Category: Equids

𝐄𝐌𝐒 is an endocrine dysfunction of 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐧, the body’s main hormone it uses to get 𝐠𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐞 (the main sugar used for energy) into cells. In normal horses, insulin levels increase when blood glucose levels increase, to help store the glucose away in cells and provide the cells energy. In EMS horses, they typically have 𝐡𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚, which is when there are high levels of insulin despite normal levels of blood glucose.

𝐏𝐏𝐈𝐃 is an endocrine dysfunction caused by an 𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐚 (a benign tumour) in the pituitary gland of the horse. The pituitary gland’s main job is to produce hormones that control the other hormone-secreting organs, such as the adrenal glands or thyroid gland. So when it develops an adenoma, the tumour can interfere with the normal hormone production of the pituitary gland, causing issues like PPID.

EPM is a nervous disease of horses that is caused by protozoan parasites, most commonly 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐜𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐚. Affected horses have 𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐚 (irregular gait due to nervous disease), weakness and depression. Horses also often have head tilt, facial nerve paralysis with drooping of the ears and lips, and difficulty swallowing. These clinical signs tend to get worse over time, progressing to seizures, recumbency and death.

Gastric ulcers are areas where the stomach 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐚 (the lining) has become eroded, exposing the underlying tissue. This often associated with hemorrhage and inflammation.

Wobblers syndrome’s proper name is 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐦𝐲𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲, and it is a common cause of 𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐚 (irregular gait due to neurologic issues) in horses. The main problem in Wobblers is compression of the spinal cord due to an irregular shape or positioning of 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐞 (the bones in the neck).

Navicular syndrome is basically when the navicular bone starts to degenerate. Typically, this means that the cartilage that sits on top of the bone, and sometimes even the bone itself, gets worn down. To try and compensate for the wearing, and desperately try to maintain the normal function of the structure, the body produces extra bone in irregular patches and nodules called 𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐬. These can help, but sometimes they end up making things worse! The osteophytes can cause damage to the deep digital flexor tendon, leading to scarring that can sometimes even attach the tendon to the bone. Since the tendon is supposed to slide over the bone, this leads to complete loss of function of this area.

Melanomas are tumours that come from 𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐬, which are a type of cell primarily found in the skin. Melanocytes produce 𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧, a dark pigment, that helps protect the skin cells from UV light.