serum.
Diagnosis can be confirmed by a laboratory test showing excessive serum triglycerides.

Treatment revolves around supplying energy to prevent further fat break down and promote clearance of the fat from the blood stream and provide supportive treatment to other body systems eg liver and kidneys. The pony will be placed on a glucose drip to provide energy and stimulate insulin release. The pony must be encouraged to eat as its energy needs cannot be met by glucose alone.

The prognosis is can be grave with many ponies sadly unable to recover from the condition.

It is important to be aware of this condition if you have an obese pony and remember that a sudden, radical diet is not the safest way to get them into shape and to pay a little extra attention if they are pregnant, travelling, lactating, ill or under stress.