Equine Cushing's Disease

Cushing’s syndrome is a rare endocrine disorder that occurs when your body is exposed to an overabundance of the hormone cortisol.3 Cortisol is known as the stress hormone. The interruption of cortisol secretion can cause weight gain and can ultimately determine where you put the weight on.8 There are many underlying causes such as Pituitary Adenomas, Ectopic ACTH Syndrome, Adrenal Tumors, and Familial Cushing’s Syndrome.2 The majority of these people affected by this hormonal disorder experience weak muscles, increase fat, high blood pressure, etc.1 Although thousands are affected in various ways, there are currently several channels of treatment administered by medical professionals. Through the use of improving technology, medical professionals are better understanding the disorder, allowing them to develop better treatment practices.

Cushing 's syndrome (CS) is characterized by pathologically elevated free glucocorticoid levels. Endogenous hypercortisolism is usually due to ACTH-secreting pituitary corticotropic adenomas and less often due to ectopic ACTH-secreting neuroendocrine neoplasms or ACTH-independent adrenal cortisol hypersecretion (Yaneva, 2010). Cushing 's disease occurs infrequently in an inherited setting in both of these conditions (Yaneva, 2010).

Potomac Horse Fever, also known as “Ditch Fever” is a potentially fatal, non-contagious equine illness caused by the bacterium Neorickettsia risticii (formerly known as Erhlicia risticii) that was first identified in the United States in 1985. With little knowledge of its exact origin, the earliest discussion of symptoms was in the Eastern region in 1979. Additionally, PHF is also a “copy-cat” illness that often imitates symptoms of other diseases, which can lead to a misdiagnosis, which is why it is critical that horse owners understand the threat Potomac Horse Fever is and what procedures should take place to prevent, as well as treat, the illness.

In this paper, I will be discussing the equine genetic disease Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP) or Impressive Syndrome. I will share the origins of HYPP through the genetic influence of an American Quarter Horse Stallion called Impressive. There will be coverage of the signs of HYPP and comparison to similar symptoms found in other ailments. I will explain the causes of HYPP attacks in regards to the abnormalities in afflicted horse’s potassium levels and voltage-gaited sodium channels. In closing, I will provide recommendations in management practices, prevention and possibilities for eliminating for HYPP from the equine industry.

Naylor J. May 1994. Equine hyperkalemic periodic paralysis: review and implications. Can Vet J. 35. 279-285.

1. Cushing's disease is a hormonal disorder which is caused by prolonged exposure of the body's tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol. It is sometimes referred to as hypercortisolism, it is fairly rare and it most commonly affects adults between the ages of 20 to 50. There is an estimated 10 to 15 of every million people who are affected every year.

In an effort to compare the different writing styles between a fiction and scholarly article, this student decided to compare a story published by theOnion titled “Pentagon Holds Gala to Celebrate 25 years of bombing Iraq” verses an article published by the NASW journal Social Work titled “Psychosocial Equine Program for Veterans”. To best illustrate the similarities and differences, this student will first recognize and substantiate the points of similarity followed by those of difference.

My rationale for studying the working conditions of therapy horses, who work at Heal With Horses located at Wellington Ontario is that, working animals are not typically seen as traditional workers in society. They can be oppressed and are easily taken advantage of, as they can not verbally stand up for themselves, but do so in many other ways. Thus saying, it is our job as society and empathic, intellectual, human beings to ensure we represent, understand and stand up for the working rights and voices of all workers, whether they have 2 legs or four. I believe it is our ethical responsibility as human workers to make sure we give equal working conditions to all diverse types of work and workers; including service horses/animals because we humans do reap the benefits of their labour. It is the right thing to do to make sure therapy horses are treated fairly. From working at a non for profit

