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  4. Horse Cushing's Disease

Horse Cushing's Disease

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  • Homeopathic Remedies for Horses

    Homeopathy is a holistic therapy used to treat disease and illness. Homeopathy literally means "similar to the disease." It is used to cure disease in a sick body by administering a substance that triggers symptoms in a healthy body. Homeopathic practitioners find this method of healing very effective when used with horses and ponies. Horses are very sensitive creatures and enjoy homeopathic care. When treating a horse homeopathically, practitioners take into account the horse's personality, general health, lifestyle and environment of the animal before prescribing a treatment.

  • The Effects of Helmet Weight on Equines

    Horse riding can be dangerous, so wearing a helmet is always a good idea. Some riders choose to wear one only when competing or participating in certain activities such as jumping or riding unknown horses. Some competition venues enforce the wearing of helmets, at least for riders under 16. There are many styles and weights of helmet, and different helmets can can have a surprisingly big effect on the rider and therefore on the horse.

  • How to Treat a Horse With a Cold

    A "cold" in a horse is a catch-all term for an upper respiratory infection. The root of this infection could be viral, bacterial or fungal, and it is characterized by coughing, lethargy, disinterest in food, runny eyes, runny nose and depression. Complications, which occur in approximately 10% of all cases, according to My Horse, could include a viral infection of the heart, bacterial pneumonia or damage to the lungs. There are several ways to treat a horse's cold to ensure the animal gets well and back grazing the open fields.

  • Behavior Problems in Mares in Heat

    As mares progress through their heat cycle, you may notice a variety of behavioral problems. This cycle traditionally begins in spring and runs through the fall. The majority of behavioral issues will likely occur during the summer months. During the heat season, mares will experience a cycle roughly once a month. Behavioral problems may rise and fall in relation to this monthly cycle.

  • Homeopathic Remedies for Equine Cushing's

    Equine Cushing's is a complex, degenerative disease caused by a dysfunction of the pituitary gland. In horses, the gland becomes overactive, producing hormones in excess and manifesting itself in a variety of symptoms. Cushing's affects all breeds of horses, and is common in ponies aged 20 to 25 years. Homeopathic remedies can effectively treat the disease if diagnosed early. A holistic approach can provide relief and improve the ailing horse's quality of life.

  • What is Cushing's Syndrome in Horses?

    Cushing's syndrome in horses is caused by a small tumor in the pituitary gland and usually occurs when the horse is more than 20 years old; however, there have been reported cases when the syndrome occurs in horses as young as seven years old.

  • What to Feed a Horse With Cushing's Disease for Weight Gain

  • How to Treat a Horse With Cushing's Disease

    Cushing's disease is one of the most common diseases in horses that are 15 years and older. The disease is usually caused by a benign tumor on the pituitary gland, which because of the tumor produces excess hormones that overstimulate the adrenal gland. The adrenal glands then produce too much cortisol, a steroid hormone that helps control many of the horse's bodily functions. Excess cortisol can lead to Cushing's disease, the most common symptoms of which are an excessively hairy coat, even in the summer, extreme thirst and excessive urination. Cushing's disease can't be cured, but there are things you…

  • Heat Cycles of Mares & Cushing's Disease

    With stud fees and mare care expenses often costing mare owners several thousand dollars per breeding, the goal is to get a mare in foal as quickly as possible. By culturing mares, uterine infections can be treated prior to breeding, thus increasing conception rates. Older mares are usually much harder to get in foal than younger mares, often because of the effects of Cushing's disease on their heat cycles.

  • Supplements for Cushing's Disease in Horses

    Equine Cushing's disease is a life-threatening affliction most commonly found in older horses and ponies. Cushing's disease produces a tumor on the pituitary gland. This causes imbalances in the metabolism of the horse. Most horse owners will notice the classic symptoms: laminitis,the long shaggy coat that will not shed in the spring, fat deposits on the neck, obesity or muscle deterioration, increased consumption of water and general lethargy. Because many of these senior horses are beloved pets, owners of Cushing's horses often search for ways to prolong and enhance the quality of life. While there is no cure for Cushing's…

  • Chaste Tree Berry & Cushings Disease

    Chaste tree berry is a type of herb that has medicinal qualities. It is often fed to horses to treat the symptoms of Cushing's disease, which is the result of a hormonal imbalance, usually in older horses.

