Comprehensive Metabolic and Endocrine Blood Testing for Horses
Evaluate Insulin Regulation, Metabolic Health, and Pituitary Function
Changes in weight, body condition, hoof health, hair coat, energy, and performance may be associated with underlying metabolic or endocrine abnormalities. The Affordable Pet Labs Equine Metabolic Health Bundle combines key blood chemistry measurements with endogenous ACTH and insulin testing to provide a broad assessment of your horse’s metabolic health.
This panel may be considered for horses with suspected insulin dysregulation, Equine Metabolic Syndrome, or Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction—commonly called PPID or equine Cushing’s disease.
Endogenous ACTH and insulin are commonly used as part of the diagnostic evaluation and monitoring of equine endocrine disorders. However, results must be interpreted with the horse’s clinical history, diet, recent feeding, season, medications, and physical examination findings.
Tests Included
The Equine Metabolic Health Bundle includes:
- Glucose
- Blood Urea Nitrogen—BUN
- Creatinine
- BUN-to-Creatinine Ratio
- Total Protein—TP
- Cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- Endogenous ACTH
- Insulin
What These Tests Evaluate
Glucose
Glucose is the primary sugar circulating in the bloodstream and an important source of energy. Glucose results are often interpreted together with insulin to evaluate how the horse regulates blood sugar.
Glucose concentrations may be influenced by:
- Recent feeding
- Stress or excitement
- Illness
- Exercise
- Medications
- Delays in processing the blood sample
A normal glucose result does not, by itself, exclude insulin dysregulation.
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate blood glucose. Increased insulin concentrations may be associated with insulin dysregulation and Equine Metabolic Syndrome.
Insulin testing may be helpful for horses with:
- Generalized or regional obesity
- A cresty neck
- Abnormal fat deposits
- Difficulty losing weight
- Previous or recurrent laminitis
- Unexplained hoof tenderness
- A breed or body type predisposed to metabolic disease
A resting insulin concentration is one component of a metabolic evaluation. Some horses may require additional testing, such as an oral sugar test, when resting results are normal or inconclusive despite continued clinical concern.
Endogenous ACTH
Endogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone—ACTH—is commonly measured when evaluating a horse for PPID.
PPID is more frequently identified in middle-aged and senior horses. Possible clinical signs include:
- A long, delayed-shedding, or abnormal hair coat
- Loss of topline muscle
- Increased drinking or urination
- Abnormal sweating
- Recurrent infections
- Reduced energy
- Abnormal fat distribution
- Recurrent or unexplained laminitis
ACTH concentrations can vary throughout the year. The laboratory’s seasonally adjusted reference interval and the horse’s clinical signs should be considered when interpreting the result.
A normal resting ACTH result does not completely exclude early PPID. A veterinarian may recommend repeat testing or a thyrotropin-releasing hormone—TRH—stimulation test when clinical suspicion remains high.
Blood Urea Nitrogen—BUN
BUN measures a nitrogen-containing waste product produced during protein metabolism. It is commonly evaluated with creatinine and may provide information about:
- Kidney function
- Hydration
- Dietary protein intake
- Protein metabolism
An abnormal BUN result does not independently diagnose kidney disease.
Creatinine
Creatinine is a waste product associated with normal muscle metabolism. It is commonly used as an indicator of kidney filtration.
Creatinine may be affected by:
- Kidney function
- Hydration
- Muscle mass
- Recent exercise
- Other health conditions
BUN-to-Creatinine Ratio
The BUN-to-creatinine ratio compares the two kidney-associated values. It may provide additional context regarding hydration, protein metabolism, and renal function but should not be interpreted independently.
Total Protein—TP
Total protein represents the combined concentration of albumin and globulins in the blood.
Changes may occur with:
- Dehydration
- Inflammation
- Immune stimulation
- Protein loss
- Liver dysfunction
- Nutritional abnormalities
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a lipid used in cell membranes, hormone production, and other normal biological functions.
Abnormal cholesterol concentrations may be associated with changes in:
- Metabolism
- Nutrition
- Liver function
- Intestinal function
- Endocrine health
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are circulating fats used for energy storage and metabolism.
Increased triglycerides may occur when a horse or pony enters a negative energy balance and begins mobilizing excessive body fat. Markedly elevated triglycerides can be particularly concerning in ponies, miniature horses, donkeys, and horses that have significantly reduced their feed intake.
Who May Benefit From This Bundle?
This panel may be appropriate for:
- Middle-aged and senior horses
- Easy keepers
- Horses or ponies with generalized obesity
- Horses with a cresty neck or regional fat deposits
- Horses with previous or recurrent laminitis
- Horses with unexplained hoof soreness
- Horses with an abnormal or delayed-shedding hair coat
- Horses losing topline muscle
- Horses drinking or urinating more than usual
- Horses experiencing unexplained weight changes
- Horses being monitored for known PPID
- Horses being monitored for insulin dysregulation
- Horses receiving pergolide or undergoing dietary management under veterinary supervision
This panel is not intended to replace a complete veterinary examination or specialized dynamic endocrine testing.
