Age over 25 years, but not plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone con-cen-tration above the seasonally adjusted reference range is predictive for radio-graphically assessed changes of chronic laminitis in elderly horses.

Christen, G; Precht, C; van der Kolk, J; Fouché, N; Gerber, V

INTRODUCTION Endocrinopathic laminitis occurs as a consequence of hormonal derangements like pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). The objective of the present study was to assess the occurrence of radiographic changes associated with chronic laminitis in elderly, clinically sound horses. Fifty-one horses were included in the study. Horses were assigned to different age groups, in groups according to their BCS and CNS as well as to groups with different ACTH concentrations in order to assess their risk of chronic laminitis (reported as odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI)). Horses assigned to an older age group (26-32 years) were significantly more likely to have radiographically assessed changes of chronic laminitis than horses in a younger age group (15-25 years) (OR 3.33; CI 1.05-10.59). The other variables (body condition score, cresty neck score, ACTH concentration) were not associated with an increased risk of having laminitic changes in these horses.