PPID - Now is the best time of year for diagnosis and monitoring

PPID (Previously known as Equine Cushing’s Disease) is a common hormonal disease that occurs in over 20% of aged horses, ponies, and donkeys. Most animals are over 20 years old when diagnosed, but it can occur in younger horses; horses of any breed may be affected.

The disease is a result of a benign tumour in a part of the brain called the pituitary gland, which is normally responsible for releasing a wide range of hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and reproduction. When horses are affected by PPID their hormones from this part of the brain are released in excess, resulting in a wide variety of clinical signs that may include:

- Laminitis

- Lethargy

- Abnormal weight distribution and muscle wastage- e.g. shoulder fat pads but prominent ribs, loss of topline

- Hirsutism - shaggy coat that fails to shed in warmer weather

- Excessive drinking and urination

- Increased susceptibility to infections (e.g. foot abscesses, snotty noses, skin infections, high parasite burden)

A common way to diagnose PPID is through a simple blood test for a hormone “ACTH”, which can be performed on farm. The best time of year to diagnose PPID is during Autumn. There are normal seasonal variations in hormones throughout the year, but this variation is most pronounced in autumn, making the test most sensitive. This test is also useful when monitoring the effectiveness of treatment.

Screening tests can help identify horses with early PPID before their overall health declines or laminitis develops.

By diagnosing and treating PPID early we can prevent serious consequences such as laminitis.