Characterization of hypertriglyceridemia and response to treatment with insulin in horses, ponies, and donkeys: 44 cases (1995-2005).
Abstract: To characterize signalment, clinical signs of disease, and clinical response to insulin in equids with hypertriglyceridemia. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 20 horses, 17 ponies, and 7 donkeys with hypertriglyceridemia. Methods: For analysis of medical record data, horses, donkeys, and ponies with multiple serum or plasma triglycerides measurements were separated into groups. Hypertriglyceridemic equids that were (HT-I; n = 14) or were not (HT-N; 10) treated with insulin consisted of equids with an initial triglycerides concentration > 44 mg/dL but < 500 mg/dL. Equids with an initial triglycerides concentration > 500 mg/dL, all of which were treated with insulin, constituted the lipemic group (LIP-I; 20). Each group included a full range of ages. Pretreatment and posttreatment values from serum or plasma biochemical analyses were compared among groups. Results: No age predilection for hypertriglyceridemia was apparent. Of the 29 female equids, only 7 (24%) were lactating or pregnant. Multiple illnesses were diagnosed in hypertriglyceridemic equids, including colitis (14/44; 32%) and colic (9/44; 20%). Many breeds were affected, including 16 (36%) American Miniature Horses and 9 (20%) Arabians or Arabian crossbreds. The mean posttreatment triglycerides concentration was not significantly different from the initial value in HT-N equids (175 vs 125 mg/dL) but was significantly lower than the pretreatment triglycerides concentration in HT-I (252 vs 55 mg/dL) and LIP-I (872 vs 87 mg/dL) equids. Conclusions: Equids of all ages and sexes with various diseases had hypertriglyceridemia. Insulin treatment decreased the triglycerides concentrations in affected equids.
Publication Date: 2009-04-02 PubMed ID: 19335242DOI: 10.2460/javma.234.7.915Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study examines the effects of insulin treatment on horses, ponies, and donkeys that suffer from hypertriglyceridemia, an excessive amount of triglycerides in their blood system. The researchers found that insulin treatments significantly reduced the triglycerides levels in affected animals, regardless of their age, sex, or other diseases.
Objective of the Research
- The researchers wanted to understand the disease signalment, clinical symptoms, and the response of horses, ponies, and donkeys with hypertriglyceridemia to insulin treatment. Hypertriglyceridemia refers to a condition where there are excessively high levels of triglycerides in the blood.
Methods Used in the Research
- The retrospective case series involved a total of 44 equids – 20 horses, 17 ponies, and 7 donkeys showing signs of hypertriglyceridemia.
- The subjects were categorized into subgroups based on their initial levels of triglycerides and whether they were treated with insulin. The groups were labeled as HT-I (those treated with insulin), HT-N (those not treated with insulin) and LIP-I (those with triglycerides levels above 500 mg/dL, and treated with insulin).
- The researchers both studied the number of pre-existing conditions and the age range of the equids while conducting the analysis.
Results of the Study
- The research showed that hypertriglyceridemia could affect equids of all ages and sexes, and it didn’t depend on whether they were pregnant or lactating.
- The majority of diseases found in hypertriglyceridemic equids included colitis and colic, and it affected a wide range of breeds like American Miniature Horses and Arabians or Arabian crossbreds.
- The post-treatment triglycerides concentration levels were not significantly different in the HT-N group; however, there was a substantial reduction in the HT-I and LIP-I groups after the insulin treatment.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that hypertriglyceridemia affects equids of all ages and sexes with various diseases. Furthermore, insulin treatment was found to be effective in reducing the triglycerides concentrations in affected equids.
Cite This Article
APA
Waitt LH, Cebra CK.
(2009).
Characterization of hypertriglyceridemia and response to treatment with insulin in horses, ponies, and donkeys: 44 cases (1995-2005).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 234(7), 915-919.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.234.7.915 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Mount Vernon Veterinary Hospital, 14110 Bradshaw Rd, Mount Vernon, WA 98273, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Equidae / blood
- Female
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Hypertriglyceridemia / blood
- Hypertriglyceridemia / drug therapy
- Hypertriglyceridemia / veterinary
- Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
- Insulin / blood
- Insulin / therapeutic use
- Male
- Pregnancy
- Retrospective Studies
- Treatment Outcome
- Triglycerides / blood
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Wang X, Shao Y, Zhou X, Li Z, Liu J, Tang M, Yang Y, Deng L. Dynamic Changes in the Gut Microbiota During Peripartum in Jennies. Animals (Basel) 2025 May 6;15(9).
- Kasamatsu M, Hasegawa K, Wakabayashi I, Furuta M, Inoue H, Iwano H. The first complete hand-rearing of two neonatal finless porpoises. PLoS One 2025;20(1):e0288891.
- Mendoza FJ, Toribio RE, Perez-Ecija A. Metabolic and Endocrine Insights in Donkeys. Animals (Basel) 2024 Feb 10;14(4).
- Daradics Z, Crecan CM, Rus MA, Morar IA, Mircean MV, Cătoi AF, Cecan AD, Cătoi C. Obesity-Related Metabolic Dysfunction in Dairy Cows and Horses: Comparison to Human Metabolic Syndrome. Life (Basel) 2021 Dec 16;11(12).
- Johnson PJ, Wiedmeyer CE, LaCarrubba A, Ganjam VK, Messer NT 4th. Diabetes, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome in horses. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2012 May 1;6(3):534-40.
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