The organs that play a central role in the body’s metabolism include the liver, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, pancreas, pituitary gland and adrenal glands, though a number of other organs also perform important hormonal and metabolic functions. Typical signs of hormonal and metabolic diseases include performance problems, languor, unexplained changes to the horse’s coat, problems relating to hair coat changes, weight loss, fat redistribution and laminitis. Common diseases include liver diseases, pituitary gland dysfunction (equine Cushing’s disease), equine metabolic syndrome (with type 2 diabetes), and hyperlipidaemia (lipid metabolism disorder) in ponies and donkeys. Diagnoses of such diseases primarily involve laboratory tests and hormonal stimulation tests; ultrasound scans might also be performed and tissue samples taken in the case of liver and thyroid diseases.
Find specialistThe specialist field of internal medicine subsumes a number of subareas and deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the internal organs. These include diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the respiratory system, the urinary system, the blood and blood-forming organs, the muscles, the nervous system and the skin, plus hormonal and metabolic disorders and all infectious diseases.
The specialist field of internal medicine subsumes a number of subareas and deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the internal organs. These include diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the respiratory system, the urinary system, the blood and blood-forming organs, the muscles, the nervous system and the skin, plus hormonal and metabolic disorders and all infectious diseases.
The specialist field of internal medicine subsumes a number of subareas and deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the internal organs. These include diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the respiratory system, the urinary system, the blood and blood-forming organs, the muscles, the nervous system and the skin, plus hormonal and metabolic disorders and all infectious diseases.
Intensive care and emergency medicine involves administering first aid in serious emergencies as well as providing care to and monitoring horses and foals with life-threatening illnesses. This also includes post-operative care to patients in need of intensive care.
The specialist field of internal medicine subsumes a number of subareas and deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the internal organs. These include diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the respiratory system, the urinary system, the blood and blood-forming organs, the muscles, the nervous system and the skin, plus hormonal and metabolic disorders and all infectious diseases.