No vet needed for early check on equine obesity risks.
A saliva test – taken by horse owners without a vet present – could soon be key to monitoring horses for diseases connected with obesity.
Equine obesity and its links to Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and laminitis is the focus of a study by Aberdeen-based biotechnology firm Formartine Bio and University of the West of Scotland (UWS).
Current testing methods are often invasive and identify problems late, the researchers claim.
However, their new saliva test is low-stress and non-invasive for the horse. It could also mean earlier detection and diagnosis of diseases, and cut costs for owners.
The new test monitors glycans - complex carbohydrates or sugars - in horses.
Collected via a saliva sample from the horse, it can provide early information about inflammation, immune function, injury, metabolic health and overall physiological stress – often before traditional clinical markers change.
Says Dr Mia Burleigh at UWS, said: “Improving how we recognise emerging issues may help support more timely management decisions, reduce the risk of disease progression, and contribute to better long-term outcomes for horses across a range of settings.”
Dr Kimberley Mackenzie, founder of Formartine Bio, added that the collaborative research aims to support the development of more precise diagnostic tools for horses, with potential benefits for earlier detection, monitoring, and management of disease.
The organisations have been awarded £7,500 via Interface’s Standard Innovation Voucher scheme which supports knowledge exchange between universities and industry.
