Equine Medical Conditions & Treatments
If caught early, Cushing’s Disease is treatable. Unfortunately, it is not curable. There are medications available to control symptoms of the disease but no known surgical treatment or drug is currently available to remove the tumor from the pituitary gland.
To catch the disease early you should make yourself familiar with the symptoms of Cushing’s disease. If you suspect you horse is presenting signs of Cushing’s disease, please contact your primary care veterinarian to start a treatment plan. As always, each of the veterinarians at the Mid-Rivers Equine Centre is happy to assist you in evaluating your horse for Cushing’s disease and developing a treatment plan.
Yes, Cushing’s Disease compromises your horse’s immune system putting it at a greater risk of contracting infection. The reason is these horses have higher levels of circulating natural steroids which depress/suppress the immune system. Wounds and scrapes may not heal on their own and could require medications. It is also important to work with your vet to create an appropriate worming schedule, as horses with Cushing’s Disease will be less equipped to ward off parasites.
- Development of a heavy, even curly, coat that will hang on even through the hot summer months
- Excessive sweating
- An increase in water intake, as much as 21 gallons a day. This increase in water may also result in diabetes (The average horse drinks approximately 5-8 gallons of water a day.)
- An increase in appetite that is accompanied by no weight gain or weight loss
- Loss of muscle tone across its top line resulting in a sway back and extended belly
- Depressions above the eye sockets will no longer be present
- As the disease progresses, the horse will often develop laminitis
- A weakened immune system that opens the door for a wide variety of health problems
The exact mechanism for the action for the effect of oxytetracycline on the foal tendon is not known. There is strong evidence at this point that it may be an effect on myofibroblasts (which are cells found in tendons, in addition to several other places). This may cause a change in the organization of collagen fibrils in the tendon making foals more susceptible to tendon (and ligament) stretching during weight bearing. This effect is mediated through a specific enzyme (MMP-1).
Several studies indicated that as much as 60% of show horses have ulcers. In race horses the percentage is even higher at 90%.
The only sure way to know for sure if your horse has an ulcer is to have a veterinarian perform a gastroscopy exam on your horse. This is done by passing an endoscope (thin flexible tube which has a light and camera attached at the end) down into the stomach so they can examine the stomach lining.