Hufrehe ECS EMS Borreliose

Lyme Disease in Equine Insulin Resistance/Lyme Laminitis

Several studies in human and animal medicine show that bacterial components can trigger Insulin Resistance temporarily in normal individuals. Most horses exposed to Lyme/showing disease/being treated do not get Laminitis because most are not already Insulin Resistant before infection. Normal (non Insulin Resistant) horses get an Insulin surge from bacteria but the level is not enough to trigger Laminitis.
Another reason horses being treated for Lyme usually avoid Laminitis is due to Tetracycline antibiotics (Doxycycline tabs, Oxytetracycline IV) have an anti-inflammatory effect on top of their antibiotic effect. This two-for-one bonus helps avoid problems.
The Big Problem: Horses with already in place Insulin Resistance being exposed to the Lyme bacteria causing a horse with already high Insulin to go sky high and trigger Laminitis. The double teaming of bacteria and the Insulin surge take a horse already on the edge and push them off the cliff.
If you have an Insulin Resistance horse or a probable one (body type, Laminitis history), it is a good idea to test Insulin level if diagnosed with Lyme.
What can I do? This disease highlights the important concept of needing to control Insulin now in order to help avoid a problem later.

Simply, by moving your horse away from the edge to a safer Insulin level, it gives the horse a buffer zone so that if a surge occurs (Lyme, colic, trauma, surgery…) it is not enough to go over the edge into Laminitis. I call it my “Grand Canyon Concept”. If we are not near the edge, we can’t be pushed off the cliff.