What Is Horse Hirsutism?

156 EQUINE VETERINARY EDUCATION / AE / JUNE 2006. Disease profile. Hirsutism is the presence of an abnormally long, sometimes. abnormally structured or dense hair coat.

What causes hirsutism in horses?

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), or equine Cushing’s disease, is an endocrine disease affecting the pituitary gland of horses. It is most commonly seen in older animals, and is classically associated with the formation of a long, wavy coat (hirsutism) and chronic laminitis.

Why does PPID cause hair growth?

Conclusions: These findings document that excessive hair growth (hypertrichosis) in PPID-affected horses is due to persistence of hair follicles in A. Furthermore, treatment with pergolide improved shedding and reduced the percentage of A follicles in PPID-affected horses.

What is equine hypertrichosis?

Hypertrichosis is the long, nonshedding hair coat that develops in older horses (typically ≥18 years old) and is associated with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) caused by an adenoma of the cells of the pars intermedia of the pituitary gland.

How do you treat PPID in horses?

There are three medicines that are now used to treat PPID in horses and ponies. These are called pergolide mesylate, trilostane and cyproheptadine. None of these drugs is totally effective in all cases and some cases do not respond to treatment at all.

What causes high ACTH levels in horses?

Horses with Cushing’s disease have high levels of plasma ACTH. Most horses showing symptoms of Cushing’s can be diagnosed with this test, however, plasma ACTH levels can fluctuate with the season. From Mid-July to Mid-December, normal horses will experience a spike in plasma ACTH levels.

Why does PPID cause laminitis?

Insulin dysregulation places horses with PPID at a higher risk of developing laminitis, which can be the most devastating complication of PPID. Laminitis (founder) is a crippling disease caused by weakening of the tissues (laminae) anchoring the hoof wall to the underlying bone.

What is the signs and symptoms of hirsutism?

Hirsutism is stiff or dark body hair, appearing on the body where women don’t commonly have hair — primarily the face, chest, lower abdomen, inner thighs and back.
Signs of virilization might include:

• Deepening voice.
• Balding.
• Acne.
• Decreased breast size.
• Increased muscle mass.
• Enlargement of the clitoris.

How do you fix hirsutism?

Treatments for hirsutism
losing weight if you’re overweight – this can help control hormone levels. things you can do at home to remove or lighten the hair – such as shaving, waxing, plucking, hair removal creams or bleaching. a prescription cream to slow hair growth on your face (eflornithine cream)

What are the first signs of Cushing’s disease in horses?

Clinical signs include increased coat length and delayed shedding of the winter coat, laminitis, lethargy, increased sweating, weight loss and excessive drinking and urinating. The disease primarily affects those over the age of 10, with 19 being the average age at diagnosis.

How long can horses with Cushings live?

Vets encourage owners of Cushing’s horses to decrease the amount of carbohydrates they feed (e.g., grains or other concentrates), maintain the horse at a healthy body condition score, and ensure his diet is properly balanced. Well-managed horses should live about five to seven years or more past diagnosis.

How long do horses with PPID live?

PPID is the most common endocrine disease in horses and occurs most often in animals over 15 years of age. Many horses today live 30 years or longer because of improvements in nutrition and management practices in recent decades.

What is the difference between hirsutism and hypertrichosis?

Abstract. Hirsutism is defined as the excessive growth of terminal hairs in androgen-dependent areas in females, while hypertrichosis is defined as the generalized excessive growth of hair that is not limited to androgen-dependent hair.

What does hypertrichosis look like?

Hypertrichosis, also known as werewolf syndrome, is a condition characterized by excessive hair growth anywhere on a person’s body. It can affect both women and men, but it’s extremely rare. The abnormal hair growth may cover the face and body or occur in small patches.

Is hirsutism the same as hypertrichosis?

Hypertrichosis is defined as excessive hair growth anywhere on the body in either males or females. It is important to distinguish hypertrichosis from hirsutism, which is a term reserved for females who grow an excessive amount of terminal hairs in androgen-dependent sites.

What is the best diet for a horse with Cushings?

Feeds low in soluble carbohydrates (sugar and starch or NSC) are recommended. Feeding recommendations are to provide a total diet with less than 20% NSC for most horses with Cushing’s disease. Some horses and ponies may need a dietary NSC level of less than 10% to avoid excessive complications.

What triggers Cushings in horses?

Although the cause of the condition is not completely understood, it is thought that as part of the ageing process some horses develop enlargement of part of the pituitary gland (the pars intermedia), which produces excessive hormones that are important in controlling various body functions.

What is the best feed for a horse with Cushings?

Horses and ponies diagnosed with PPID/Cushing’s Disease should be fed a low sugar and starch diet.
Horse Feeds for those that maintain a healthy weight:

• Hi-Fi Molasses Free.
• Healthy Hooves.
• Healthy Hooves Molasses Free.
• Alfa-A Lite.
• Alfalfa Pellets.

What are the symptoms of too much ACTH?

Symptoms may include:

• Upper body obesity.
• Round face.
• Increased fat around neck or a fatty hump between the shoulders.
• Thinning arms and legs.
• Fragile and thin skin.
• Stretch marks on abdomen, thighs, buttocks, arms, and breasts.
• Bone and muscle weakness.
• Severe fatigue.

Should you blanket a horse with Cushing’s?

Since Cushing’s disease makes it hard for your horse to stay cool in warm weather and warm in cool weather, blanket him in the winter as necessary, and body-clip him in the summer if necessary. Be sure he has shade, shelter, and access to fresh water.

Can you reverse Cushings in horses?

Good hoof-care combined with nutritional management and the application of other modalities, including acupuncture and Chinese and Western herbs, can complete the healing process. The successful treatment of equine Cushing’s syndrome is one of the best examples of treating a disease using the holistic approach.