b'ENDOCRINOPATHIC LAMINITIS EXPLAINEDconcurrent PPID, despite his relativelythe veterinarians suspicions. She immedi- Once his laminitis lameness resolved, young age. Researchers have found thatately started him on pergolide therapy tothe horse was turned out for short peri-EMS horses are more at risk of devel- treat PPID and recommended therapeuticods in the early morning hours, particu-oping PPID, potentially showing signsboots as hoof support. She restricted himlarly when night temperatures exceeded as early as 10 to 15 years of age. Moreto 15 pounds of hay (as weighed on a40 degrees Fahrenheit. (Grass sugar levels advanced signs, such as shaggy hair coatscale) per day, which is within the recom- peak in the afternoon and during colder and erratic shedding, puffy eyes, toplinemended 1.4-1.7% range of his expectednight temperatures.) He wore a grazing muscle wasting, and a pot-bellied ap- normal body weight for weight loss. Shemuzzle to restrict his intake while still pearance, take longer to appear despiteeliminated all other supplements from hisgetting light turnout exercise. Grazing ongoing hormonal dysregulation. Recur- diet other than a pelleted dietary balancermuzzles reduce dry matter intake by 77-rent laminitis is sometimes the initial(less than 1 pound per day) and free- 83%, and exercise helps improve insulin presenting sign. Pituitary pars intermediachoice salt. The owner placed his hay in asensitivity.dysfunction also causes immune suppres- slow feeder to slow intake and to provideWith these strategies the gelding main-sion and, so, leads to a greater likelihoodhis intestines with small amounts of for- tained a good prognosis, because he had of developing chronic infections. Inage over more time.no obvious radiographic changes in the addition, cortisol concentrations elevate,Slow feeders as part of a restrictedposition or structure of the coffin bone which is significant because cortisoldiet program let foraging time better ap- within the hoof capsule.decreases insulin sensitivity in the tis- proximate natural grazing, says Man- While any horse fed a diet rich in sues, predisposing these horses to ID andfredi. Offer multiple small meals of hay,calories and NSCs is at risk of developing laminitis. ideally three times a day. Once the food isEMS, Arabians, Morgans, Paso Finos, Testing blood ACTH concentrations be- gone, no more is to be fed.ponies, Saddlebreds, Warmbloods, and fore and after intravenous administrationPrior to feeding, the owner soaked thevarious other breeds tend to be easy keep-of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)hay for an hour to remove as much sugarers with a genetic propensity to lay down is a reliable way to identify early cases ofas possible, then poured off and discard- fat. These individuals are more at risk for PPID. This horses test results confirmeded the soaking water.developing EMS than other breeds, and their owners should be proactive about managing weight and body condition.2. Fighting Obesity and EMSDuring a regular spring visit, a veteri-narian noticed one patient, a 7-year-old Rocky Mountain horse gelding, was considerably overweight, with a body condition score of 7. Due to her concern that he was developing EMS, she recom-mended the owner put him on a strict diet, exercise him as much as possible, and only turn him out with a grazing muzzle. About six months later his farrier identified divergent growth rings in his hoof walls and widening of the white line. The gelding soon became overtly lame.At that time his BCS had elevated to 8, although the owner believed the horse had lost weight. So she had turned him out on green spring grass for four hours a day. The digital pulses in both his front feet had increased. The veterinarian immediately prescribed non-steroidal anti- inflammatories, therapeutic boots, and stall confinement. She advised the owner use a slow-feed haynet with 1.5-by-1.5-inch holes to slow his eating and eliminate insulin surges. She recom-mended a diet of 16 pounds of soaked hay a day, split into multiple meals in the owners net. On radiographs it was clear the horses 22March 2020The Horse|TheHorse.comEndocrineLaminitis.indd 22 2/4/20 9:18 AM'