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Symptoms
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The symptoms of Cushing's syndrome are easily identifiable: the coat appears coarse and wavy, and will not shed during the summer months as it would in a healthy horse. The horse will also become overly thirsty, drinking up to 20 gallons of water per day compared to healthy horses which will drink five to eight gallons per day.
Diagnosis
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Numerous tests, including a dexamethasone suppression test (DST), must be conducted prior to diagnosing Cushing's syndrome, regardless of the tell-tale signs of the disease. Upon noticing the symptoms, it is paramount to contact your vet.
Treatment
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Although the treatment will last most of the horse's life, the treatment is positive and easily curable. Many of the treatments available come in the form of tablets for the horse to ingest. Simply mixing the tablets with the horse's regular diet will allow the horse to return to normal health.
By watching the horse's water intake, you can easily determine if the medicine is working properly or not. Once the horse is responding to the medicine, dosage should be reduced until it is no longer needed.
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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.