Photo: Adobe stockUnderstanding the difference between equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), and insulin dysregulation (ID) helps owners and veterinarians manage metabolic risk more effectively. Equine metabolic syndrome is a metabolic disorder often associated with obesity and insulin problems, while PPID is a hormonal disease of the pituitary gland that typically affects older horses. Insulin dysregulation refers specifically to abnormal insulin responses and can occur on its own or alongside conditions such as EMS or PPID, increasing the horses risk of laminitis. In this Ask TheHorse Live excerpt, Caitrin Lowndes, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, fellow at the University of Pennsylvanias New Bolton Center, in Kennett Square, explains the differences between EMS, PPID, and ID.This podcast is an excerpt of ourAsk TheHorse Live Q&A, Choosing the Right Supplement for Your Horse. Listen to thefull recording here.About the Expert: Caitrin Lowndes, DVMCaitrin Lowndes, DVM, is a research fellow at the Van Eps Laminitis and Endocrinology Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvanias New Bolton Center, in Kennett Square, with a background in field practice. Her main area of research is the improved diagnosis and management of insulin dysregulation, with particular interest in how that research can be translated into clinical practice for the treatment and prevention of laminitis.