Equine Cushing’s disease, more accurately called pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), impacts the pituitary gland and results in excessive hormone production. Although many people refer to it as Cushing’s, horses don’t get the same disease as people do. Cushing’s in humans involves increased cortisol, but this isn’t usually the case with horses.
PPID primarily affects horses over the age of 10, with the average age of diagnosis being around 19. Diagnosing Cushing’s horses can be tricky because the symptoms develop slowly, and other health issues can complicate matters. However, proper management can help keep your horse comfortable and healthy.