>>>> Karen, was it you that had a horse that had insulin resistance, but was >>>> not overweight?
You're probably thinking about my Sundance, who fluxuated between being an "average keeper" to a "hard keeper" during the 13 years I had him. He had Cushing's, not IR, although research suggests there might be some connection between them. Just before he had his bout of laminitis, he lost a good bit of weight. We treated the laminitis aggressively (calling the vet at the first signs of ouchy feet). We had him tested for Cushing's (positive) and once he went on the Cushing's meds (cyproheptadine then, although Pergolide seems to be first choice these days) he maintained a decent weight (still slender, but not bony) and he never had another laminitis attack. He did eventually develop other symptoms, despite the meds. He lived five years after his diagnosis, with the first 2-3 years almost symptom-free. Holly, my TWH, also had two laminitis bouts, hers about 12 years ago, and we treated her for a thyroid condition. Knowing what we know now, she was probably IR, but the thyroid meds relieved her symptoms nonetheless. I consider laminitis an acute emergency. If you get the vet and farrier to treat it during the acute phase, the chances of it not progressing to founder seem reasonably good. Out of Holly's two bouts and Sundance's one, neither had any long-term rotation of the coffin bone, and both returned to being barefoot within a couple of months of their attacks. Karen Thomas, NC
