Management of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) in equids consists of improved husbandry, including adequate nutrition
and limiting competition for feed, body-clipping, dentistry, and appropriate treatment of concurrent medical problems. In
addition, specific treatment with the dopamine agonist pergolide can improve quality of life and reverse many clinical signs
of the disease in PPID-affected equids. Combination treatment with both pergolide and cyproheptadine, in the author's experience,
may also prove beneficial in more advanced cases. For patients with chronic laminitis, appropriate trimming or shoeing and
judicious use of analgesic medications is also necessary. Although many nutritional supplements and nutraceuticals have been
advocated for use in equids with PPID, none have established data to support their touted benefits. Finally, due to the expense
of lifelong medication, a decision of whether or not to treat affected horses with pergolide should be made on a case-by-case
basis in consideration of the client's goals for the patient.
Husbandry and nutritional considerations
Management of equids with PPID initially involves attention to general health care along with a variety of management changes
to improve the condition of older animals. In the earlier stages of PPID, when hirsutism may be the primary complaint, body-clipping
to remove the long hair may be the only treatment required. Next, since many affected animals are aged, routine oral care
and correction of dental abnormalities cannot be overemphasized. In addition, assessment of diet and incorporation of pelleted
feeds designed specifically for older equids (e.g., senior diets) should be pursued. In the author's experience, aged horses
both with and without clinical signs of PPID can easily gain 50 or more pounds within 3-4 weeks of placing them on a Senior
feed.
Sweet feed and other concentrates high in soluble carbohydrate are best avoided (unless that is all that they will eat), especially
when patients are hyperinsulinemic, hyperglycemic, or both. Also, affected equids may need to be separated from the herd if
they are not getting adequate access to feed. Unfortunately, because the abdomen may become somewhat pendulous, weight loss
and muscle wasting in more severely affected animals may not be well recognized by owners. In these instances, measurement
of body weight, or estimation with a weight tape or body condition score, are important parameters to monitor during treatment.
Whether or not it is "safe" to allow PPID-affected equids to graze pasture as a forage source remains controversial. Pasture,
especially lush spring and early summer pasture, should be considered similar to feeding concentrates high in soluble carbohydrates
and many veterinarians recommend that PPID-affected equids NOT be turned out on pasture. In my opinion, it is important to
assess the overall condition of the patient. If the horse or pony is overweight and has abnormal fat deposits, supportive
of insulin resistance, pasture turn out would not be recommended. Instead, feeding grass hay at 1-1.5% of the body weight
daily would be the preferred forage diet and animals that are overweight clearly do not need an additional "low starch" concentrate
feed. However, if body condition is somewhat poor, strategic grazing for several hours per day can be a useful way to increase
caloric intake and produce weight gain. Again, caution is advised and access to lush spring or early summer pasture should
be avoided or at least limited to one or more shorter periods per day, preferably during the early morning hours.
Figure 1. Photographs of the front feet of a pony with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction and chronic laminitis: left,
initial evaluation (September, 2006); middle, 5-month re-examination (February, 2007); right, 14 month re-examination (November,
2007). Despite a visual appearance to the hoof that may actually seem worse over time (e.g., lower hoof angle after 5 months),
a marked improvement in lameness was observed. In addition, hoof conformation was nearly normal after a year of treatment
and corrective hoof care.
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Since the major musculoskeletal complication of PPID is chronic laminitis, regular hoof care is essential to lessen the risk
of flare-ups. It is important to emphasize to clients that starting medical treatment for PPID (i.e., pergolide) may not lead
to complete resolution of the pain and intermittent hoof abscesses that can accompany chronic laminitis, due to the damage
to the laminar bed that has previously been sustained. Further, intermittent use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
primarily phenylbutazone, may be necessary. Although flare-ups of chronic laminitis remain a leading cause for a decision
for euthanasia in PPID-affected equids, it also warrants emphasis that a combination of medical treatment for PPID along with
regular hoof care can lead to substantial clinical improvement (Figure 1). Finally, because many PPID affected patients may have secondary infections (e.g., sinusitis, dermatitis, and bronchopneumonia),
intermittent or long-term administration of antibiotics, typically a potentiated sulfonamide, may be necessary.