  • About Equine Cushing's Disease

    Cushing Disease in horses is easy to diagnose, but many times missed until it is at its most severe stages. It is most common in older horses, causing long thick coats, weight loss, loss of muscle and more water consumption. Many times Cushing Disease is overlooked because these same symptoms can happen in an older horse. Although these is no cure for Cushings, there is treatment that can help suppress symptoms.

  • The Life Span of Horses With Cushing's Disease

    Equine Cushing's disease (ECD) generally occurs in horses over 20 years of age. Occasionally, younger horses may be affected, but this is predominately a disease of geriatric horses. There does not seem to be any preference as to the sex of the horse. However, it does seem to affect Morgan horses and ponies more frequently than other breeds. ECD can not be cured, but it can be controlled with the right medication and feed management.

  • Cushing's Disease Behavior in Horses

    Cushing's Disease refers to the pituitary gland overproducing the hormone ACTH which in turn stimulates the adrenal gland to overproduce the essential steroid cortisol. Cushing's Disease is also called "Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction" and "hyperadrenocorticism." It is thought that a benign tumor on the pituitary gland is the underlying cause of these changes.

  • Equine Cushing's Disease Effects

    If your older horse doesn't shed out his fluffy winter coat in the spring like he normally would, he may have developed equine Cushing's disease. A small benign tumor or growth in your horse's pituitary gland (an endocrine gland located at the base of his brain) has stimulated an overproduction of hormones and steroids, causing the disease. According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the clinical signs and effects of Cushing's "can vary depending upon the stage of the disease."

  • Signs of Horse Cushing's Disease

    Dogs, cats, horses and human beings may suffer from Cushing's disease, an affliction precipitated by a tumor near the pituitary gland. This tumor causes the endocrine system to run amok. In horses, the result is overproduction of a hormone called cortisol, which has a major role regulating the body temperature. Typically an ailment of older horses, Cushing's has some obvious symptoms. Those symptoms, unfortunately, are often attributed to old age, because the disease usually afflicts horses in their teens and 20s.

  • Herbal Remedies for Equine Cushings Disease

    Equine Cushing's disease is a hormonal disorder often associated with the pituitary gland. It will produce high levels of cortisol or proactin; stress hormones. While most herbal remedies are unproven, there is more evidence from horse owners coming to light to proclaim the benefits of herbal therapies. Cushing's disease is incurable, but managing the symptoms can lead to a long productive life for your horse.

  • Homeopathic Therapy for Cushing's Disease in Equines

    Disorders of the pituitary gland can lead to a hormonal imbalance known as Cushing's disease in horses. The disease occurs most often in older horses, with 20 being the average age of diagnosis, according to the American Association of Equine Practitioners. Homeopathic treatments may be effective for horses with Cushing's disease.

  • Diet for Cushing's Disease in Horses

    Cushing's Disease is not uncommon in older horses. Also known as pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, or PPID, the disease is caused by a tumor of the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the horse's brain. The tumor causes the pituitary to excrete an excessive amount of hormone that is believed to lead to Cushing's Disease. There is no cure for this disease, so treatments are a lifelong effort. Diet is one component of treatment that experts like Nancy S. Loving, DVM, believe can be beneficial (HorseChannel.com).

  • Homeopathic Treatments for Equine Cushing's Disease

    Cushing's disease is a hormonal disorder that affects the pituitary gland. While this disorder is incurable, horses diagnosed with it can lead a productive life with the correct treatments if started in the early stages. While an all homeopathic therapy plan is not recommended by veterinarians, there are herbal and nonprescription methods that can be effective. These should be combined with a veterinarian's care and advice.

  • How to Treat Cushing's Disease in a Pony

    Cushing's disease is caused by a small tumor in a pony or horse's pituitary gland. The pituitary gland controls the endocrine system, so the disease can cause a number of symptoms including the pony's inability to shed a long, curly coat, excessive thirst and urination, and, in extreme cases, laminitis. Veterinarians diagnose the disease through blood tests that check for elevated cortisol levels. Medications cannot shrink the tumor on the pituitary gland itself, but in many cases they can successfully treat the symptoms of the disease, restoring the pony's quality of life for many years.

