Equine Cushing's Disease (PPID): Welfare Management

Key Welfare Considerations

• PPID results from dysfunction of the pituitary pars intermedia causing excess ACTH and cortisol welfare effects.
• Prevalence is approximately 21% in horses over 15 years — a very common welfare condition in geriatric horses.
• Clinical welfare signs include hypertrichosis (failure to shed winter coat), weight loss, and muscle wasting.
• Laminitis secondary to PPID is a severe welfare complication — horses with unexplained laminitis should be tested.
• Polyuria and polydipsia welfare signs reflect cortisol-induced insulin resistance and water dysregulation.
• Immune dysfunction from PPID increases susceptibility to infections and welfare disease burden.
• Seasonal ACTH rise in autumn makes autumn the optimal welfare testing time using resting ACTH measurement.
• Pergolide mesylate is the welfare treatment of choice — dopamine agonist reduces PPID clinical signs.
• Coat shedding typically returns within 2-3 months of pergolide welfare treatment initiation.
• Laminitis welfare risk is significantly reduced with appropriate pergolide treatment and dietary management.
• Low sugar and starch diet management is essential for welfare in PPID horses with insulin dysregulation.
• Regular dental care is important as PPID horses have increased dental welfare disease susceptibility.
• Hoof care including regular trimming and welfare monitoring for laminitis is especially important.
• Quality of life in well-managed PPID horses can be excellent — welfare management justifies treatment commitment.
• Annual welfare reassessment including ACTH measurement guides dose adjustment for ongoing management.