Cushings Disease in Horses

About 7 years ago our Polish Arabian mare, Vision was diagnosed with Equine Cushings Disease. We noticed that she was not shedding out in the Spring and her hair began really curly. I started doing research and came to the conclusion that was what she had. I had the vet come out and he took a blood test and sure enough it was Equine Cushing Disease. So right away he put her on a drug called Pergoglide.Here are some symptoms of the disease: The shaggy long hair is the most common sign, that doesn't shed in the spring and lasts throughout the summer. An increased intake of water, urinating alot, profuse sweating on the shoulders and neck, muscle loss in the rump and along the back bloated stomach and  most horses develop laminitis.
The cause of the disease is a malfunction of the pituitary gland, that is located at the base of the brain. This causes increased stimulation of the adrenal glands, and causes a hormonal imbalance in the horse. The overactive pituitary gland can develop hypertrophy or enlargement, which causes a development of benign tumor cells and puts pressure on the brain.
Once diagnosed with Equine Cushings Disease , your vet will probably put the horse on drug therapy. Our vet has Vision on Pergolide. She has to take it everyday for the rest of her life. There is another drug called Trilostane, which is still in the testing stage. It  actually works on the adrenal gland, slowing down the production of cortisol. Symptoms of the disease have been reversed using this drug. I am going to ask my vet about this drug.
Proper diet is very crucial for a horse with Equine Cushings Disease . A diet high in antioxidants like vitamin E and C. Feed should be a low sugar, low starch, eliminate alfalfa hay. They should get grass hay and pellet feed We feed both are senior horses Senior Glo, made by Alliance, but here are other feed manufacturers that make a  low-sugar, low-starch mixture.
Cushings disease usually is found in older horses, male or female. With proper treatment it will allow the horse to lead a virtually normal quality life, even in a progressed state of the disease. I will follow up on a diet in another post.

So I guess I am trying to say, even if your horse is diagnosed with Equine Cushings Disease, it is not a death sentence. Vision is 28 years old and has had it for atleast 7 years.
Right now, you can see that her hair is long and shaggy. We plan on body clipping her in the spring.