Center for Endocrine & Metabolism Research
Equine Cushing’s disease (ECD)
Equine Cushing' disease (ECD) is also called pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) and it affects older horses. The most reliable sign of this disease is a thick curly haircoat in an older horse or pony. This long haircoat fails to shed out in the spring, or in the early stages, the hair sheds out later than on other horses in the barn. Horses with Cushing’s disease are thinner overall because they are losing muscle mass, but still have fat deposits in the neck, above the eyes, and near the tailhead. These horses also suffer from founder.
Contact
Dr. Frank, Associate Professor
College of Veterinary Medicine
The University of Tennessee
2407 River Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996
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