Horse Metabolic
Horse Metabolic Prescription Medications
Metabolic disease in horses rarely shows up overnight. A coat that won't shed out, a cresty neck, or a sore-footed senior can all point to a bigger problem your vet will want to test for. Valley Vet Supply was founded in 1985 by veterinarians who treated horses at a mixed-animal clinic in Marysville, Kansas, and our pharmacy carries the horse metabolic medication your vet prescribes for PPID and thyroid conditions. Here's what's available, what each product does, and how ordering works.
Common Equine Metabolic Conditions
PPID, often called Cushing's disease, is a pituitary disorder usually seen in older horses. Look for a long coat that doesn't shed and muscle loss along the topline. Equine metabolic syndrome tends to show up in easy keepers with fat pads and insulin resistance. Both raise the risk of laminitis.
Prescription Treatment Options
Pergolide is the drug vets use to control the clinical signs of PPID, and because PPID is a lifelong disease, it's given by mouth once a day for the long haul. We carry both the original brand and the first FDA-approved generic. For horses with low thyroid hormone, a levothyroxine powder mixes right into feed.
- Prascend for Horses: Boehringer Ingelheim's 1 mg pergolide mesylate tablet, given by mouth once daily to control clinical signs of PPID. Packs range from 10 to 160 count.
- Zygolide Tablets for Horses: Dechra's 1 mg pergolide tablets, peppermint flavored and scored for easy splitting when your vet adjusts the dose. Zygolide is the first FDA-approved generic pergolide for horses and comes in 60 or 160 count.
- Thyro-L for Horses: Lloyd's levothyroxine sodium powder, about 12 mg per level teaspoon, for conditions tied to hypothyroidism. Comes in 1 lb and 10 lb.
How Treatment Is Monitored
Your vet sets the dose using body weight and follow-up bloodwork. Prascend's listed range runs from half a tablet to 4 tablets a day. Both pergolide labels start at 2 mcg/kg once daily and allow adjustment up to 4 mcg/kg, so dose changes are normal as your vet tracks results. Tell your vet if your horse goes off feed after starting, since reduced appetite is the most common side effect and a temporary dose cut may help.
Ordering with a Valid Prescription
Provide animal and vet details at checkout. Our pharmacy team works with your veterinarian to verify the prescription before the order ships. Auto-Ship can keep a daily medication like pergolide from running out between refills. For diet support, shop Horse Metabolic supplements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a prescription for Cushing's medication for horses?
Yes. Prascend and Zygolide both require a valid prescription, and so does Thyro-L. Your vet will typically confirm PPID with bloodwork before starting treatment. You'll enter your vet's information at checkout, and our pharmacy team verifies the prescription before the order ships.
How long does it take for PPID medication to work?
It varies from horse to horse. Your vet will recheck clinical signs and bloodwork in the weeks after you start and adjust the dose from there. Keep giving it every day, since pergolide controls PPID rather than curing it.
Can diet and supplements replace metabolic medication?
Not for PPID. Diet changes and supplements can help a horse with equine metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance, but they don't replace pergolide for a horse diagnosed with Cushing's. Ask your vet about using both together.
