Tag Archives: cushings

Safe Supplements for Metabolic Horses

Posted on July 16, 2020 by

When evaluating supplements for horses prone to high insulin levels there are two basic areas to consider – the active ingredients and the base. On the ingredients front, some things to generally avoid include:  Added iron.  These horses often have … Continue reading →

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Metabolic Disease Misinformation

Posted on May 16, 2020 by

Grazing season makes attention turn to equine metabolic disorders but there is a wealth of misinformation out there, despite solid research that disproves some pieces of advice and a clear lack of supporting research for others. False:  NSC and fructan … Continue reading →

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All IR/EMS Horses Have Laminitis

Posted on March 17, 2019 by

The Equine Cushing’s and Insulin Resistance Group, now at main@ECIR.groups.io, has been in existence for almost 20 years and currently has over 11,000 members. As you might expect, many members seek out the group when their horse/pony/mini/donkey/mule becomes obviously laminitic. … Continue reading →

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Late Summer Weight Loss

Posted on August 6, 2017 by

Weight loss in late summer is a fairly common problem. It can have many different causes and pinpointing the reason is obviously central to successful resolution. from: University of Minnesota Cumulative effects of dehydration is a common cause. With mild … Continue reading →

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Fall Laminitis

Posted on September 26, 2016 by

There are many possible causes of laminitis but the vast majority of cases have a hormonal/endocrine root.  There is a peak in the spring, related to grazing young high sugar growths of grass.  A second peak occurs in the fall, … Continue reading →

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Care of the Cushing’s Horse

Posted on July 26, 2016 by

Since the 1960s when reports of equine pituitary adenomas and their systemic consequences appeared in the literature, our understanding of Cushing’s disease (pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction or PPID) and the insulin resistance it causes has grown tremendously.  Despite this, there … Continue reading →

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There Ought To Be A Law

Posted on February 22, 2016 by

Actually, there is.  It’s called practicing veterinary medicine without a license. It is no secret there is bad information/advice on the internet.  This is taken to another level when it involves statements that are not only wrong but also put … Continue reading →

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Senior Horses Losing Weight

Posted on August 1, 2015 by

It’s reasonable not to expect your senior horse to look as robust as younger animals, but they should maintain a good covering of flesh over their ribs, back and hip bones.  When the older horse starts to look gaunt, there’s … Continue reading →

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Shedding Made Easier

Posted on April 8, 2015 by

Spring breeds enthusiasm for riding in warmer weather, preparation for competitions, reigniting all the human equine interactions of any level that were squelched by nasty winter weather.  Spring also brings some not so pleasant challenges, including dealing with shedding. We’ve … Continue reading →

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The Thyroid

Posted on November 12, 2014 by

If you are confused about thyroid function in horses you have a good excuse.  As new information from studies becomes available, recommendations have changed dramatically. Before it was discovered that insulin resistance is the most likely cause of obesity related … Continue reading →

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