Sodium-glucose transport protein 2 inhibitor use in the management of insulin dysregulation in ponies and horses.

Laminitis is a common and painful condition of the equine foot and approximately 90% of cases are associated with insulin dysregulation (ID) that is a central feature of the common endocrine disorder equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and occurs in a subset of animals with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Additional features of EMS include obesity, altered circulating concentrations of adipokines (particularly adiponectin and leptin) and hypertriglyceridaemia. Obesity, ID, hypoadiponectinaemia, hyperleptinaemia and an altered plasma lipid profile are also features of human metabolic syndrome (HMS) alongside hyperglycaemia.

BEVA primary care clinical guidelines: Diagnosis and management of equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction.

Background: Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is a prevalent, age-related chronic disorder in equids. Diagnosis of PPID can be challenging because of its broad spectrum of clinical presentations and disparate published diagnostic criteria, and there are limited available treatment options.

Objectives: To develop evidence-based primary care guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of equine PPID based on the available literature.

Factors associated with insulin responses to oral sugars in a mixed-breed cohort of ponies.

Background: Serum insulin concentration at 60 min (InsulinT60) during an oral sugar test (OST) indicates future laminitis risk and insulin dysregulation (ID). Associations between InsulinT60 and physical and owner-reported variables may help clinicians select individuals for ID testing. Associations between InsulinT60 and other metabolic markers may help elucidate ID pathophysiology.

Development of a body condition index to estimate adiposity in ponies and horses from morphometric measurements.

Background: There is a high prevalence of obesity in ponies and pleasure horses. This may be associated with equine metabolic syndrome and an increased risk of laminitis. Body condition scoring (BCS) systems are widely used but are subjective and not very sensitive.

Predictors of laminitis development in a cohort of nonlaminitic ponies.

Background: Quantifying risk factors for laminitis development requires improvement.

Objectives: To identify the most useful physical examination, metabolic and management factors to predict laminitis development in client-owned, nonlaminitic ponies.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Influence of endocrine disease on l-lactate concentrations in blood of ponies.

Background: Blood l-lactate concentrations are higher in people with developing or established diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance.

Objectives: To investigate whether blood l-lactate concentrations are positively correlated with measures of insulin dysregulation (ID) or increased autumnal ACTH concentrations in ponies.

Animals: Systemically healthy client-owned ponies (n = 101).

Comparison of immunofluorescence and chemiluminescence assays for measuring ACTH in equine plasma.

Background: The chemiluminescence (CL) and immunofluorescence (IF) assays yield different results for basal adrenocorticotropin hormone concentrations [ACTH] in pony plasma. It is unclear whether this difference also occurs in basal samples from horses or samples from ponies following thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation.

Objectives: To compare the results of [ACTH] analysis by CL and IF methods in basal samples from horses and pony samples following TRH stimulation.

Correlation between l-lactate and glucose concentrations and body condition score in healthy horses and ponies.

Background: Blood l-lactate and glucose concentrations were higher in ponies with gastrointestinal disease than in horses, possibly because of differences in body condition (BC).

Objectives: To investigate whether l-lactate and glucose concentrations correlate with BC and differ between healthy horses and ponies.

Animals: Systemically healthy client-owned ponies (n = 101) and horses (n = 51).