[codyntampa]

My instructor was talking about getting this really nice appy horse, which would be a great lesson asset to our barn, however he has Cushing's Disease. What exactly is the disease, is it treatable? What kind of medicines or supplements would he need, and will it affect his rideablity? Is he worth it? Thanks in advance!

[Craig]

Equine cushings disease is a problem with the pituitary gland (a tumor or just general enlargement) where it produces excess adrenocortropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands to produce excess glucocorticoids (steroids). These steroids plus other hormones cause all the problems you see in a Cushing's horse, including hirsutism (abnormal hair loss), abnormal hair coat, increased urination, increase thirst, laminitis, foot problems, hyperglycemia, excessive sweating, and increased respiratory rate.

Treatment is usually managment focused... nutritinal management, vaccinations, de-worming, hoof and dental care. Cushing's horses have increased steriods in their systems, so they are also prone to infections. Nutritional management is the key.

The key needs to be a balanced diet that is highly palatable. Recommend is somthing like a pelleted alfalfa. Vegetable oil can be added iif the horse needs additional calories .

[Sue B]

Cushings is a tumor on the pituitary gland. It causes the release fo excess cortisol and generally upsets the balance of the endrocine system (homones). In general, Cusings horses can expeience long (sometimes currly) hair coats that often need clipping at least twice a year. They may be very over or under weight. Often they develop insulin resistance or some form of carbohydrate intolerance. When this happens, they become prone to chronic laminitis. It is not a disease that can be cured, it can only be treated and progresses at varying rates. In some, they have only lived a very short time after Dx (generally a year or less), but others live well into their 20s and even 30s. I have a Cushings horse that is 28 and still ridable.

However, with all those negatives, there are some positives. Following cutting edge research concerning meds and nutition, many Cushings horses may be maintained very healthy and sound for life. While Pergolide (a rather expensive drug) is the general apprach to treatment, many (including myself) have found the herb Chastetree Berry to be of great benefit. Both work in a similar way on the chemical activites of the body, but chasteberry goes beyond what peroglide does and has been know to reduce and even eliminate tumors of other sorts (it is not know if it effects tumors of the pituitary) as well as rebalance the hormones.

Keeping the immune system strong is another issue. Feeding things like flax and kelp will help. In Cushings, compromised immune systems are common. Without proper nutrition, they often get rainrot, scratches, thrush, and other fungal/bacterial infections of the skin and feet. (see my other posts on feeding flax for more info). feeding an added vit/mineral supplement also helps.

In addition to attention to specific nutrients, there are also some common feeding recommendations. Often Cushings horses become insulin resistant/carb intolerant. Feeding a reduced carb diet, higher in fiber and some added fat (I like what rice bran does for their coats) helps insure that they will not founder. Often, they should be limited in the amount of grazing that they are allowed. If they are IR, they can easily grass founder. Some provide dry lots, others allow limited grazing and still others prefer to use grazing muzzles. Many cannot eat grain/grain products...but there are several safe feeds that are now available...Triple Crown has a couple, Pennefield has one called Fibergize and Nutriena has Safe Choice (although it isn't as "safe" as the others I mentioned. You can also feed your own mix of beet pulp (perferably without molasses), hay/alfalfa cubes/pellets and a vit/min mix plus the seeds and kelp. Joint supplements containing glucosamine are also a big no-no. They can raise insulin levels over long term use. Generally feeding flax and MSM are all that is needed for joint pain and stiffness.

But, not all Cushings horses become IR or carb intolerant. Some can live out their lives "normally" with just the addition of perolide or the chastetree to their daily rations.

[Huntseat123]

So far everyone's given great info so theres not much more to say.

I used to lease a horse at a barn with a little mare named Fleet who had cushings. They had to put her down, but she had cushings REALLY bad. I now board at a barn and theres a mare there that has cushings. Shes still going, and better than some of the horses younger diseaseless horses.

The main thing that you will need to remember is: Cushings is NOT cureable, but is treatable to an extent.

[honeydoozy]

What sort of test or clinical way is there, to determine if a horse has Cushing's?

[Sue B]

In general, the symptoms come first....long hair coat, sometimes excessive thrust/urination, sometimes founder, somtimes sudden weight gain or loss. These horses are also very prone to things like hoof infections (thrush, white line disease), rainrot and scratches, and urinary tract infestions....oftem happeing all at once or one right after the other. Cushings horses also often have cresty necks and fat pads near the withers/shoulder area and tail head.

The DX is generlly done with one of three tests....dex suppression, ACTH and thyroid, or a cortisol rythm test. There is also a Cusings Panel done by one lab that includes the rythm and thyroid tests.

[ferdosh]

My horse was diagnosed 10 years ago with Cushings. We have redone his diet(I used absolutely no alfalfa), added Chaste Tree Berry and pergolide. He has done well, but it has been a challenging balancing act from day to day. He is now 30 and he is beginning to go downhill. I agree with all of the information about Cushings in the previous posts. I also have found a very very very reasonable pharmacy that I order my pergolide from if anyone is interested. I'm not sure if I would actually buy a horse with Cushings as I know what I have gone through in the last 10 years but being that I had my horse for almost 19 years before I would do anything for him.

[RickB.]

a dex suppression test can itself induce founder. I would never allow that test to be performed on any horse with suspected IR or Cushings.

Rick

[Sue B]

Good point Rick...I agree, but it is still being used by many vets who subscribe to the premis that dex suppression tests are safe on horses that are not curremtly or were not previously laminitic. In theory I agree with this also as it is a more accurate test....however, it would be a risky test at best and I also feel that I would take the chance of a misdiagnosis as opposed to laminitis.

[3WishesDun]

SueB---is it generally diagnosed in older horses? Is it at all common below a certain age?

And regarding SafeChoice ... I picked up a bag...as I now have all my horses and pony on a diet of Happy Hoof by Seminole Spillers and Coastal hay....as we go into the cooler months I wanted to see what feeds might be feasible if my older gelding or other horses started to drop weight...on the website...(nutrena)there was just general info on the safechoice..not a listing of ingredients or feeding recommendations...so I just ran up to a different feed store and bought a bag...I was suprised to see the first ingredient listed as Corn....isnt corn a cereal grain? Are horse feeds like human labels where the predominating ingredients are listed in order?