03/27/2025
I mentioned homeostasis and the endocrine system in horses in previous posts on my feed - so I thought I would bring light to a couple of Equine Endocrine Diseases.
The first is Cushing's Disease. Cushing's disease usually occurs in older horses after they have experienced a trauma to their pituitary gland, or a tumour has formed. This causes their adrenal gland (the gland responsible for playing a role in metabolism, behavior, stress, and metabolism) to overproduce the hormone cortisol.
We suspected that our gelding, Buster, had some sort of metabolic or endocrine disorder as he got older. He typically had the thickest coat of hair in the winter, gained weight quickly, was prone to colic, and ate lots - all possible symptoms of dysfunction.
Horses with Cushing's Disease present with the following symptoms;
Long, curly, and heavy hair growth.
Excessive thirst.
Increased appetite.
Weight gain.
Bulging eyes.
Weak immune system.
Equine Endocrine Disorders | Millbrook Elite Equine Care. (n.d.). https://leonardoportfolio9.leonardo-sites.com/equine-endocrine-disorders.php
