Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID or Cushings) is a common endocrine condition in older horses causing laminitis, muscle loss, and immune compromise that significantly affects welfare.
PPID welfare impacts accumulate gradually as the disease progresses, with individual horses experiencing a deteriorating quality of life across multiple domains if the condition is unmanaged. Hypertrichosis causes thermal stress because affected horses cannot shed their winter coat, overheating in mild weather. Immune compromise from chronically elevated ACTH increases susceptibility to infections and parasite burdens. The most serious welfare complication is laminitis triggered by PPID-associated insulin dysregulation - a painful and potentially fatal condition. Early diagnosis and treatment with pergolide can prevent these welfare complications, and the availability of effective treatment makes PPID a manageable condition for horses receiving appropriate veterinary care.