Pergolide and Horses: An update and how you can help

In my email, I've received a number of messages regarding the Pergolide withdrawal and its effect on horses.

I wanted to let folks know about a site worth reading: www.peroglideaction.blogspot.com.

The author notes that on 3/29/07, the FDA announced a withdrawal of the drug pergolide from the market. This action placed the health and well being of all horses diagnosed with Equine Cushing's Disease in jeopardy.

Dr. Kellon on her site also notes that there is no present viable alternative to pergolide to control Cushing's, or to stave off debilitating and life threatening side effect of the disease in horses.

There is a link on page one of the site to a petition. I signed it. Will you?

Pergolide's Withdrawal Impacts 10,000 ...

Horses. Yes you read that right. An estimated 10,000 horses are currently prescribed pergolide in the United States.

The news that Pergolide (treats symptoms of Parkinson's disease) will be withdrawn from the market has a direct effect on ... horses.

Pergolide (Permax) is in a class of medications called dopamine agonists and is an important med used to control the symptoms of Cushing's disease, a pituitary disorder found in horses.

Current drug rules in the United States will not allow its import and use on animals. Nearly 10,000 horses are prescribed this drug.

Some may remember that the news regarding Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) also had an effect on horses. The horses were bred on Premarin farms, and when the HRT study showed a possible link between HRT drugs and certain cancers, many horses were put to death. Source here.

Sources include: Thehorse.com