Education

Recheck option expands PPID testing program

With an estimated 21% of horses older than 15 affected by pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), ongoing monitoring helps manage this progressive condition. To support veterinarians, Boehringer
Ingelheim added a recheck component to its idPPID testing program.

Newly diagnosed horses undergoing treatment with pergolide tablets (Prascend, Boehringer) may be reevaluated through the program.

“By offering a recheck, we are providing veterinarians with additional valuable information to help guide treatment protocols, while continuing to build our understanding of PPID and its progression” said
Steve Grubbs, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, technical manager, Equine, Boehringer Ingelheim.

More than 65,000 horses have been tested since 2013, according to Boehringer press materials. Besides rechecking horses with PPID using adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), insulin and glucose testing, Dr. Grubbs recommended watch for changes in clinical signs observed at the initial diagnosis, including changes in attitude, decreased performance, delayed hair coat shedding and loss of topline muscle in the early stages. If the condition is more advanced, recurrent infections, exercise intolerance and generalized muscle atrophy may be present.

The fall testing period runs from Aug. 18 through Oct. 13. Click here for more details or contact your Boehringer territory manager. MeV
—adapted from BI press materials.