Horses over 25 years may have chronic laminitis without outward signs, study finds
Owners and vets need to be aware of the increased probability of sub-clinical laminitis in older animals, even in the absence of a PPID diagnosis
Equine Cushing’s disease, or Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), is often confused with the normal ageing process in horses, but it is caused by the abnormal enlargement of the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. This gland controls the nervous system, which produces the chemical messengers (hormones) that affect other parts of the body. In this disease, an excess of these hormones are produced, confusing the rest of the body, particularly the adrenal glands.
Signs of equine Cushing’s disease include:
The signs suggest that it would be easy to recognise Cushing’s disease, but because these changes come on gradually owners often assume their horse is just growing older rather than developing an illness.