Cushing's Disease
Cushing's disease is due to the excess secretion of
cortisol by the adrenal gland that results from a tumour
in the pituitary gland. This excess secretion of cortisol
can have dramatic effects on several body functions.
Clinical signs include; a long thick and curly coat,
failure to shed the coat in spring, increased sweating,
loss of condition, excessive drinking and urination, diabeties,
fat deposition in the supra-orbital fossae (above the
eyes), dull coat and eyes, reduced resistance to infection
and worm burdens, lethargy, muscle loss (resulting in
a dipped back and pot belly) and eventually laminitis.
The disease is more common in ponies and is a disease
usually affecting older horses. It is slowly progressive
and causes more symptoms as time goes on.
Horses with poor conformation are more likely to develop
a curb, in particular those with sickle/cow hocks. A curb
may initially cause lameness but with the correct treatment
and management usually does not cause long term problems,
although thickened scar tissue will remain.
Can Equissage help?
It can help alleviate the impact various symptoms have.
There is no known cure for ECD (Equine Cushings Disease)
but good management can help improve quality of life,
particularly in the earlier stages of development. Drug
treatments are also effective at lessening the impact
of the clinical signs.
Classic symptoms of ECD are a compromised immune system
meaning that cuts, however small, take much longer to
heal, recurrent or ever-present mouth ulcers, foot abscesses
and skin complaints are much more prevalent; there is
also the ever present risk of laminitis, if not regular
bouts of it. These are all things that good management
can help with and this is where Equissage can assist considerably.
Regular sessions will help the circulation particularly
to the distal limbs (important with regard to treating
laminitis); good circulation is important to ensure all
areas receive nourishment for cell regeneration, etc.
and to support the immune system. Of equal importance
is good lymphatic and venous drainage. Use of Equissage
will also help with muscle tone; it is only the weakening
and stretching of muscles which results in the "dipped
back/pot belly" appearance.
Equissage used as part of the management programme for
an ECD case will help keep the horse/pony in as good a
shape as possible for a longer period of time.
Application:
Bearing in mind that ECD sufferers are usually older,
often retired horses, much as they still like regular
attention, they don't want constant fussing over so a
once-a-day session is quite enough.
A longer session, say 30 minutes, with Equissage on a
lower setting (No.3) will prove to be far more beneficial
than 15-20 minutes on a higher setting particular in terms
of the circulatory system and the positive effects for
the immune system. And bearing in mind that often ECD
cases do urinate more, you do not want to put the kidneys
under additional "strain". The longer, gentler
session will prove more effective at helping circulatory
conditions as well as aiding with foot abscess and laminitis
recovery. Although the higher settings are generally more
effective with regard to muscular conditions do not be
tempted to turn the dial up in the quest to help improve
muscle tone as there will be a much greater build-up of
heat retained in the body for a longer period which will
not assist in terms of general comfort of the affected
horse or pony - remember that their coat is thicker and
you do not want to induce additional sweating.
Point to Note:
With the advent of ultrasonography research has established
that "Curb" is not an individual condition but
actually a collection of soft tissue injuries. There are
severeal conditions, each involving different structures
of the hock area, but with similar symptoms, so it is
important to establish exactly which structures are affected.
For more information please call 0800 072 1180,
email us at info@equissage.co.uk
or request a FREE TRIAL
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