Equine Cushings Disease, PPID
CUSHING’S DISEASE (PPID) IN HORSES Equine Cushing’s disease, also called pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), is a disorder of the pituitary gland that has long been thought of as a problem of older horses. However, new information is suggesting that Cushing’s may start to develop years before there are obvious symptoms, meaning that horses can be affected by Cushing’s at a younger age than was previously thought. In the early stages of the disease, horses do not display the hallmark symptom most commonly associated with Cushing’s – the long, wavy coat that fails to shed. Nonetheless, if you know what to look for, there are usually some early clues which may suggest that monitoring for Cushing’s is in order. If your horse does have Cushing’s, it is important to realize that there is no cure, but in most cases the disease can be managed with a combination of diet, exercise, hoof care, and medication where necessary. UNDERSTANDING EQUINE CUSHING’S, AK...