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.

Insulin, but not adiponectin, is detectable in equine saliva using an automated, commercial assay.

Background: The hormones insulin and adiponectin are commonly measured in equids because of their involvement in endocrinopathic laminitis. These are currently measured in serum/plasma, although jugular venipuncture can cause stress in some animals and may be impossible in needle-shy individuals. However, both hormones can be measured in saliva in other species.

Relationships between total adiponectin concentrations and obesity in native-breed ponies in England.

Background: Equine metabolic syndrome is a collection of risk factors associated with an increased risk of endocrinopathic laminitis. All affected animals display insulin dysregulation and some may show adiponectin dysregulation and/or excessive adiposity. However, the relationship between obesity and hypoadiponectinaemia in equids remains unclear.

Short-term induced hyperinsulinaemia and dexamethasone challenge do not affect circulating total adiponectin concentrations in insulin-sensitive ponies.

Background: Hypoadiponectinaemia is a risk factor for endocrinopathic laminitis, but the directionality and nature of its association with insulin dysregulation is unclear.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of short-term induced hyperinsulinaemia and dexamethasone challenge on circulating [total adiponectin] and whole blood expression of adiponectin (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2), insulin, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) receptors in insulin-sensitive ponies.

Study Design: In vivo experiment.

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.

Nitric oxide synthase inhibition reveals differences in the nitric oxide pathway in previously laminitic ponies.

Previously laminitic (PL) ponies are reported to have higher blood pressure than non laminitic (NL) ponies. This relative hypertension may be related to endothelial cell dysfunction, similar to humans with metabolic syndrome. To investigate the relationship between laminitis predisposition and endothelial dysfunction, the effect of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition on the change in circulating nitric oxide (NO) concentrations and systemic blood pressure (BP) was determined.

Outcome following emergency laparotomy in 33 UK donkeys: A retrospective multicentre study.

Background: Emergency laparotomies in donkeys are infrequently performed and there is limited literature on the subject.

Objectives: To determine findings and associated outcomes of exploratory laparotomies in donkeys.

Study Design: Descriptive retrospective study.

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.

The Effect of Strip Grazing on Physical Activity and Behavior in Ponies.

This work aimed to determine the effect of strip grazing on physical activity in ponies using behavioral observations alongside accelerometers positioned at the poll. In study one, ten British native breed ponies were randomly assigned to paddock A (50 × 110 m) or B (50 × 110 m divided into seven equal strips with access to one additional strip per day) for seven days (n = 5/paddock). In study two, ten different British native breed ponies were randomly assigned for 14 days individually to (1) a control field where the animal was allowed complete access to their allotted area (n = 4); (2) a field that increased in size daily by moving a lead fence (n = 2); and (3) a field that was strip grazed using lead and back fences moved the same distance daily (n = 4).

Cross-sectional study to identify the prevalence of and factors associated with laminitis in UK donkeys.

Background: Laminitis causes lameness in donkeys, but its prevalence and factors associated with disease remain uncertain.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of and identify factors associated with laminitis in donkeys.

Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional 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).

Pergolide dosing compliance and factors affecting the laboratory control of equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction.

Background: Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is treated with daily pergolide therapy. Owner compliance and its effect on PPID control have not been previously investigated.

Methods: Clinical records were searched to identify the sample of animals with PPID treated with pergolide from 2016 to 2019.

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).

Physics of animal health: on the mechano-biology of hoof growth and form.

Global inequalities in economic access and agriculture productivity imply that a large number of developing countries rely on working equids for transport/agriculture/mining. Therefore, the understanding of hoof conditions/shape variations affecting equids' ability to work is still a persistent concern. To bridge this gap, using a multi-scale interdisciplinary approach, we provide a bio-physical model predicting the shape of equids' hooves as a function of physical and biological parameters.

Prevalence of and risk factors for acute laminitis in horses treated with corticosteroids.

A retrospective treated versus untreated study (study 1) and multicentre prospective cohort study (study 2) were undertaken to determine the prevalence of, and risk factors associated with, acute laminitis in horses treated with corticosteroids. All old treated with corticosteroids January-December 2014 (study 1) and January 2015-February 2017 (study 2) by two first opinion and referral hospitals in UK were included. Additionally, an untreated animal was identified for each treated animal (study one).

ECEIM consensus statement on equine metabolic syndrome.

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a widely recognized collection of risk factors for endocrinopathic laminitis. The most important of these risk factors is insulin dysregulation (ID). Clinicians and horse owners must recognize the presence of these risk factors so that they can be targeted and controlled to reduce the risk of laminitis attacks.