Nutrition of horses with equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction ("Cushing's syndrome") treated with pergolid - A field study

Tierärztliche Praxis. Ausgabe G, Grosstiere/Nutztiere
Ellen Kienzle, Theresa Bockhorni

Abstract

The nutritional status of 36 patients with equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) under pergolide treatment was investigated. The body condi tion score (BCS) and feeding were determined at the beginning of the study and after 60 and 120 days. Sampled blood for control of pergolid therapy were used for insulin and glucose measurement. A standardized questionnaire regarding the symptoms of the disease, including hypertrichosis and weight change, was completed by the owners. The mean BCS (scale of 1 = cachexia to 9 = grossly obese) was 3.1 ± 0.8 (large horses 2.7 ± 0.8, ponies 3.5 ± 0.8). The mean energy requirement of the large horses was estimated to be 74 ± 10 MJ of metabolizable energy, but the intake amounted only to 65 ± 15 MJ. There was a significant correlation between the BCS and the estimated energy intake in percent of requirements in the large horses. The energy requirements of the ponies were generally met. The patients were fed a mean of 2.0 ± 0.7 meals of roughage per day (total roughage intake per day 0.2-2.1 kg/100 kg body weight) and a maximum of one meal of concentrates. Sixteen ponies and one large horse did not receive any concentrates, whereas five ponies and 14 horses were fed concentrates (mean...Continue Reading

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