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).

  1. Limit Nonstructured Carbohydrates

    • There are certain symptoms of equine Cushing's Disease that should be considered when planning a diet for a horse. First, animals with the disease tend to have high blood sugar levels. This means that feeds low in nonstructured carbohydrates (NSC) like sugar and starch are most appropriate. The diet should maintain less than 20% NSC overall. Be aware that many horse feeds labeled as "senior" feed are actually quite high in NSC content, so even though the horse is old, a "senior" formulation may not be appropriate for a Cushing's Disease horse. Stay away from anything that contains molasses, including treats. Alfalfa and grain should often be eliminated from the diet as well. Sweet grass is also high in NSC, so pasture grazing may have to be limited or avoided when possible, depending on the type of grass.

    Keeping Weight On

    • Horses who suffer from Cushing's Disease also tend to experience muscle wasting. It can be difficult to keep weight on this type of horse, particularly when the condition also necessitates limiting sugars and starches in their grain and grass feed. Once you have eliminated the high-NSC foods, you are left with fiber-rich grass hay or grass-hay pellets as the staple food. Balancing the exercise of the animal with its diet is important in keeping enough weight on the horse. If the Cushing's symptoms are not severe, some horses may do well with a feed containing soy or beet pulp to put or keep weight on. It may also be beneficial to add a higher-fat supplement containing oil or stabilized rice bran to a horse's diet if the animal is still becoming wasted.

    Follow Your Veterinarian's Advice

    • Equine Cushing's disease is not entirely understood by science, and it may take some experimentation to find the treatments that best suit your horse based on individual circumstances and how advanced the disease is. Work with a professional to help you keep your horse healthy and comfortable.