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LMF F EED N EWS
NUTRITION
IS THE
KEY
TO
SUCCESS
“DISEASE SERIES”
CUSHING’S DISEASE
DR. TANIA CUBITT & DR. STEPHEN DUREN —PERFORMANCE HORSE NUTRITION
WHAT IS IT?
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?
Cushing's disease, also known as PPID
(pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction) is a
progressive disorder that begins with the
dysfunction of the pituitary gland. This gland
at the base of the brain sends out a number of
hormones, and a horse with Cushing’s disease
starts to send out more hormones causing a
number of symptoms.
Cushing's disease, is caused by a hormonesecreting tumor on the pituitary gland at the
base of the horse's brain. The tumor causes an
over-production of hormones resulting in the
observed symptoms.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
The most common symptom is a long, curly
hair coat that fails to shed during the change
from winter to summer. Other symptoms
include: excessive sweating, lethargy, poor
athletic performance, infertility, muscle
wasting (especially along the top line),
abnormal fat distribution (accumulations in
the crest of the neck, along the tail head,
sheath, and above the eyes), delayed wound
healing, increased susceptibility to infections,
and increased water consumption with
passage of large amounts of urine. Cushing's
tends to occur in middle-aged and older
horses, around age twenty. Without treatment,
symptoms tend to worsen over time and can
be fatal. Symptoms are easily observed in
advanced cases.
LMF Product Options
Gentle Balance, Senior Low Carb,
Super Supplement, Low NSC Stage 1,
Low NSC Complete
DIAGNOSIS:
Diagnosis
of
early
cases
or
those
characterized by few obvious clinical signs
can be more difficult. There are two clinical
tests
available:
1)
dexamethasone
suppression test, and 2) plasma ACTH
measurement test. Consult your veterinarian
for the appropriate tests if you suspect your
horse has Cushing’s disease.
FEEDING & MANAGEMENT:
These horses are often insulin resistant and
have high blood sugar levels so non-structural
carbohydrates (NSC, sugar and starch) need
to be minimized. Feeding recommendations
are to provide a total diet with less than 15%
sugar and starch for most horses with
Cushing's disease. Pasture grasses can have
high sugar content, especially during the
spring and fall seasons. Since laminitis and
founder are more common in horses with
Cushing's disease, pasture grazing should be
severely limited or totally avoided. Regular
exercise reduces blood glucose levels, so it
will help horses with Cushing’s disease.