Approach to Laminitic Horse Flashcards
what are the acute clinical signs of laminitis (10)
- reluctant to move
- characteristic stance & gait (difficulty getting up)
- pulse >50-70/min
- often pyrexic
- digital pulses bounding
- increased sensitivity to hooftester
- painful to coronary pressure
- may be unable to pick up feet
- gas colic
- hypermotile bowel often present
what are important history points to be concerned about with laminitis (5)
- feeding/grazing history
- number of laminitic episodes
- duration of current episode
- medications: before/after onset
- recent/concurrent disease (infectious, orthopaedic, metabolic/endocrine –> PPID, EMS)
what should your physical exam include in laminitic patients (7)
- stance
- foot/hoof conformation
- lameness grade
- obel laminitis grade
- digital pulses
- palpation of coronary band
- evidence of concurrent disease
what is the obel laminitis grading scheme
grade 1: frequent lifting of feet
grade 2: willing to walk, laminitic gait, can lift forefoot without difficulty
grade 3: vigorously resists lifting of forefoot, moves reluctantly
grade 4: must be forced to move +/- recumbent
what should you note about the digital pulses in laminitis
the pulse rate, quality
often bounding with laminitis
where is the digital pulse found
palmar/plantar arteries
what should you observe about the coronary band when examining a laminitic horse
check if there is depression of the coronary band which would indicate sinking of the P3
negative prognostic indicator
how would you investigate acute laminitis (4)
- hematology/biochem
- radiographs
- search for underlying disease
- pasture/feed assessment
how would you investigate a chronic/recurrent laminitis (5)
- hematology/biochem
- blood insulin
- testing for PPID
- testing for EMS
- radiography
what is the signalment of cushing’s disease
common in elderly animals
what is the main cause of cushing’s
pituitary adenoma
what is the pathogenesis of PPID
hyperadrenocorticism
increased secretion of other pituitary peptides
physical compressive effect of adenoma
how do the pituitary and hypothalamus interact
Hypothalamus releases corticotropin releasing hormone which stimulates the pituitary to release:
ACTH
Major POMC products
MSH
CLIP
B-endorphin
ACTH causes the adrenal gland to produce cortisol
Cortisol has a negative feedback on the pituitary gland and hypothalamus
what are the clinical features of PPID (13)
- hair coat changes: retention of winter coat, altered shedding pattern
- weight loss
- changed demeanour & lethargy
- laminitis
- PUPD
- hyperhidrosis
- hirsutism/hypertrichosis
- altered fat deposition: bulging supraorbital fat pads
- tachypnea
- immunosuppression: chronic resp infections, sinusitis, increased parasitism
- neurological signs (intermittent collapse)
- non healing mouth wounds
- chronic bacterial dermatitis
how is PPID diagnosed (5)
- signalment & history: >12y
- clinical signs
- plasma endogenous ACTH or dynamic ACTH response
- characteristic hematology and biochem changes
- altered dynamic insulin response (secondary insulin resistance)
how is the plasma ACTH concentration determined to diagnose PPID
Resting assessment of plasma ACTH
Plastic EDTA tube — spin down sample — chill assay as soon as possible
May be affected by concurrent severe pain
Seasonal fluctuation, with corrected reference range
There would be a persistent increase
how is ACTH measured post TRH stimulation to diagnose PPID
Useful when basal measurement equivocal
Time zero, basal sample
TRH 1mg intravenously
Resample for ACTH measurement after 10 mins
how is the dexamethasone suppression test used to diagnosed PPID
Cortisol production NOT suppressed following dexamethasone administration in PPID cases
Risk of inducing laminitis
Test performed less regular
why is the ACTH stimulation test not useful to diagnose PPID
Basal cortisol is variable
how is PPID treated
Dopamine agonist is most effective treatment
Pergolide (Prascend) starting at 1-4 ug/kg once daily
Lifelong therapy required; dose increase may be required
Management of multiple other conditions required
Laminitis, hirsutism, sweating and electrolyte loss, body condition
Assess response to treatment via clinical improvement & ACTH concentration
how is PPID prevented in predisposed animals
- Have high index of suspicion: particularly if >10 years old with laminitis, even if phenotype is not typical
- Confirm diagnosis
- Assess for concurrent insulin resistance
- Reassess for ACTH after initially starting pergolide
- Re-evaluate at least every 6 months
- Re-measure ACTH: ideally CBC, glucose, insulin and electrolytes
- Dental
- Weight/condition check and FEC