Symptoms of Cushing's Disease in Horses

In horses a tumor that develops on the pituitary gland can result in a condition known as Cushing's disease. The ailment normally will occur in older horses but has been seen in horses as young as seven years old. The symptoms of Cushing's disease are numerous and there is no cure for the illness. But there are medications and protocol available to help make the horse comfortable and live as normal a life as possible.

  1. Thirst

    • A common symptom of Cushing's disease is known as polydipsia and involves an unusual thirst. While the average healthy horse can drink as much as 5 to 7 gallons of water in a day one with Cushing's will drink as much as 20 gallons.

    Thick Coats

    • The horse with Cushing's will not shed its winter coat. Instead, the horse will experience an abnormal growth of its hair that turns into a thick curly coat that remains through the warm months; sweating and skin rashes can occur as a result of this.

    Appearance

    • The appearance of a horse suffering from Cushing's will change dramatically from its previous form. The horse will have a pot belly, a swayback and its coat will be quite dull.

    No Weight Gain

    • Despite a healthy appetite the horse that has Cushing's disease will not gain weight, no matter how much it eats. This comes from the overactive pituitary gland producing excess amounts of hormones that throw the horse's metabolism and other bodily functions "out of whack."

    Immune Problems

    • A serious complication of this malady is how it affects the animal's immune system. The immune system is weakened, which can allow respiratory problems, infections, foot and tooth troubles, and other ailments that are often attributed to the horse growing older.