Description

• The Cushing's horse can act depressed, sweat excessively and have a shaggy coat.horse image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
  
  Older horses are more likely to get Cushing's disease than younger horses. Cushing's occurs when the pituitary gland is no longer able to regulate bodily functions properly, evidenced by such symptoms as excessive sweating, an inability to shed seasonal coats, depression or other mood changes, and excessive thirst and urination. Affected horses can develop tumors in the pituitary gland that can cause neurological problems and have compromised immune systems that lead to a host of additional health issues.
  
  

Options

• A proper diet is an important part of managing Cushing's disease.horse eating image by michele goglio from Fotolia.com
  
  A veterinarian will probably provide counsel on any dietary changes a Cushing's horse requires, as well as any supplements necessary to support its immune system. Advancements in traditional medications can treat symptoms associated with Cushing's, but owners might want to talk to their veterinarians about trying a regimen of chasteberry, or Vitex agnus-castus.
  
  

Promising Results

• Owners should notice positive changes in their horses after about one month of chasteberry treatment.horse image by ann triling from Fotolia.com
  
  One trial in the U.S. on 10 horses afflicted with Cushing's yielded improvement in all 10 horses after they were treated with chasteberry. According to LuAnn Groves, DVM, there should be a noticeable improvement in the horse's condition in about four to five weeks if it is going to respond favorably to chasteberry.
  
  

Expert Insight

• Cushing's must be managed for the rest of the horse's life.horse in stall image by BONNIE C. MARQUETTE from Fotolia.com
  
  Dr. Groves, of the Whole Horse Clinic in San Marcos, Texas, believes chasteberry treats not just the symptoms associated with Cushing's but the condition itself. She will dose a Cushing's horse with 1 tbsp. a day, twice a day, every day for the horse's remaining years. If the horse has more advanced symptoms, such as showing early signs of laminitis, Dr. Groves advises a "loading dose" of 2 tbsp., twice a day, for a week, and then lowering the twice-daily dose to 1 tbsp.
  
  

Warning

• Only purchase chasteberry from a reputable source.Herbs image by Tomasz Cebo from Fotolia.com
  
  While Dr. Groves indicates that she has not noticed any negative side effects in horses she has treated with chasteberry, as with any drug or treatment regimen, owners should monitor their horses' conditions and report to their veterinarians if they notice any changes. Highest quality chasteberry should be purchased from a reputable source.