Managing Equine Cushing's Disease: Welfare Outcomes

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction affects older horses and ponies, causing laminitis and immune compromise. Early diagnosis and treatment dramatically improve welfare.

Key Facts

PPID affects an estimated 15 to 30% of horses and ponies over 15 years
Clinical signs include abnormal coat shedding, muscle wasting, polydipsia, and laminitis
Pergolide is the licensed treatment and is highly effective at controlling the condition
Regular ACTH testing enables diagnosis before severe clinical signs develop
Untreated PPID significantly increases laminitis risk, a severely painful condition

Welfare Considerations

Equine Cushing's disease is one of the most welfare-significant conditions in older horses, primarily because its most feared complication - laminitis - causes agonizing pain. A horse with uncontrolled PPID stands on feet that feel like they are burning, reluctant to move and rocking back to relieve pressure. The welfare transformation that pergolide treatment offers is profound: ACTH levels normalize, laminitis risk drops substantially, coat abnormalities resolve, and horses regain energy and comfort. Early diagnosis through ACTH screening of older horses enables treatment before laminitis occurs.

What You Can Do

Test horses and ponies over 15 years old for PPID with ACTH blood testing annually
Start pergolide treatment promptly when PPID is diagnosed and monitor response with repeat testing
Manage diet carefully in PPID horses by restricting sugar and starch to reduce laminitis risk
Work with a farrier experienced in laminitis management for affected horses
Monitor coat shedding, body condition, and drinking patterns as indicators of PPID progression