Prince - Living with Equine Cushing's Disease

Meet Prince, a 2011 ACVIM Animal Survivor.
In Fall of 2009, Prince was diagnosed with Equine Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), commonly known as Equine Cushing's Disease. Working together with Dr. Stephanie Brault, an ACVIM Board-certified Large Animal Internist, Leslie (Prince's owner) was able to manage Prince's illness while still giving him a wonderful quality of life.

[@lesliekennedy4998]

Hi all! Leslie here! A friend sent me this video today, and what a blast from the past it is! Prince lived comfortably another 10+ years after this video. We finally had to make the difficult decision to euthanize two days before Christmas (2021). He was nearly 35 years old. My key take-aways from my many years with a horse with PPID are: 1. Always listen to the horse first. 2. Monitor sugar, but don't let that overly control you. A happy horse always comes first. 3. Plenty of exercise. Turnout (controlling intake), in hand work, ridden work. A mini pasture pal is a great way to keep them moving ;) 4. Work closely with a veterinarian that knows you and your horse. 5. A low starch senior feed, may become a necessity with increased age/decreased dentition. Prince was eating 15-18 lbs of senior a day the last several years of his life. If you are an owner that found this video because of a recent diagnosis of your horse, may you leave with only hope. By listening to your horse, and always understanding their needs, you will have many more years of happy memories! I certainly did! Happy New Year! I hope 2022 treats us all with kindness!

[@tammylafleur5065]

Leslie the fact that you took that challenge on and gave Prince the amazing gift of 10+ more years, is amazing!! I'm actually doing a project on horses with Cushing's and your video was so educational and helpful in my research!!

[@appylover5283]

I took interest in this video because prince looks so much like my appy 26 and just 12 months ago diagnosed with Cushing’s, Curly coat and all , since being on medication he has dropped all his fluff and looking younger than ever. I can only hope he lives to his 30s he is in a paddock with a young horse so he gets plenty of exercise his teeth are still good so can only hope. Sorry to hear the passing of Prince but he was lucky to have a owner that loved and took his best interests at heart

[@lesliekennedy4998]

@@tammylafleur5065 it was quite a journey! I am so glad his story was able to help you!!

[@lesliekennedy4998]

@@appylover5283 it sounds like your old Appy is very lucky indeed to have you as an owner! I so wish this video could have been filmed in summer, so others could see how well these PPID horses shed out while medicated. He had many many more sleek summers and many many more joyous gallops out in the field, and I’m hopeful your guy will too! Apps are definitely hardy!

[@appylover5283]

@@lesliekennedy4998 thank you 😊 appys are the best

[@JusticeWaleford]

Really nice looking horse my grandmother had a appaloosa named prince growing up in Fairfield TX

[@joniatoms9798]

Prince is beautiful!!! Thank you for sharing!

[@cherylchild]

One day after shearing (yes, like a sheep, not clipping) our brother/sister pair of Anglo Arabs, I ran across this video. I noted that it was released 11-years ago and what a relief in both attitude toward and treatment of equine Cushing's. Now in 2023, Cushing's has become "big business". I was so discouraged and feeling so guilty that I could not possibly keep up with the schedules and expensive meds that are being touted as the only way to maintain any quality of life. Thank you, thank you for the simple reminder, "Listen to the horse". Didn't we all learn that decades ago when Tom Dorrance released True Horsemanship Though Feel? My 25-year old gelding is exactly like you describe Prince (he has the double forehead sworl to prove it). So playful and affectionate, but a real handful on the trail. His sister is the enforcer of the two, but she has taught me that a horse doesn't act up for no reason. There's always an underlying issue. So I guess I'm saying that damn KZbin algorithm this time worked its magic by showing me this video. I also have a 14-year old English Pointer dog with diabetes. She's clinically "died" about 4-times, but now (after listening to her) I've adjusted all her food and insulin injections to the point that she just marches around in her inner Daisy world, being totally blind and deaf, so effectively that visitors don't see anything wrong. Three animals with challenges like this going on at the same time as a record breaking Arctic winter is just coming to a close, had me feeling pretty down (and looking pretty stupid to most of the surrounding rancher community). Thank you for your down to earth sensible approach.

[@lesliekennedy4998]

Hi Cheryl! I’m so glad this video was able to bring you some comfort! Prince always had a way of doing that:) It sounds like all of your animals are very lucky to have your love and dedicated attention! PPID horses can be very hard, as it seems their needs are constantly changing. In the 10 years with Prince after this video, he went from a regular dose of pergolide, to what my vet described as kind of a max dose, to that dose with the addition of Chaste Tree Berry, to just Chaste Tree Berry, to spending the last few years with zero meds. I’m not sure what happened internally in that time but it seemed his needs kept changing. Listening to them really does go a long way😅. I hope you have many more years with your two (and the pup too:) It can feel so daunting and overwhelming towards the later years, but by then you know them inside-out and they to you, and together you become the closest of friends. And boy aren’t we so lucky to get to experience that!

[@TheHorsewnoname]

Go Prince! I have a mare who is 23 years old and starting to get digestion problems.It takes a little bit more care for her as she is ageing.

[@rebeccawestie9191]

My quarter horse also lost weight inexplicably and he had always been an easy keeper. Then his feet started hurting a lot.. lo and behold cushings

[@lenajarvie5245]

I hope Prince continues to do well with all he is facing =) My mini horse was taken to the vet after she was thought to have Cushing's Disease. As of right now she is healthy, but I feel for you because it gave me quite a scare. I have a video of my mini if you would like to say hi, but if not that is ok too =)

[@remedyfarm]

Great vid. My 16.5 year old Rocky Mountain has early Cushings. Definitely they have special needs. But my guy's worth it

[@rustydevil7192]

I like Leslie she seems like a happy person. I know its been some years but I wonder how Prince managed. I just found out my horse has Cushing and she us only 11 years old

[@lesliekennedy4998]

Hi there! Leslie here! Prince lived comfortably for another 10+ years! We finally had to make the tough decision to euthanize him two days before Christmas (2021). It was unknown the exact cause of what finally happened internally, but he was nearly 35 years old. I'm sorry about your horse's early Cushing's diagnosis, but my best advice is to always listen to your horse. Regularly monitor sugar intake, and make sure they have plenty of exercise. Having a veterinarian that you trust is a must! Here's to hoping that you will have many more years of happy times with your equine friend!

[@LadyHowl999]

He is really pretty!!