Boehringer Ingelheim, manufacturer of Prascend, has launched an Equine Endocrine Pioneers Circle webinar to provide vets with evidence based and personal opinions of PPID (Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction) diagnosis, appropriate testing and case management.

The online seminar, which equates to one hour’s CPD, features six UK experts in equine endocrinology, with the objective of supporting equine and mixed practice vets in using the clinical history to guide their interpretation of the basal ACTH test results and subsequent treatment decisions.

The speakers participating in the Equine Endocrine Pioneers Circle are:

  • Harry Carslake MA VetMB DipACVIM MRCVS: Senior lecturer in equine medicine at the University of Liverpool

  • Edd Knowles MA VetMB MVetMed DipECEIM MRCVS: Specialist in Equine internal medicine at Bell Equine Veterinary clinic

  • Professor Cathy McGowan BVSc DipVetClinStud MACVSc PhD DEIM DipECEIM FHEA MRCVS: Head of Department of Equine Clinical Science and Director of Veterinary Postgraduate Education at the University of Liverpool

  • Dr Nicola Menzies-Gow MA VetMB PhD DipECEIM Cert EM(Int Med) MRCVS: Reader in equine medicine at the Royal Veterinary College

  • Victoria South MA VetMB CertAVP(EM) DipECEIM MRCVS: Senior assistant at Liphook Equine Hospital

  • Nicola Steele BVM&S CertAVP(EM) MRCVS: Fyrnwy Equine Clinic and Director of Veterinary CPD (Equine and Large Animal)

The webinar considers when vets should test for PPID and decision-making on the best test to use, how to interpret grey zone results and also how to interpret problematic follow up tests. The experts have different opinions on some of these areas, allowing vets in practice to see the different ways in which cases can be viewed and managed. 

These principles are then reinforced by the use of three clinical case scenarios with the patients all having the same basal ACTH result but a different selection of clinical signs.

Liz Barrett, equine business head at Boehringer Ingelheim said: "Since the launch of our Talk About Laminitis initiative in 2012, more than 50,000 horses have benefited from complimentary basal ACTH tests to aid the diagnosis of PPID, however two common areas of uncertainty in interpreting ACTH results still exist. Firstly, the interpretation of borderline, equivocal or ‘grey-zone’ results and when PPID treatment should or shouldn’t be recommended and secondly, the interpretation of follow-up ACTH test results and when to advise altering the treatment dose.

"The Equine Endocrine Pioneers Circle webinar allows vets to update their knowledge on this broad subject area and illustrates that there is often more than one way to approach the diagnosis, treatment and management of the PPID case."

To view the Equine Endocrine Pioneers Circle webinar on the Boehringer Academy visit https://www.boehringer-academy.co.uk/webinar/bil205

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