PPID- Pixie

Yesterday we got test results back for Pixie. We tested for both IR (insulin resistance) and PPID (formally called Cushings). We truly thought if it was either of the two it would have been IR, but no she does not have IR. She does however have PPID ( pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction). 

Here is what I knew about cushings in horses prior to getting this diagnosis yesterday:
1. It somehow affected the glucose levels
2. I was pretty sure it had to do with hormones somehow
3. They don't shed their hair and usually are shaved down in warmer months.

Here is what I am beginning to understand about this disease:

1. Yes, it does give them hyperglycemia, but it is so much more than that. Pixie's test came back at  125 fasting and that is high for fasting.
2. It is all hormone based. The pituitary gland essentially is overactive due to hypertrophy or an adenoma (neoplasm).
3. By they time they have stop shedding properly they are in the advance stages of the disease.
4. It affects their whole system. Basically they are immunocompromised meaning they are at a higher risk of infection.
5. It is either treated with medicine or not, but there is no in between. Since this is caused by a dysfunction of the pituitary gland you can't not treat with diet alone. Currently there is only one medicine on the market for horses. Which as we all know that means the medicine is expensive. With treatment though horses can live a normal life span, without treatment this disease will usually shorten their life quite a bit.

So basically it boils down to this. This diagnoses is a life changing dx for Pixie and I. Of course we are starting the medicine. Expensive or not I don't really see an option here. I can't treat this disease any other way. My only hope is that maybe one day there will be more than one drug available to help lower the price. This is a progressive disease. We are starting out at a 1/2 tablet a day, but as the years go the vet told me we will probably make our way up in dosage. But it could be years before we need to up the dosage so that is good. With the meds  she can eat like a normal horse with the exception of grass. She will never be able to free graze on lush green grass. But we shouldn't have to soak hay at least! Her feet should stop being sore. It may be up to a year before she is completely sound, but she should be feeling better in the next 3 months or so. She may or may not have to be in some sort of shoes forever. Time will tell on how sensitive her feet are.

This is what I know so far. There is far more to this then I ever realized. Between Pixie and Devan at least I can go around saying cool abbreviations for their diseases. PPID and EPI, that is enough now, I am not sure I can remember any more cool disease names though 😉