D' Fonseca NMM, Beukers M, Wijnberg ID, Navas de Solis C, de Ruijter-Villani M, van Doorn DA, Stout TAE, Roelfsema E. Effect of a long-term high-energy diet on cardiovascular parameters in Shetland pony mares.
J Vet Intern Med 2021;
35:2427-2436. [PMID:
34350640 PMCID:
PMC8478035 DOI:
10.1111/jvim.16229]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Changes in cardiovascular parameters, including blood pressure (BP) and cardiac anatomical dimensions, are an inconsistent feature of the equine metabolic syndrome. The order in which these changes arise is unknown.
OBJECTIVES
Determine the order in which EMS-associated changes in cardiovascular parameters arise.
ANIMALS
Twenty Shetland pony mares.
METHODS
High-energy (HE) diet mares were fed 200% of net energy requirements for 1 (n = 3) or 2 (n = 7) consecutive diet-years, with 17 weeks of hay-only between years. Noninvasive BP measurements and echocardiograms were performed during both years. Resting 24-hour ECGs and measurements of autonomic tone (splenic volume and packed cell volume [PCV]) were performed at the end of diet-year 1. Results were compared to control mares receiving a maintenance diet for 1 (n = 7) or 2 (n = 3) consecutive years.
RESULTS
In year 1, HE mares had significantly higher values than control mares for mean relative left ventricular wall thickness (P = .001). After 2 diet-years, mean systolic (P = .003), diastolic (P < .001) and mean arterial BP (P = .001), heart rate (HR; P < .001), and mean left ventricular wall thickness (P = .001) also were significantly increased in HE compared to control mares. No pathological arrhythmias or differences in splenic volume or PCV were detected.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE
Ingesting a HE diet first induced minor changes in BP, and progressed to left-sided cardiac hypertrophy in Shetland pony mares. These findings are of interest given the increasing incidence of obesity in horses.
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