Equine Cushing’s Disease – also known as Pars Pituitary
Intermedia Disorder (which is hard enough to say that it’s a
reason that the name Equine Cushing’s Disease sticks, and the
reason that everyone abbreviates it to PPID) – is a relatively
common problem affecting older horses, say, on average, about 18
years and older (it has been described in younger horses, but
that’s when I see it). Cushing’s Disease is named after the guy
who first described the condition (in people), the father of
modern neurosurgery, Harvey Cushing (you really should read this
guy’s biography – his accomplishments were just amazing).
Cushing’s Disease in horses is a little bit different than the
condition of the same name that occurs in people and dogs, but
one thing that they all have in common is that affected
individuals have a problem in their pituitary gland. The
pituitary gland is located right at the base of the brain, and
among its functions is acting as a kind of traffic cop,
directing the production of various hormones in t