Theories and causes

Dr. Chris Pollitt is one of the most leading and groundbreaking researchers on the subject of laminitis. He made the following, not very optimistic remark about scientific research on the disease: “One-half of laminitis science is incorrect but which half?”

peripheral loading hoof hooves laminitis
Theories and causes

Peripheral loading of the hooves

The hooves of a horse endure significant forces. Not only does the body weight of the horse need to be carried; it is primarily biomechanical forces that burden the hooves. The hooves absorb the impact when the horse puts its…
Theories and causesTreatment and prevention

Neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain (or: nerve pain) is the result of damaged and therefore malfunctioning nerve cells. The damage creates a short circuit, so to speak. This triggers spontaneous stimuli in the nerve. These stimuli are transmitted to the brain via the…
Theories and causes

Polyuria and polydipsia

Polyuria (excessive urination) and polydipsia (excessive drinking) occur in three out of ten horses that suffer from PPID and insulin resistance/EMS. It is therefore an important clinical sign. Let's have a look at how these problems arise. One of the…
Theories and causes

Carbohydrates

Several types of carbohydrates (sugars or saccharides) can be distinguished: Simple sugars (monosaccharides) such as glucose (dextrose) and fructose (fruit sugar) Dual sugars (disaccharides) such as sucrose (beet sugar) Fructans such as inulin, levan and oligofructose Complex sugars (polysaccharides), such as starch…
Theories and causes

ADAMTS-4

One enzyme of interest is the cartilage destroying enzyme ADAMTS-4. In the lamellae a protein is present that is degraded by this enzyme. Too much of this enzyme could lead to weakening of the lamellae and therefore weakening of the…
DefinitionTheories and causes

Hypertrichosis or hirsutism?

Human medicine distinguishes between hypertrichosis and hirsutism. Both terms refer to a condition associated with excessive hair growth. Hirsutism is characterized by excessive hair growth in those parts of the body where hair normally is absent or minimal. In humans,…
Theories and causes

PPID a hype?

A lot more horses are now diagnosed with PPID than there were ten years ago. So many more that some people label PPID as a hype. Yet this is not justified. Firstly, the clinical signs of PPID are no longer…