Walking On Volume 3, Issue 9, October 2016 | Page 10
For the Health of It
Fall Laminitis - It’s Not All About The Grass
by Equine Cushing’s and Insulin Resistance Group Inc.
obvious outward symptoms.”
The ECIR group has been following horses with hormonal disorders
for over 15 years. In that time we
have seen many horses whose first
sign of PPID was an episode of fall
laminitis. If your horse experiences
this, have a talk with your veterinarian about testing for ACTH and
PPID. The usual dietary measures
are not enough when high levels of
ACTH are involved. These horses
require therapy with pergolide.
For more information on the
seasonal rise in ACTH, Cushing’s
Disease and insulin resistance in
horses visit www.ecirhorse.org and
our outreach group at https://ecir.
groups.io/g/main.
©JANE SECUR
Research has shown, and most
veterinarians recognize, that the
vast majority of laminitis cases are
related to hormonal/endocrine
disorders, specifically those involving insulin resistance. Avoidance
requires diets very low in simple
sugars (ESC) and starch, i.e., the
components of the diet which cause
an insulin rise (fructans do not
elevate insulin).
While it’s true that regrowth of
fall pastures and/or exposure to
cold nights can raise the simple
sugar and starch levels in grass,
fall laminitis can, and often does,
strike horses which had no trouble
handling spring pastures and even
many horses with no access to pasture at all.
Eleanor Kellon, VMD, veterinary advisor to ECIR Group Inc,
explains. “The typical case of fall
10 • Walking On
laminitis is experiencing laminitis
for the first time, or as a repeat of a
previous fall episode. They are in
their teens (or occasionally older)
and owners report no change in
diet or management. The cause is
the seasonal rise in the hormone
ACTH.”
ACTH is a hormone secreted by
the pituitary gland. Its function is
to stimulate the adrenals to release
cortisol. Cortisol induces insulin
resistance and also makes the blood
vessels in the hoof more sensitive to
chemicals mediating constriction.
“All horses experience this
seasonal rise in ACTH”, said Kellon, “but it can be much more
pronounced in older horses, particularly those in the early stages
of PPID (pituitary pars intermedia
dysfunction – Cushing’s disease)
which may not yet be showing any
About ECIR Group Inc
Started in 1999, the ECIR Group is the
largest field-trial database for PPID and IR
in the world and provides the latest research,
diagnosis and treatment information, in
addition to dietary recommendations for
horses with these conditions. Even universities do not and cannot compile and follow
long term as many in-depth case histories of
PPID/IR horses as the ECIR Group.
In 2013 the Equine Cushing’s and Insulin
Resistance Group Inc., an Arizona nonprofit
corporation, was approved as a 501(c)3 public charity. Tax deductible contributions and
grants support ongoing research, education,
and awareness of Equine Cushing’s Disease/
PPID and Insulin Resistance.
THE MISSION of the ECIR Group Inc.
is to improve the welfare of equines with
metabolic disorders via a unique interface
between basic research and real-life clinical
experience. Prevention of laminitis is the
ultimate goal. The ECIR Group serves the scientific community, practicing clinicians, and
owners by focusing on investigations most
likely to quickly, immediately, and significantly benefit the welfare of the horse.