Cause and Treatment of ECD

November 14, 2009 · Posted in horse riding by Kim ·

Although cushings disease occurs in different animals (horses, dogs, even people), the symptoms for each species are different. For example, in horses it causes the coat to grow longer and thicker, often becoming curly, whereas in dogs it has the opposite effect of causing hair to fall out and produce bald spots. The equine (horses, ponies, etc.) version of this illness is known as ECD (Equine Cushings Disease).

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 horses Cushings Disease 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.

Although ECD is not curable, it can be treated. The most common treatment is the use of medication to reduce hormone production to near normal levels, thereby slowing down the development of secondary problems.

One also needs to watch for symptoms of secondary diseases, such as laminitis or diabetes, which are more common in horses with ECD. These need to be treated promptly to prevent them from further damaging the horse’s health.

Finally, one should make the horse more comfortable by treating the individual symptoms. If the horse is over-heating due to a heavier coat, one should clip the coat to make the horse more comfortable.