PetCaseFinder

Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Endocrine Disorders of the Equine Athlete.

Journal:
The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice
Year:
2018
Authors:
Frank, Nicholas
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Sciences · United States
Species:
horse

Plain-English summary

Horses that compete can face serious hormone-related health issues, particularly insulin dysregulation (ID), which can lead to laminitis, a painful condition affecting their hooves. This is especially concerning for their performance, as laminitis can cause significant damage. As horses get older, they are also more likely to develop another condition called pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, which can make existing insulin problems worse and increase the chances of laminitis. Understanding these conditions is important for keeping your horse healthy and performing well.

Abstract

Equine athletes are affected by 2 major endocrine/metabolic disorders, insulin dysregulation (ID) and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. ID is a risk factor for laminitis in horses, which poses the greatest threat to performance because of the damage that it causes to hoof structures. This article includes an in-depth discussion of ID and other risk factors for laminitis that are grouped together as equine metabolic syndrome. As horses age, the risk of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction increases, and this endocrine disorder may exacerbate preexisting ID and further increase the risk of laminitis.

Find similar cases for your pet

PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.

Search related cases →

Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29857965/