Managing Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID/Cushings) in horses to protect quality of life and prevent laminitis.
PPID management is fundamentally a welfare issue because untreated or undermanaged PPID causes progressive deterioration that significantly reduces quality of life while remaining largely invisible to owners until advanced signs develop. The characteristic long, curly coat that owners often notice first represents only the cosmetic manifestation of a systemic endocrine disorder that is simultaneously compromising immune function, muscle mass, and laminitis risk. The welfare-protective approach involves early diagnosis through ACTH testing in senior horses regardless of whether classic signs are present, appropriate treatment with pergolide, regular monitoring of response, and season-adjusted testing that avoids false-negative results in autumn. With good management, PPID-affected horses can maintain excellent quality of life well into their twenties and thirties.