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Cushing’s disease occurs in various animals (e.g. dogs, horses, people), although the symptoms in horses are different than the symptoms in other animals (e.g. in dogs it results in hair loss whereas in horses it results in greater hair growth). When the disease occurs in horses, it is known as Equine Cushings Disease (or ECD).

ECD is the result of excessive steroid production by the adrenal glands. This is caused by the pituitary gland producing too much hormones and thus over-stimulating the adrenals, which is usually the result of either tumor growth on the pituitary or age-related growth of the pituitary gland itself. Both changes of the pituitary are age-related, so ECD is most common in older horses (over 15 years) but has been found in horses as young as seven.

The disease cushings is named after Harvey Cushing, who identified and explained the disease in’21. ECD is simply the equine equivalent of the disease which Dr. Cushing first identified in humans.

The most common symptom of ECD is coat changes (becoming curly, thicker, longer, failure to shed, lighter in color). Sweating tends to increase as a result of the heavier coat. There is muscle loss in the back and neck, even when the horse increases its food intake. Laminitis eventually develops. Diabetes usually develops, with the result that the horse drinks and urinates more than normal. Due to the immune system being depressed, the horse is more prone to infections and slower to heal from injuries. The depressions over the eyes tend to disappear due to fat deposits.

Any of these symptoms can be caused by a variety of illnesses other than ECD. Consequently, blood and urine tests are normally used to confirm that the cause is ECD (e.g. by measuring hormone levels and hormone response levels) and to rule out other possible diseases. Studies have shown that many horses with ECD are either not diagnosed or incorrectly diagnosed (the symptoms are incorrectly attributed to a different disease), with the result that they do not receive appropriate treatment.

ECD cannot be cured. However, the hormone levels can be reduced to more normal levels through medication, slowing the progress of the disease. As some of the medications can have serious side effects (e.g. liver disease), one needs to monitor for any such side effects and change the medication accordingly.

Since ECD and produce other illnesses, such as diabetes and laminitis, one needs to watch for symptoms of these related problems and treat promptly before they become serious.

Management of the symptoms can make the horse more comfortable and increase its quality of life. For example, if the horse cannot shed its winter fur and consequently over-heats in summer, the coat should be clipped.

Dr. Douglas Stewart is the owner of Horse Health and author of Cushings Disease in Horses article

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