American Farriers Journal
American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.
Relevante displays hypertrichosis, or long hair coat, which is often a clinical sign of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). Following treatment, Relevante coat returns to normal. Photo by: ECIR
Caring for Horses with Acute Endocrinopathic Laminitis
Better understanding leads to better management and longer lives, ECIR Group says
Takeaways
- The basic underlying histopathology of the laminae remains the same after insulin infusion, regardless of whether it’s acute or chronic.
- The keys to success is to get and keep insulin and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) controlled, with normal levels being the goal for ACTH and as close to normal for insulin.
- The ultimate goal in a healthy hoof is approximately equal distance from the coffin bone to the ground, the edge of the coffin bone to the hoof wall and the tip of the coffin bone to the tip of the toe.
It wasn’t that long ago that a diagnosis of Cushing’s disease — Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) — was felt to mean the horse had less than 5 years to live. The cause of the laminitis in these horses was poorly understood and, therefore, poorly managed. We know better now.
The Equine Cushing’s and Insulin Resistance Group was founded in 1999 by an owner with an atypical Cushing’s mare who wanted to promote the dissemination of correct scientific information. We have followed the research closely, as well as thousands of cases. I can’t think of any situation where it’s more critical for owner, veterinarian and hoof-care professional to be fully informed and working together than in laminitis care.
Defining Acute
We often describe the newly diagnosed laminitic horse as “acute.” What does acute laminitis mean?
With the possible exception of laminitis of pregnancy, few endocrinopathic laminitis (EL) cases are truly acute, where acute means the day before they…
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American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.
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Videos
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Events
American Association of Equine Therapists & Technicians (AAETT) Annual Conference
Date: 06/24/26
Location: Lexington, KY
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