[Anorexia in a pony with Cushing’s disease].

The research focuses on a case of anorexia in an eighteen-year-old pony suffering from Cushing’s disease, identified due to colic and elevated levels of certain hormones in the plasma. The pony was re-admitted after a year due to anorexia and a mandible fracture, post which it had to be euthanized.

Research Objective

• The main goal of this research was to understand the correlation between anorexia, Cushing’s disease, and various hormonal imbalances observed in an eighteen-year-old pony.

Horse’s Initial Symptoms and Treatment

• The research mentions the initial symptoms displayed by the pony. The pony was introduced to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine because of colic, which resulted from cecal tympany (gas accumulation in the cecum).
• The pony’s coat was dull and it had long, wavy hair, indicating poor health.
• After medical treatment for the colic, the horse was sent home three days later.

Diagnosis of Cushing’s Disease

• Just before the pony left, the researchers measured its morning plasma glucose concentration, which was found to be high at 10.2 mmol.l-1. This is generally a symptom of Cushing’s disease, a hormonal disorder.
• High basal plasma cortisol concentration (180 nmol.l1) and highly elevated basal plasma ACTH concentration (> 960 pg.ml1) confirmed the diagnosis of Cushing’s disease.
• An ACTH-stimulation test was performed that showed adrenal cortex hyperfunction, as evidenced by an elevation of plasma cortisol level to 771 nmol.l-1. This further substantiated the diagnosis of Cushing’s.

Re-admission and Euthanasia

• The pony was re-admitted after a year due to anorexia and a mandible fracture. At this time, the morning plasma glucose concentration was further elevated to 11.9 mmol.l-1.
• No clear signs of osteoporosis – a potential cause of the fracture – were detected.
• The condition of the pony was deemed critical, and euthanasia was carried out.

Necropsy Results

• Post-mortem examination revealed both a mandibular fracture and a pituitary pars intermedia adenoma, a benign tumor in the pituitary gland. The latter is a common pathophysiological cause of Cushing’s disease.