Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica’s ‘Talk About Laminitis’ Initiative Is 'Revolutionising Our View Of Laminitis' Says Leading Expert

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica’s ‘Talk About Laminitis’ initiative is proving to be an enormous success with over 3000 horses and ponies tested for PPID in the campaign’s first seven weeks. Professor Andy Durham from The Liphook Equine Hospital comments: “For years we’ve known that horses and ponies with PPID are prone to laminitis, but recent evidence suggests that actually the majority of laminitis cases are caused by an underlying endocrine disease. The last 24 months have seen an absolute revolution in the number of laminitis cases tested for PPID, which is excellent medicine because if you don’t test, you may be at risk of missing the diagnosis.” The Talk About Laminitis initiative, which offers free ACTH blood testing and runs to the end of November, has already led to a reappraisal of the ages of horses tested for PPID. “We saw from tests performed this spring that PPID may affect approximately one-third of laminitic horses and ponies between 10 and 15 years of age and therefore we have encouraged veterinary surgeons to submit tests from all cases of laminitis they see in horses from the age of 10,” explains Liz Barrett, equine business manager at Boehringer. “During the autumn initiative, more than half of the 10 to 15 year old horses tested have been positive for PPID.” Commenting on these findings, Dr Catherine McGowan BVSc DipVetClinStud MACVSc PhD DEIM DipECEIM FHEA MRCVS from the University of Liverpool says: “In the autumn we see a natural increase in ACTH, and this is possibly why we see clinical signs in horses with PPID at this time. The autumn is also the best time to test for PPID as the sensitivity and specificity of testing using ACTH are at their greatest.” To participate in the scheme, veterinary surgeons can download free ACTH blood test vouchers from www.talkaboutlaminitis.co.uk. Simply attach the voucher to the ACTH sample submission form and the ACTH laboratory fees will be free of charge^* until the end of November. For further information on ‘Talk About Laminitis’, PPID or Prascend®, the first licensed product for the treatment of PPID, please visit www.talkaboutlaminitis.co.uk, contact your Boehringer territory manager or call 01344 746959. ^* *Free laboratory fees through The Liphook Equine Practice Laboratory

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