Jessica P Johnson
Laminitis is a debilitating and potentially life-threatening disease of the equine foot with a reported frequency ranging from 1.5% to 34% [1]. The disease results in profound pain and suffering in affected animals and is widely considered as a leading cause of euthanasia in the horse. It has been estimated that 89% of laminitis cases result from endocrinopathic disease, with 58% specifically attributed to equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) [4]. The Arabian horse has been identified as carrying a risk locus for one such endocrinopathic disease, known as equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), therefore predisposing this breed to development of laminitis [5]. With a population of horses comprising >75% Arabians, with the majority of them being show horses renowned for husbandry conditions predisposing them to laminitis, Dr Johnson has gained extensive experience dealing with laminitic cases, in a wide variety of presentations and severity, during her time spent working at the Equine Veterinary Medical Center in Doha, Qatar, where laminitic patients make up a significant proportion of her caseload. Here, she discusses her approach to a comprehensive investigation of the laminitic horse, including the importance of a thorough history-taking, what to check on physical examination, practical perspectives on clinical pathology, as well as tips and tricks for diagnostic imaging, drawing on recent research in this field. Improvements in our ability to detect subtle changes and to diagnose the condition early in its course, will result in better treatment success and outcomes for our equine patients, thereby improving their health and welfare.
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