PPID horse grazing in field
Photo: iStock

Pergolide is the most commonly prescribed medication for horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) and works by helping restore dopamine activity that regulates the pituitary gland. Treatment can reduce hormone levels associated with the disease and improve clinical signs such as abnormal hair coat, low energy, and laminitis risk, helping many horses maintain a better quality of life. Greg Schmid, DVM, professional services veterinarian with Dechra, explains how veterinarians can use pergolide to help manage horses with PPID.

This podcast is an excerpt of our Ask TheHorse Live Q&A, “Managing Horses With Metabolic Problems.” Listen to the full recording here.

About the Expert:

Picture of Greg Schmid, DVM

Greg Schmid, DVM

Greg Schmid, DVM, originally from Canada, moved to Ohio as a teenager, where his family trained dressage and eventing horses. He earned a Bachelor of Science in equine science from Otterbein University, in Westerville, Ohio, and a DVM from The Ohio State University, in Columbus. After graduation, Schmid completed an internship at B.W. Furlong & Associates, in Oldwick, New Jersey, and then worked with Dr. John “Doc” Steele in a hunter/jumper-focused practice covering the East Coast. He later practiced in Portland, Oregon, working with various English and Western sport horses. Schmid joined Dechra as an equine professional services veterinarian in September 2020 and now lives in Asheville, North Carolina.