Post by mingiz on Mar 4, 2015 21:35:47 GMT
My vet had posted this. Thought I would share.
TESTING FOR CUSHINGS DISEASE
Cushings disease, also called Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is a condition of the endocrine system, a complex network of glands that secrete hormones that ultimately control functions throughout the horse’s body. The pituitary gland becomes enlarged and produces more hormones than necessary. The pituitary gland is divided into three sections, and this disease is due to malfunction of the center of the three, the “intermedia”. Harvey Cushing, and American neurosurgeon, published his first paper about endocrinological imbalances caused by pituitary gland dysfunction in 1932. The disease was dubbed “Cushing’s”.
Why horses develop PPID is unclear, but ponies are at a higher risk than horses. Age is also a significant factor. Research has shown that as a horse ages the pars intermedia also increases in size. That’s why some veterinarians assume that if a horse lives long enough, he’s going to get PPID.
To understand the effects of PPID, consider the varied functions of the pituitary gland. Located on the underside of the brain, just above the roof of the mouth, the pituitary gland controls numerous bodily processes by secreting several different hormones, including ACTH. ACTH, in turn, regulates the production of the steroid hormone cortisol by the adrenal glands, located near your horse’s kidneys. In a horse with PPID the pars intermedia secretes abnormal ACTH and other hormones.
Hormonal imbalances account for many of the signs of PPID in horses. These include:
• A long, curly coat that is slow to shed in springtime. Long hairs under the chin and belly are particularly indicative of the condition.
• Excessive sweating
• Muscle wasting
• Development of fat deposits on the top of the neck, tailhead and around the eyes. These fat “pouches” persist even if the horse loses weight.
• A potbelly
Clearly, PPID horses can have a particular “look”. In addition, slow-healing wounds increased drinking and urination, stubborn respiratory, skin or sinus infections, and persistent low-grade laminitis can signal PPID. This is important because unless the PPID is identified and controlled, the associated problems will never go away.
Laminitis is, by far, the most serious complication of PPID. Unlike acute laminitis, however, where a horse is suddenly unable to walk and in obvious pain, chronic laminitis associated with PPID can be extremely subtle. A horse may seem only a bit “tender footed” or take shorter strides, signs easily attributable to arthritis or other age-related deterioration. Often, by the time the diagnosis of laminitis is finally made, (assuming it ever is), the damage done to the hoof structures is advanced and difficult to manage.
She's on a very low dose of pergolide so if need to in the future we can move her up dose wise (let's hope that isnt the case though!) 
on the ground and i put a blanket on him . he sweat more. so i put a sheet on him. did not help. his coat was so long he looked like a mammoth with big ears and hair flying back. i called him my papillion.
he said it smells sour and sure enough i took a wiff and his feet smelled awful. i contacted the owner and of course they agreed to have a vet come and do blood test and give him the once over. she was in shock when she saw the amount of hair that this horse had. so she clipped him for me and drew blood and sure enough the levels were over 500 and should be 30-50. He is on two pills a day and within a week i noticed he was eating better and looking better. now it is almost a year and his coat is long but he is not sweating. oh and the farrier trimmed him 3 times in a matter of 6 months which was alot and each time his feet were smelling better. normal. . my vet would rather have the pergolide be a larger dose and lower the levels quicker than a smaller dose and lower his level slower.