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In 2023 the award was presented to Edward Knowles for the paper Predictors of laminitis development in a cohort of non-laminitic ponies. Study showed the importance of high insulin levels for predicting laminitis development. Subsequent work has shown that insulin levels can be high in both fat and lean ponies. Results of these studies highlight the need to identify those horses at highest risk of laminitis and to control insulin levels in horses by appropriate feeding. 

Veterinary research on PPID conducted by international veterinary research collaborators, in conjunction with SPILLERS, has won The Peter Rossdale Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ) Open Award.

A study, entitled Effect of pergolide treatment on insulin dysregulation in horses and ponies with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction was undertaken at the University of Melbourne in partnership with the SPILLERS brand, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Queensland University of Technology and the Australian Research Council.

The results showed that pergolide mesylate, the most common drug used to treat PPID, may reduce the amount of insulin produced in response to eating, in horses and ponies that have PPID together with Insulin Dysregulation. Pergolide treatment alone was not sufficient to bring high insulin levels back to normal. An appropriate low sugar and starch diet remains important, to help keep insulin levels as low as possible.

Spillers has a feed line with nutrition specialist - 01908 226626

SPILLERS conducts ongoing research.