Young horses - just as older horses - can show stress-related ACTH spikes that mimic PPID. Yet some vets won't look at the bigger picture and assume Cushing's, consigning the owner to a lifetime of the Prascend drug. 

Rest assured that PPID is typically age-related, tied to natural dopamine decline. 

Not always. ACTH naturally fluctuates with the seasons, stress, pain, and time of day - this is normal. False positives are common - especially in autumn and during the typical coat-change months, when higher ACTH levels are needed to manage the coat protein metabolism.

It can help in advanced cases, but around 30% of horses show side effects. It’s also expensive and prescribed for life, so should be weighed carefully.

Some yes, some no. Avoid Agnus castus and Mucuna with Prascend (can overstimulate dopamine). See both our CushTonic supportive blend options - CushTonic-2 is formulated especially for horses on Prascend.

PPID = pituitary dysfunction. EMS/IR = insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. It's a known fact that PPID will eventually lead into IR, so Cushing's/PPID horses will end up with both.

Curly or non-shedding coats are a hallmark symptom of Cushings/PPID, but coat changes also happen with age, stress, or poor nutrition.

Adaptogens (Ashwagandha, Astragalus), liver herbs (Milk Thistle, Sarsaparilla), dopamine support if not on Prascend (Tyrosine, Brahmi)... see our Cushings shop page for our supportive recommended blends.

No - those orbital pads are a lymph/metabolism imbalance, not fat or PPID-specific. They often resolve with proper nutrition and detox.