Mobile Blood Collection at Your Barn
Affordable Pet Labs helps make equine testing more convenient by coordinating professional blood collection at your horse’s barn or boarding location.
Availability may vary by geographic region. Farm-call or travel fees may apply based on the location, distance, and number of horses being tested.
Preparing Your Horse for Testing
Preparation can materially affect glucose and insulin results. Follow the specific instructions provided by your veterinarian or Affordable Pet Labs before the appointment.
General recommendations may include:
- Maintain the horse’s usual routine unless instructed otherwise.
- Do not feed grain, treats, sweet feed, or high-sugar supplements immediately before testing.
- Avoid strenuous exercise before the appointment.
- Provide a complete list of medications and supplements.
- Inform the collection team of recent illness, pain, stress, travel, or dietary changes.
- Keep the horse safely secured in a quiet, accessible collection area.
Do not withhold all forage, water, or prescribed medication unless specifically directed by a veterinarian. Prolonged fasting may be inappropriate or unsafe for some horses, ponies, miniature horses, and donkeys.
The feeding status and time of the last meal should be documented because insulin and glucose results depend partly on whether the horse was fasted or recently fed.
Special ACTH Sample Requirements
ACTH requires careful sample collection, processing, temperature control, and shipping. The sample generally must be collected into an appropriate EDTA tube, separated promptly, and kept frozen or chilled according to the receiving laboratory’s instructions.
Improper handling may affect the accuracy of the result. Cornell’s equine ACTH and insulin panel guidance, for example, specifies separated EDTA plasma that is frozen within four hours of collection. Exact requirements may differ by laboratory.
Because of these pre-analytical requirements, this bundle requires professional blood collection and cannot be completed as a self-collection kit.
How It Works
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Order Online: Purchase the Equine Metabolic Health Bundle.
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Confirm Service Availability: Our team will confirm that mobile equine collection is available in your area.
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Complete the Health Information: Provide your horse’s age, breed, diet, medications, clinical history, and reason for testing.
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Schedule the Visit: A collection appointment will be coordinated at your barn or horse’s location.
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Blood Sample Collection: The required blood tubes will be collected and prepared for laboratory submission.
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Laboratory Testing: The samples will be submitted to a professional veterinary diagnostic laboratory.
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Receive the Results: Results will be sent electronically and may also be forwarded to your attending veterinarian.
Turnaround Time
Results are generally available within several business days after the laboratory receives an acceptable sample.
Turnaround times may vary because of:
- Shipping schedules
- Laboratory processing days
- Weekends or holidays
- Endocrinology testing schedules
- Sample quality
- The need for repeat or confirmatory testing
Understanding the Results
An abnormal result does not independently confirm Equine Metabolic Syndrome, PPID, kidney disease, liver disease, or another specific condition.
Results should be interpreted in relation to:
- Age and breed
- Body condition
- Clinical signs
- Laminitis history
- Recent feeding
- Exercise and stress
- Current medications
- Season of the year
- Laboratory-specific reference intervals
- Physical examination findings
EMS and PPID may occur in the same horse. Testing glucose, insulin, and ACTH together can help the attending veterinarian evaluate overlapping endocrine risks, particularly in middle-aged or older horses with laminitis or abnormal body condition.
Additional testing may include an oral sugar test, TRH stimulation test, repeat resting ACTH, complete blood count, broader chemistry panel, urinalysis, hoof radiographs, or other diagnostics selected by the veterinarian.
Important Veterinary Disclaimer
This panel provides laboratory information and is not a substitute for a veterinary examination, diagnosis, or treatment plan.
Affordable Pet Labs does not diagnose endocrine disease, prescribe medication, or change a horse’s diet or existing treatment based solely on laboratory results. Results should be reviewed with the horse’s attending veterinarian.
Seek prompt veterinary care when a horse displays:
- Acute or severe hoof pain
- Reluctance to walk
- Increased digital pulses
- A rocked-back stance
- Colic
- Markedly reduced appetite
- Weakness
- Depression
- Rapid weight loss
- Other signs of serious illness
Suspected laminitis is an urgent medical condition and should not be managed by waiting for laboratory results.
Gain Greater Insight Into Your Horse’s Metabolic Health
The Equine Metabolic Health Bundle combines essential chemistry measurements with insulin and endogenous ACTH testing to provide meaningful information about metabolic regulation, pituitary function, kidney-associated values, proteins, and circulating lipids.
Order the Equine Metabolic Health Bundle to support proactive monitoring and informed discussions with your veterinarian.
