Laminitis is a serious, painful, and sometimes life-threatening condition affecting the feet and hooves of horses and ponies. Effective emergency care and ongoing management are crucial for improving outcomes and minimising long-term damage. While there are many treatments and medicines recommended for laminitis, the most impactful interventions are often those that can be applied immediately at home, especially in the critical early stages.

Of all domesticated animals, horses have the lowest fertility rate. This is often due to selective breeding for performance and conformation rather than fertility. Equine fertility is influenced by a complex mix of environmental, management, and individual animal factors.

Gestational Diabetes in Horses

Just like humans, horses can experience pregnancy diabetes, known as Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). This condition affects 4-12% of women and has an equivalent in mares, increasing their risk of pregnancy-associated laminitis. Both humans and horses experience changes in blood glucose and insulin levels due to this condition.

Insulin resistance is associated with a range of diseases in both horses and humans. In horses, it is linked to conditions such as laminitis, hyperlipaemia, Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), Cushing's disease (PPID - Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction), osteochondrosis, colic, and grass founder. In humans, insulin resistance is connected to type II diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, polycystic ovary syndrome, and colorectal cancer.