Signs of Horse Cushing's Disease

Dogs, cats, horses and human beings may suffer from Cushing̵7;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, Cushing̵7;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.

  1. Polydipsia

    • A condition known as polydipsia occurs in horses with Cushing̵7;s disease, creating the need to drink much more than normal. While a healthy horse will usually consume about 5 to 8 gallons of water during the course of a day, one with Cushing̵7;s will drink as much as 20 gallons, maybe more. The excess drinking leads to increased urination, so the horse̵7;s stall will be constantly damp.

    Heavy Coats

    • A horse with Cushing̵7;s disease will have an abnormally long coat, a condition that eventually manifests year-round but may take years to develop fully. The hair on this coat will be curly, wavy and inches long. As the horse develops Cushing̵7;s disease, it starts to shed its winter coast later and later into the spring. Eventually, the horse does not shed its coat at all. The coarse coat becomes problematic in the warmer weather, bringing about such conditions as excessive sweating and seborrhea, where the skin chafes and flakes.

    Multiple Ailments

    • The horse that has Cushing̵7;s disease takes a much longer time to metabolize proteins in its body. The horse will have a healthy appetite and perhaps even eat more than normal, but it will fail to gain weight. This inability to metabolize proteins will cause the muscles to break down and affect the appearance of the horse. Fevers are a common sign of Cushing̵7;s disease in a horse, as is a pot-bellied look, which is the result of weak abdominal muscles allowing the weight of the intestinal tract to sag. From time to time, a horse with Cushing̵7;s will go lame, with stiffness in its front legs. The weakened immune system of the horse allows other illnesses to take hold, such as respiratory problems and skin infections.

    Neurological

    • The tumor that is the culprit of Cushing̵7;s disease may grow to such size that it influences that region of the brain; the horse will then exhibit signs of neurological troubles. A distinct lack of coordination when walking is one such symptom. The horse may sway back and forth when it walks. Hyperventilation is another sign, and sometimes the horse cannot get up. Lethargy sets in and the horse will have frequent fevers.