Physiological ACTH elevation in autumn complicates PPID diagnosis and management, requiring seasonal reference ranges and proactive treatment adjustment to protect welfare.
The seasonal ACTH rise creates a predictable welfare risk period for PPID horses - autumn is when inadequately managed cases are most likely to experience laminitic flares from poorly controlled disease. Proactive management that anticipates the seasonal rise and adjusts pergolide doses preemptively prevents the welfare crisis of autumn laminitis in PPID horses. This requires owners and vets to schedule testing before the rise peak (July-August) and adjust treatment in anticipation rather than response. This proactive approach is one of the clearest welfare improvements available to PPID horse managers.