Fat Horses – A talk about Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Laminitis

ITHACA, N.Y. – Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is a wide-spread issue in the horse population. Primarily characterized by hyperinsulinemia (excess insulin circulating in the blood in relation to glucose levels), this metabolic disorder is often present in obese horses and ponies and can be challenging to diagnose.

Dr. Gillian Perkins, Equine Internal Medicine Specialist at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, will talk about the dangers of Equine Metabolic Syndrome and the latest treatments.

Dr. Perkins obtained her D.V.M. at the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada and then an internship at the University of Minnesota. She did her Large Animal Internal Medicine Residency at Cornell University and became board certified in 2000 and stayed on at Cornell as a faculty member. She is the Associate Hospital Director and oversees the functions of the Equine & Nemo Farm Animal Hospitals at Cornell. Her research interests are mainly vaccinology, pathogenesis and diagnostic testing of infectious diseases such as Equine Herpes Virus-1 and salmonellosis along with the immune response to infection.

The Cornell Equine Seminar Series is presented by the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Equine Hospital, the New York State 4-H Horse Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension. Held monthly equine experts present on important equine health and management topics. The event is free and open to the public, registration is required.