PPID (Cushing)

ROUGHAGE IS ALWAYS THE BASIS

PPID (Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction), also known as Cushing’s disease in horses, is a common hormonal disorder in older horses. It is caused by a dysfunction of the pituitary gland, resulting in an overproduction of certain hormones, such as ACTH. This leads to symptoms like a curly or poorly shedding coat, muscle loss, increased susceptibility to infections (protect their eyes with a fly mask), slow wound healing (keep honey ointment in the medicine cabinet!), reduced immunity, lethargy (energy and/or appetite) and laminitis.

Horses with PPID benefit from adapted nutrition and care. The diet should be low in sugar and starch to reduce the risk of laminitis, emphasizing fiber-rich roughage (or roughage replacements) and healthy supplements for horses with metabolic problems. Regular dental checks, hoof care, and good management of stress and body weight are also crucial for an optimal quality of life for the horse with PPID.

Want to know how, what and why? The book by Remco Sikkel is a must-have!

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