The role of nutritional therapy in the treatment of equine Cushing’s syndrome and laminitis.

Equine Cushing’s syndrome, a common disease in horses characterized by a hyperactive pituitary gland and resulting hormonal imbalance, and its common complication, laminitis, are challenging to treat with traditional medicine. This research investigates the potential of a multifaceted holistic approach, featuring nutritional therapy, hoof-care, acupuncture, and both Western and Chinese herbs.

Understanding Equine Cushing’s Syndrome and Laminitis

• Equine Cushing’s Syndrome is a complex illness affecting horses, associated with an overactive pituitary gland and the resulting hormonal changes. This manifests in increased cortisol, insulin resistance, raised adrenocorticotrophic hormone, and diminished thyroid hormone levels.
• The disease can result in a variety of symptoms, such as long-lasting winter coat, weight issues, excessive urination and drinking, frequent infections, lowered immune response to intestinal parasites, diminished intestinal wall strength, and infertility.
• Laminitis, a condition causing inflammation in the foot’s laminae, is a frequent and often deadly complication of Equine Cushing’s syndrome. Conventional treatments often struggle to successfully treat this issue.

The Conventional Treatment and its Challenges

• Phenylbutazone, an NSAID, is often used to treat laminitis. However, this treatment can lead to significant changes in the intestinal wall’s permeability.
• Recent research highlighted that an intestinal bacterial exotoxin is a trigger point for laminitis. Therefore, the side-effects of phenylbutazone present a significant obstacle in treating this condition.

A Holistic Approach to Treatment

• By removing Phenylbutazone and instead focusing on the healing of the intestinal wall, the research found that laminitis shows improved responsiveness to treatment.
• This research argues for a holistic approach to treating Equine Cushing’s syndrome and its complications. The proposed treatment strategy includes good hoof-care, nutritional management, and the use of both traditional Chinese and Western herbs, aided by acupuncture.
• The researchers postulate that this integrated approach often leads to positive outcomes, although the specific combination of treatments needs to be selected based on the individual requirements of the case.