Endocrine Disease in Aged Horses

Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2016 Aug;32(2):301-15. doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2016.04.007.

Abstract

Aging horses may be at particular risk of endocrine disease. Two major equine endocrinopathies, pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction and equine metabolic syndrome, are commonly encountered in an aging population and may present with several recognizable signs, including laminitis. Investigation, treatment, and management of these diseases are discussed. Additionally, aging may be associated with development of rarer endocrinopathic problems, often associated with neoplasia, including diabetes mellitus and other confounders of glucose homeostasis, as well as thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal diseases. Brief details of the recognition and management of these conditions are presented.

Keywords: EMS; Endocrine; Equine; PPID.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging*
  • Animals
  • Endocrine System Diseases / diagnosis
  • Endocrine System Diseases / therapy
  • Endocrine System Diseases / veterinary*
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Horse Diseases / therapy
  • Horses
  • Pituitary Diseases / diagnosis
  • Pituitary Diseases / therapy
  • Pituitary Diseases / veterinary
  • Veterinary Medicine