Companion Animal Welfare

Horse Endocrine Disease Welfare

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) and equine metabolic syndrome cause significant welfare impacts in affected horses, requiring early diagnosis and management.

Key Facts

PPID affects an estimated 15-30% of horses over 15 years of age
Clinical signs including hypertrichosis, laminitis, and muscle wasting cause chronic suffering
Pergolide treatment is effective at managing PPID and preventing laminitis flares
Equine metabolic syndrome is linked to obesity, insulin dysregulation, and laminitis
Dietary management of EMS including hay soaking is a cornerstone of welfare management

Welfare Considerations

Equine endocrine diseases cause significant chronic welfare impacts particularly through laminitis, which causes severe foot pain. Early diagnosis through ACTH and insulin testing, combined with appropriate treatment and dietary management, prevents the most severe welfare consequences of these increasingly common conditions.

What You Can Do

Have senior horses tested for PPID if they show any suggestive clinical signs
Manage overweight horses to reduce equine metabolic syndrome risk
Learn about the dietary management required for horses with EMS