AAEP Laminitis Research Project Launched: Phase One to Investigate Pasture or Endocrinopathy-Associated Laminitis with Help of Boehringer Ingelheim Prascend® Donation

(This information is an edited press release that was originally provided by the AAEP Foundation)

On Saturday, the American Association of Equine Practitioners Foundation announced the launch of an aggressive $1 million campaign for laminitis research and the start of the first of multiple studies that will occur to help unravel the mysteries of this disease.

Also announced at the AAEP’s 57th Annual Convention was the donation of $200,000 to the AAEP Foundation for support of the first study Case-Control Study of Pasture or Endocrinopathy Laminitis supported by Prascend® (pergolide mesylate), manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica.

“This project is in response to AAEP members prioritizing laminitis as the most important disease requiring research,” said Wayne McIlwraith, BVSc, PhD, FRCVS. “We are fortunate and very grateful our long-time industry partner Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. and their new exciting product Prascend® is willing to support research to help us help horses with this devastating disease.”

Professor Wayne McIlwraith

Laminitis remains one of the most frustrating and devastating diseases confronted by equine practitioners. The disease, which has the potential to cripple horses beyond repair, damages the critical laminae structures in the equine foot and has a variety of causes and symptoms.

"Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) is very pleased to fund this continued research on equine laminitis," says Dr. Jane Smith, director, BIVI equine division. "We truly value the work of AAEP and their Foundation and are proud to partner with them in this research effort."

The Case-Control Study of Pasture or Endocrinopathy Laminitis is already underway under the direction of recognized epidemiologist, Noah Cohen, VMD, PhD at theTexas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Through the Laminitis Research Project, top equine researchers, AAEP members and horse owners will work together to lay a foundation for the future of laminitis research. With new information about nature of this disease, the AAEP Foundation intends to equip equine practitioners with the ability to prevent and treat horses diagnosed with laminitis.

Veterinarians and horse owners are encouraged to join the effort to eradicate laminitis through their active involvement with the Laminitis Research Project. Horses that are diagnosed with laminitis and have not yet received treatment may be submitted for these case-based studies. Horse owners and veterinarians can also choose to help through fundraising at their equine facility, home, business or veterinary practice.

For more information about contributing to the Laminitis Research Project, visit www.aaepfoundation.org.

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© Fran Jurga and Hoofcare Publishing; Fran Jurga's Hoof Blog is a between-issues news service for subscribers to Hoofcare and Lameness Journal. Please, no use without permission. You only need to ask. This blog may be read online at the blog page, checked via RSS feed, or received via a digest-type email (requires signup in box at top right of blog page). To subscribe to Hoofcare and Lameness (the journal), please visit the main site, www.hoofcare.com, where many educational products and media related to equine lameness and hoof science can be found. Questions or problems with this blog? Send email to blog@hoofcare.com.  

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Video: Update on Blood Test for Thoroughbred Breakdown Risk Markers, Researcher McIlwraith Interviewed

by Fran Jurga | 20 December 2008 | www.hoofcare.blogspot.com

Click on the screen to launch the video.

"How's his blood?" "Did you check her blood?" Questions like those might be the new mantra of racehorse owners when questioning a trainer before a race.

Colorado State University researcher Dr Wayne McIlwraith is bullish on the reliability--80% accuracy, he claims--of a blood test developed in his Equine Orthropaedic Research Center. This video is a good introduction to the concept of a blood testing protocol in the bigger picture of breakdown prevention.

The blood test will certainly not replace good horsemanship and monitoring of routine soundness and training issues, and there's no indication yet of what the test would cost, but this is a good news video for the holiday season.

Tests like the CSU protocol will do nothing to help accidents like the horrific death of a runaway filly at Aqueduct racetrack in New York last weekend. Nor will it help horses who go down from clipped heels or other stumbling upsets, starting gate mishaps or any number of accident-type situations that can happen in a race.

It's not clear how often racehorses would need to undergo the blood screening, or if McIlwraith would recommended that this test be a requirement for entry in a race. Breakdowns frequently occur during training sessions, although the public only sees the ones broadcast on television.

But I hope that the racing world does embrace this glimmer of hope, that it is found to be predictive, and that this is a legitimate step in the only viable direction left for racing: up. Up with horse welfare, up with safety, up with preserving the excitement and vitality of a great sport.

They should name it the Eight Belles Test. Passing the Eight Belles test would be a good thing.

Click here to download a pdf file of an article explaining more about the test, written by Andrea Caudill. This article appeared in the October 2007 edition of The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal, and is also posted online by the Grayson-Jockey Club Foundation.

Click here to download a PDF file of Dr. McIlwraith's recommendations for reform of racing to improve horse safety, as presented to a Congressional subcommittee in June 2008.

Thanks to ZooToo for sharing this video.

© Fran Jurga and Hoofcare Publishing. No use without permission. You only need to ask.

Fran Jurga's Hoof Blog is a between-issues news service for subscribers to Hoofcare and Lameness Journal. This blog may be read online at the blog page, checked via RSS feed, or received via a digest-type email (requires signup in box at top right of blog page).

To subscribe to Hoofcare and Lameness (the journal), please visit the main site, www.hoofcare.com, where many educational products and media related to equine lameness and hoof science can be found.

Questions or problems with this blog? Send email to blog@hoofcare.com.