Tag Archives: Laminitis

Cold-Induced Hoof Pain

Posted on December 26, 2023 by Dr. Kellon

Frozen and lumpy ground can make any horse hesitant and short-strided. This is something different. Cold temperatures can trigger severe hoof pain in some horses – Plan ahead to mitigate this Most horses are energized by cooler weather, bucking and … Continue reading →

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Inflammation and Equine Metabolic Syndrome

Posted on November 15, 2022 by Dr. Kellon

You have probably read more than one thing which claims inflammation causes EMS, or vice versa. Is there really a connection? In people, the prevailing theory is that it starts with obesity and the rupture of overfilled fat cells causing … Continue reading →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

MMP Enzymes and Laminitis

Posted on June 28, 2022 by Dr. Kellon

If you follow news releases and articles about equine laminitis you have surely seen mention of MMP enzymes since the late 1990s. Turns out they are not the major players as was originally thought. MMPs are matrix metalloproteinases – enzymes … Continue reading →

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The Role Of The Hind Gut in Laminitis

Posted on May 23, 2022 by Dr. Kellon

A lot of attention has been directed to bacterial endotoxins, MMP enzyme activators and fructan or starch fermentation as factors in laminitis but how much are they really involved? In the “horse broke into the feed bin” scenario, too much … Continue reading →

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Why “Bute” Doesn’t Work with Endocrine-Related Laminitis

Posted on April 12, 2022 by Dr. Kellon

Both you and your veterinarian are anxious to relieve your horse’s pain when there is laminitis. The first thing reached for is usually phenylbutazone or another NSAID drug like Banamine or Equioxx. Unfortunately, they often have little effect. There are … Continue reading →

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Insulin Resistance or Insulin Dysregulation?

Posted on May 21, 2021 by Dr. Kellon

Insulin dysregulation [ID] is a term coined in a 2014 publication to describe horses with abnormal levels of insulin.  Elevated insulin used to be considered to mean a horse is insulin resistant, and in many cases it still does, but … Continue reading →

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Forget About Fructan and NSC

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Dr. Kellon

Some beliefs simply will not die, no matter how incorrect they are. Horses, ponies, donkeys/mules and minis which are prone to high insulin levels are at risk of developing health problems. For example, it has been clearly demonstrated that high … Continue reading →

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Diet and Laminitis – No Link to Fructan

Posted on September 3, 2020 by Dr. Kellon

Horses and ponies, donkeys and mules, may develop laminitis on diets based on either hay or pasture. The cause isn’t fructan.  It isn’t hind gut acidosis.  Here’s the science. The AAEP’s Laminitis Working Group did a four year study with … Continue reading →

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Safe Supplements for Metabolic Horses

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Dr. Kellon

When evaluating supplements for horses prone to high insulin levels there are two basic areas to consider – the active ingredients and the base. On the ingredients front, some things to generally avoid include:  Added iron.  These horses often have … Continue reading →

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Spring Pastures

Posted on May 2, 2020 by Dr. Kellon

In most areas of North America, pastures are coming to their verdant peak.  This beautiful flush is also a powerhouse of nutrition for the horse. Spring grass has abundant supplies of  vitamins and omega-3 essential fats which likely contribute to … Continue reading →

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