The digestive system of the horse consists of a simple stomach, small intestines, cecum, large and small colons, rectum and anus. The horse 's stomach is comparatively small for its size. The stomach of an average horse has a holding capacity of about two gallons. This may be the reason horses eat small but frequent meals. From the stomach food moves to the small intestine, which is the main site of digestion. The small intestine empties into the cecum. The cecum; along with the large colon; make up the large intestine. Digestion in the large intestine occurs by action of bacteria and protozoa. (arg.gov.sk.ca)

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common sensorimotor neurologic disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, often associated with discomfort and/or dysesthesias. Recently, several large epidemiologic studies,1–4 though not all,5,6 have demonstrated RLS is associated with cardiovascular disease, with greatest risk among those who have more frequent symptoms3,7 and an RLS diagnosis for ≥ 3 years.1 Despite these findings, few have investigated the physiologic pathways by which RLS may elevate cardiovascular risk. Previous studies have focused on the cardiovascular alterations that coincide with periodic leg movements of sleep (PLMS),8–11 which are present in > 80% of patients with RLS.

When Atkin says “the use of drugs”, there are a variety of inhumane stimulates that could be referred to. Medications such as Lasix are highly desirable in the racing as world as they mask the side effects of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. EIPH occurs when blood escapes the system and penetrates into the horse lungs and airway. While tools like Lasix mask circulatory problems, drugs such as Phenylbutazone are even more disturbing. Typically used as an anti-inflammatory for injured horses, Phenylbutazone temporarily takes away the pain of a minor strain or bruise. However, trainers often administer 12 times the recommended dosage of this medication to all of their racing horses; injured or not. If a horse's injury is too severe, they

First scientifically reported in 1977, equine metritis is a sexually-transmitted infection capable of rapid transmission throughout a herd of the horse species (Timoney, 1996). The underlying bacterial cause of this infection is Taylorella equigenitalis; this is a gram-negative, microaerophilic, coccobacillus bacterium with specific conditions for cultivation (Timoney, 1996; Powell, 1978). The bacterium is not a free-living organism; it must remain within or on the host animal to survive (Timoney, 1996). Therefore, the microbe must be transferred between hosts to subsist.

Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) is a precursor polypeptide and is synthesized from the polypeptide precursor pre-pro-opiomelanocortin (pre-POMC), by the removal of a signal-peptide sequence during translation. A cultivator of several hormones, POMC is synthesized in the pituitary gland. After separation by enzymes at various points, it can produce Beta-Endorphin (a neuropeptide produced by the hypothalamus and pituitary glands, and a neurotransmitter that is released when the body experiences stress or pain), and Adrenocoticotropic Hormone (ACTH).

A topic that interests me in relation to the overall health, diet and management of horses is Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) also known as Insulin Resistance in horses. EMS is insensitivity to insulin created by stored glucose in the horse’s body. The Equine nutrition course has raised my understanding of how the current feeds and forage we utilize for the modern equine can place our horses at risk for developing EMS. This risk can be lowered and possibly avoided with proper dietary care. The course units have provided me with the knowledge to determine Body Condition Scores, navigate feed labels and understand forage quality. Armed with a greater knowledge of feed values, the impact to the horse’s digestive system, formulas required to determine daily intake and the know-how to determine a horses weight I feel confident not only to recognize a horse at risk for developing EMS but how and what to adjust in the horses daily diet to avoid a high glycemic index and manage a healthier diet for a horse diagnosed with EMS.

Cushing’s Syndrome is a condition that results from chronic exposure to excessive amounts of glucocorticoids circulating in the blood stream for an extended period of time. The disease was first reported by Harvey Cushing over one hundred years ago, yet the condition still plagues endocrinologists today. Reasons for this difficulty include the vast amount of often vague symptoms that the syndrome presents, most of which are found in a plethora of other conditions as well, combined with the multiple forms that the condition can manifest itself. Symptoms of Cushings Syndrome include, but are not limited to, weight gain, hirutism, easy bruising, hypertension, acne, facial plethora, muscle weakness, striae, depression,