  • Pergolide For Cushing's Disease

    Pergolide is a prescription medication that was used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease in humans until its discontinuation 2007. Veterinarians still use the medication to treat Cushing's disease in horses.

  • Signs & Symptoms of Equine Cushings Disease

    Cushing's disease is a condition where the horse's endocrine system produces too much of the corticosteroid hormone cortisol. The high level of cortisol has many effects on the horse, including muscle atrophy, excessive thirst and long, coarse hair coat.

  • Homeopathic Remedies for Cushing's Disease in Horses

    Cushing's disease, more formally known as hyperadrenocorticism, is caused by an overproduction of corticosteroid hormones by the adrenal glands. The disease occurs in horses and dogs, with a higher rate of occurrence in animals at the midpoint of their life or beyond. Homeopathic and conventional treatments of the disease are most successful if the diagnosis is made early.

  • How to Care for Horses With Cushings Disease

    Cushing's Disease is an age-related disease that affects horses. The disease was identified about 70 years ago as one that attacks horses in their 20s. The disease is caused by a malfunction in the horse's pituitary gland, which leads to an increase in the production of the stress hormone cortisol, and an overall hormonal imbalance. Symptoms of Cushing's are shaggy coats, loss of muscle mass, laminitis, and a higher susceptibility to infection. New research has brought new improvements to the field of Cushing's control and maintenance, giving today's Cushing's horses a fairly optimistic prognosis.

  • Supplements for Equine Cushings Disease

    Cushings disease is a relatively rare disease in horses caused by a tumor on the pituitary gland. The symptoms of Cushings are often physically displayed by showing a long and rough coat--even in the summer; unthriftiness despite good diet; a predisposition for founder and other hoof problems; and a "bloated" belly where ribs are visible despite the larger potbelly. If left untreated, the horse's symptoms eventually grow worse and worse, causing laminitis and other health problems. Knowing how to care for a horse with Cushings can be a real challenge.

  • Medication for Cushings Disease in Horses

    Equine Cushing's disease is a hormonal disorder caused by a malfunction of the pituitary gland. This tiny gland is located inside the brain and it is responsible for the production and distribution of hormones and chemicals responsible for a variety of bodily functions. Sometimes caused by a benign tumor on this small but important gland, Cushing's disease symptoms were once attributed to old age. Today, horse owners and veterinarians are more aware of the signs of Cushing's and horses are being diagnosed and treated early to good results.

  • Cushings Symptoms for a Pony

    Cushings Disease, also known as Cushings Syndrome, hyperadrenocorticism or Equine Pituitary Gland Hyperplasia (EPGH), is a disease of the pituitary gland that affects the hormones of the pony. It can be found in all breeds of horses as well as dogs and humans. Ponies are more susceptible to the disease than other horses, which is why genetics is thought to play a part in it. Once diagnosed properly, the pony with Cushings Disease will be treated with drugs for the rest of its life and if Cushings is caught before symptoms become too severe, the prognosis for the pony is…

  • How to Identify Cushing's Disease in a Horse or Pony

    If you horse or pony has failed to shed out their winter coat in the spring or you are noticing other symptoms that signal there may be something unusual happening with your horse's health, the animal could be exhibiting the telltale signs of a common, but potentially serious disease: Cushing's. The disease is slowly progressive, resulting from pituitary gland dysfunction.

  • Cushing's Disease Treatment for Horses

    Cushing's Disease is a disorder that usually occurs in older horses, although it can happen as early as age seven. It is treatable at any age, and early treatment will allow the horse to enjoy a good quality of life in its remaining years.

  • Horse Cushing's Disease

    Cushing's disease in horses is brought about by a tumor that affects the pituitary gland, the gland responsible for regulating many body functions in the animal. Cushing's disease makes the cells in the gland become overactive, which causes the pituitary to produce excess amounts of certain hormones. The symptoms of Cushing's disease are the result of this process, but once diagnosed, there is successful treatment for Cushing's disease.

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