I'm Looking for Horses
with PPID and EMS
I am a veterinarian, and I enroll horses with naturally occurring endocrine disease into investigational studies. Your horse stays home. Your vet stays your vet.
WHAT I'M DOING
I run investigational studies in horses that already have PPID or Equine Metabolic Syndrome.
I am not looking for healthy horses, and nothing about these studies involves creating disease in an animal. I am looking for horses who already live with these conditions, whose owners are willing to have them take part in research that may help us understand how to manage them better.
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The horses stay where they live. Their own veterinarian stays involved throughout. Owners can withdraw at any time, for any reason, without affecting their horse's ongoing care.
PPID AND EMS
- PPID, once known as equine Cushing's disease, is an age-related neurodegenerative condition that typically affects horses over fifteen. A dysfunctional pituitary gland overproduces hormones, which produces the long curly coat that does not shed out, along with muscle wasting and lethargy. PPID requires daily lifelong medication.
- EMS is a metabolic disorder driven by insulin dysregulation, similar to type 2 diabetes in people. It can affect horses of any age, and is most common in easy keepers and pony breeds. It shows up as obesity, regional fat deposits such as a cresty neck, and an inability to process dietary sugars properly. EMS is managed through rigorous dietary restriction and exercise.
They are frequently confused, because both cause laminitis. They require entirely different management, which is why an accurate veterinary diagnosis matters so much.
Screening
Endocrine testing to
confirm eligibility,
at no cost to you.
Horses already diagnosed with PPID or EMS, or horses whose owner and veterinarian suspect it and are willing to have them screened.
[SPECIFIC INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA TO BE ADDED FROM THE APPROVED PROTOCOL: age range, confirmed diagnosis or screening route, concurrent conditions, medication washout, required visit commitment, geographic radius.]
WHAT PARTICIPATION INVOLVES
Consent
You review and sign a plain
language document explaining exactly what is involved. You can ask me anything before you sign, and you can withdraw afterwards.
WHO I'M LOOKING FOR
The study period
[NUMBER] scheduled assessments over [DURATION]. Your horse remains at home throughout.
Your veterinarian
They stay your horse's veterinarian and receive all study-related results.
WHAT IS COVERED, AND WHAT IS NOT PROMISED
Study-related screening, diagnostics and monitoring are provided at no cost to you.
For many owners this is the most complete endocrine workup their horse has ever had, and those results stay with you and your veterinarian regardless of whether your horse ultimately takes part.
I want to be equally clear about the other side.
The products being studied are investigational. They are not approved, and their effects in horses with these conditions are not established. Your horse may receive no direct benefit from taking part. Depending on the study, some horses receive a control or comparator rather than the investigational product.
You should keep discussing standard-of-care management with your own veterinarian. Taking part in a study is not a substitute for that conversation.
 FOR REFERRING VETERINARIANS
You likely have candidates already.
PPID is common in senior horses, affecting roughly one in five over the age of twenty. A meaningful proportion of the horses you see with delayed shedding, muscle loss, reduced performance, recurrent infection, regional adiposity or repeat laminitic episodes are undiagnosed or under-monitored, because the diagnostic workup is a cost conversation the owner would rather not have.
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These studies cover that workup.
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You identify and refer the candidate. You remain the primary veterinarian. You receive study-related results. You are not asked to run the protocol, collect study data or take on study administration.
MEET EDWARD AND FARKLE
Two horses I want you to meet, because they are the reason I do this.
Edward
Edward is tall, dark and, in his own way, fluffy. He gained a great deal of weight and went through multiple laminitic episodes because of his equine metabolic syndrome. Anyone who has watched a horse go through laminitis knows what that costs, for the horse and for the person looking after him.
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Edward took part in an investigational drug trial for his EMS. He is not cured. He will always carry laminitis risk, and his management will always matter. But he took part, his owner had support and monitoring throughout, and he is doing well.
Farkle
Farkle is a fine little lady, rescued by Jenn Helgren. Jenn spent hours rehabilitating her and earning her trust, and several years ago learned that Farkle has PPID. It has caused problems with her feet and secondary increases in her insulin.
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Farkle is taking part in a study of an investigational drug, to help understand how it might fit into managing PPID.
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Neither of these horses is a case study, and neither is a promise. They are two animals whose owners decided that taking part was worth doing. That is the decision I am asking you to consider.
