An Analysis of Managing Stress Response in Horses to Prevent Laminitis
Abstract
Horses can suffer from the complex and painful condition of Laminitis. Laminitis is caused by various predisposing conditions, although the precise etiology is yet understood. The innate stress response includes substances such as cortisol, histamine, and serum T4 were found to be elevated, which may be the root of the issue or a contributing component. The amount of stress hormones present in Laminitis is largely unknown. To measure stress response variables in laminitic horses while comparing with control horses and horses with Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. A prospective study was conducted on 40 adult horses brought in for clinical Laminitis, GI anomalies, or non-medical issues. On admission at the hospital, blood was obtained from the horses, and they were sorted into the relevant disease groups (healthy, GI disease, and Laminitis). The levels of serum cortisol, thyroid hormone, plasma histamine, and plasma endogenous adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) were measured in the samples. Horses with GI disorders and Laminitis have dramatically different levels of stress hormones. Comparing Laminitis to GI illness and control horses, laminitis horses had the highest plasma histamine levels. Compared to horses in good health, animals' Laminitis and gastrointestinal disease showed higher plasma eACTH levels. GI illness in horses had greater serum cortisol levels than in laminitis horses or control horses. Compared to Laminitis and non-laminitis horses, Serum T4 levels were decreased in diseased GI systems in horses. Both plasma histamine and eACTH levels were comparatively higher in laminitis horses. Comparing laminitis horses to healthy horses, serum T4 and cortisol amounts were not significantly different. There must be research to ascertain the impact of stress-related horse sickness caused by hormones.
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