Introduction
Equine Cushings Disease is a tumor in the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland regulates hormones in the body. The disease is not a form of cancer. The tumor is benign, but it creates excess hormones in the gland. Cancerous or not, it can cause intense problems with the horse. As with a problem like cribbing, they still do not know where Equine Cushings disease comes from.
Equine Cushings Disease Facts
The disease mainly affects horse which are twenty years or older. It can occur in younger horses, but it is rare. It can affect both genders equally. The main symptom of Cushings disease is a long coat. It can also lead to other problems such as laminitis or excessive thirst, which could be mistaken as an ulcer.
Once Cushings disease is diagnosed, it has been shown that recovery is quick. Being that it occurs in older horses, this is very important. If an older horse is diseased it can lead to other trouble as the horse's immunity is significantly weakened. If nothing else, it is highly uncomfortable for the horse and any owner wants to alleviate the discomfort as quickly as possible.
Pituitary Problems
Older horses are being identified with some frequency as potentially having a problem with certain hormone or hormone like substances related to pituitary dysfunction or malfunction. The primary reason that causes this diagnosis to be considered in this practice has been stubborn laminitis (founder), especially without an inciting identifiable cause. Other potential signs are reported to be long hair coats that do not shed appropriately, recurrent infections or immune system dysfunction, hyperthermia/unexplained fever, excess drinking and urinating, lethargy and weight loss.
This syndrome has been referred to as Equine Cushings Disease, although it is not exactly the same as Cushings disease in other species..........
