PPID Paranoia - Horses

Because 19-year-old Dorado has the brain of a 5-year-old, some fairly substantial wear and tear on his body, a mischievous streak, and a propensity for being incredibly accident prone. No, I really don't need anything else to worry about. But while our veterinarian was examining Dorado after his recent paddock accident, he reminded me of one more health issue to consider (read: worry about): Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID, or equine Cushing's disease). "How much is he drinking and peeing?" the vet asked as he examined Dorado's hind end. "Any abnormal amounts?" I told him that Dorado drinks about one bucket of water each night and pees about the same amount he always has. That's good, he said, because increased water consumption and urine production are both early signs of PPID. But, he noted, because of his age, we should start watching him closely for signs of PPID. This endocrine disorder is very common in older horses, and can have serious consequences if not managed properly. While Dorado doesn't have any obvious signs of PPID (such as an abnormal haircoat, laminitis, or muscle wasting), our veterinarian said he's noted in his practice some connection between certain hind limb issues and Cushing's onset. So while this most recent pasture incident might have really just been an accident-prone horse living up to his reputation, it could also be a sign that something else isn't quite right. Our vet then described a study in which veterinarians used MRI to evaluate the brains of horses with and without PPID. The determined that pars intermedia changes began occurring before horses displayed outward clinical signs, which tells us we must be vigilant in monitoring older equids for even the most subtle signs of disease, he said. That would allow treatment to begin sooner and clinical signs to be mitigated quicker. For now, we don't think Dorado is affected by PPID. But I have put the barn staff on alert to let me know if anything changes with his water consumption or urine production, and I'll be watching him closely for any signs that something might be amiss … and I'll be slightly paranoid all the while. Do you own a horse with PPID? What were the first signs you noticed that indicated there was a problem? What would you recommend other owners watch for?