Equine metabolic syndrome and laminitis

A case study

Abstract

The equine metabolic syndrome is one of the most prevalent endocrine pathologies in the equine species. This syndrome that involves obesity, insulin resistance/dysregulation and laminitis, causes substantial losses to the equine industry. Insulin resistance is described as the lack of response from the tissues to insulin, developing a consequent endogenous hyperinsulinemia. There is a classic predisposition in animals described as “easy keepers”, such as the Criollo breed. The objective of this paper is to report for the first time in our country a clinical case of an equine Criollo female with clinical diagnosis of laminitis associated with obesity and overfeeding. Insulin, glucose and other biochemical and hematological parameters were determined and compared with females of the same breed, environment and similar body condition score. Insulin concentration and insulin/glucose ratios confirmed the diagnosis of Equine Metabolic Syndrome and these variables reverted one month after the initiation of the treatment.