Dreaded Diagnosis
My palomino mare didn't shed out like she usually does this spring. She's always had a thick coat in the winter, but she just didn't seem normal this year.
Today I got the call that confirmed my fears. She has Cushings Disease, a tumor of the pituitary gland. (A small gland at the base of the brain which regulates the rest of the horse’s endocrine {glands & hormones} systems.)
Per Equisearch, "As the tumor grows, it puts pressure on the nearby hypothalamus, which is what regulates the body temperature. This is believed to be the primary cause of the distinctive coarse, wavy hair coat."
As cells in the pituitary gland become overactive, they excess quantities of a peptide called pro-opiolipomelanocortin (POLMC, for short) causing the entire endocrine system to go out of balance."
I am waiting for a call back from my vet to find out what we do next. It looks like there are treatments available if things haven't progressed too far. (She seems fine at the moment, except for the hair growth.) Hopefully the medications can bring her back into good health for a few more years. In fact although it's common in older horses, some get Cushings when they're as young as 7! (My mare just turned 27 this April.)
But according to Equisearch, eventually the tumor will compromise my horse’s life and when she starts having seizures, euthanasia becomes the kindest option. I'm really hoping this will be a LONG way down the road, and it breaks my heart that she truly has it.
I tried not to worry about it, but deep in my heart I knew she wasn't her usual self.
Today I got the call that confirmed my fears. She has Cushings Disease, a tumor of the pituitary gland. (A small gland at the base of the brain which regulates the rest of the horse’s endocrine {glands & hormones} systems.)
Per Equisearch, "As the tumor grows, it puts pressure on the nearby hypothalamus, which is what regulates the body temperature. This is believed to be the primary cause of the distinctive coarse, wavy hair coat."
As cells in the pituitary gland become overactive, they excess quantities of a peptide called pro-opiolipomelanocortin (POLMC, for short) causing the entire endocrine system to go out of balance."
I am waiting for a call back from my vet to find out what we do next. It looks like there are treatments available if things haven't progressed too far. (She seems fine at the moment, except for the hair growth.) Hopefully the medications can bring her back into good health for a few more years. In fact although it's common in older horses, some get Cushings when they're as young as 7! (My mare just turned 27 this April.)
But according to Equisearch, eventually the tumor will compromise my horse’s life and when she starts having seizures, euthanasia becomes the kindest option. I'm really hoping this will be a LONG way down the road, and it breaks my heart that she truly has it.
The Horse Channel site had some more promising information on the disease and what I can do to make her life better. I am hoping that with medicine she will remain happy and healthy a bit longer, as although I can treat the symptoms, the medicines will not reduce the growth of the tumor, and this breaks my heart as I spoke for Jewel when she was a day old, and she has stuck by my side through thick and thin, and ALWAYS gives me a kiss when I see her.
I know nothing lasts forever, but all I want to do right now is rush to her side, hug her gorgeous gold neck, and bury my face in her mane and cry.
Labels: Horse
posted by Susan at 1:36 PM
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