ANOREXIA IN A PONY WITH CUSHINGS-DISEASE

An eighteen-year-old pony gelding was referred to the Faculty of Veter inary Medicine because of colic, due to cecal tympany. His haircoat wa s dull with long wavy hair. After medical treatment of the colic it wa s sent home three days later. Just before it had been dismissed the mo rning plasma glucose concentration measured 10,2 mmol.l-1. The basal p lasma cortisol concentration was high (180 nmol.l1) and basal plasma A CTH concentration was highly elevated (> 960 pg.ml1). An ACTH-stimulat ion test was performed by intravenous administering of 0,25 mg synthet ic ACTH1 24 at 9.00 hours showing adrenocortical hyperfunction by an i ncrease of plasma cortisol to 771 nmol.l-1. After 365 days the gelding was readmitted because of anorexia since two days, due to a mandibula fracture without obvious signs of osteoporosis. This time the morning plasma glucose concentration measured 11,9 mmol.l-1. Euthanasia was c arried out and at necropsy both a mandibula fracture and a pituitary p ars intermedia adenoma were found