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The Solution Section (FAQ)
How is Cushings PLUS different from Nitro PRO + Laminitis PLUS (the canonical) and Focus PRO (Wave 9 sibling)?
Per Equine Science Solutions: distinct products targeting different conditions in the same vendor portfolio.
- Nitro PRO + Laminitis PLUS (canonical) — laminitis acute-episode response
- Cushings PLUS (this product) — Cushing's disease symptom management
- Focus PRO (Wave 9 sibling) — calming/focus cookies for performance
Same Equine Science Solutions vendor; each product targets a distinct equine condition.
What is Cushing's disease?
Per Equine Science Solutions: Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), better known as Cushing's disease, is a painful, debilitating, and potentially fatal condition. Caused by a tumor on the pituitary gland in the horse's brain, leading to uncontrollable hormone levels.
Symptoms: heatstroke (inability to shed fur), laminitis episodes, anemia, colic, impaired liver function.
How does Cushings PLUS help?
Per Equine Science Solutions: "While there is no cure for Cushing's, the symptoms may be managed using our proprietary Cushings Formula."
Per the company: the natural Cushings PLUS formula increases blood flow and provides vital nutrition to affected areas. Ingredients:
- Chasteberry and Arginine — help shed coat + reduce severity of laminitis episodes
- Antioxidant Vitamins C and E — improve immune system strength
What's the dosage?
Per Equine Science Solutions:
- Loading dose: 1 scoop 2x/day for first three days
- Maintenance: 1 scoop daily (32 cc per 1,000 lbs)
Per the company: If a Cushings-related Laminitic episode occurs, give Nitro PRO™ immediately (1 scoop 3-4x/day until episode resolves), continuing Cushings PLUS once daily during this time.
Can I use Cushings PLUS during competition?
Per Equine Science Solutions: this formula will test at competitions. Per the company: "Please discontinue for 72 hours (3 days before) if your horse will be tested at a show."
How do I order?
Per Equine Science Solutions: Phone 888-917-8565, email [email protected], website https://equinesciencesolutions.com/Cushings-Plus.html. Pricing as quoted is subject to change.
What is Cushings PLUS™ used for?
Cushings PLUS™ is a nutritional supplement made to support horses diagnosed with Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), commonly known as Cushing's disease. It is designed to provide maximum nutritional support for the condition and to help reduce the laminitis episodes that frequently affect Cushing's horses. It is a feed-through maintenance product meant to complement, not replace, veterinary care.
Who manufactures Cushings PLUS™?
It is made by Equine Science Solutions, Inc., based at 1000 N. Green Valley Parkway, Suite 440-291, Henderson, NV 89074. The company develops professional-grade horse health products built from natural vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and herbs. You can reach them at (888) 917-8565 or
[email protected].
What are the main ingredients in Cushings PLUS™?
The formula features Chasteberry, a botanical associated with pituitary and hormone support; the amino acid Arginine to support blood flow; and antioxidants including Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Equine Science Solutions describes the blend as increasing blood flow and delivering vital nutrition to the areas of the body affected by Cushing's disease.
Does Cushings PLUS™ contain iron?
No. Cushings PLUS™ contains no iron. Equine Science Solutions made this a deliberate formulation choice based on research linking mineral imbalance, including excess iron, to laminitis triggers. This is the same iron-free approach used in their companion product, Laminitis PLUS™.
How does Cushings PLUS™ work in the horse's body?
Equine Science Solutions formulates around Nitric Oxide science, which earned a Nobel Prize. Ingredients such as Arginine are intended to prompt the body's own Nitric Oxide production, which widens blood vessels and increases circulation. The goal is to push the formula's nutrition into the tissues most affected by PPID, such as the coat and the hooves that are vulnerable to laminitis.
How much Cushings PLUS™ do I feed my horse?
The standard maintenance dose is 1 scoop daily, measured at 32 cc per 1,000 lbs of body weight. For the first week, the recommendation is a loading dose of one scoop twice a day. During an active laminitic episode, the guidance is to return to one scoop twice daily until the episode resolves.
How long does an 80-dose bag last?
At the standard maintenance rate of one scoop per day for a 1,000-lb horse, an 80-dose bag provides roughly 80 days of feeding. Keep in mind that the first week uses a loading dose of two scoops per day, and laminitic episodes also call for two scoops daily, both of which will use the supply faster during those periods.
How much does Cushings PLUS™ cost?
Cushings PLUS™ is priced at $149.00 for an 80-dose bag. A two-bag option containing 160 doses is available for $286.00, which offers a modest savings over buying two single bags. Pricing is listed on the Equine Science Solutions PLUS Formulas page.
How do I order Cushings PLUS™?
You can order directly from Equine Science Solutions, Inc. by phone at (888) 917-8565 or by email at
[email protected]. The company is located at 1000 N. Green Valley Parkway, Suite 440-291, Henderson, NV 89074. The product page also provides a Buy Now option.
Will Cushings PLUS™ show up on a competition drug test?
Yes. The product page states plainly: "This formula will test at competitions. Please discontinue for 72 hours if your horse will be tested at a show." If you compete in tested disciplines, plan your dosing schedule around that 72-hour withdrawal window.
What symptoms of Cushing's disease does Cushings PLUS™ address?
Cushing's disease is caused by a tumor on the pituitary gland that drives uncontrollable hormone levels. Symptoms can include heat intolerance from an inability to shed the coat, recurring laminitis episodes, anemia, colic, and liver dysfunction. Cushings PLUS™ is formulated to provide nutritional support across these stress points by improving circulation and delivering targeted nutrients.
Can Cushings PLUS™ help prevent laminitis?
Reducing laminitis episodes is one of the supplement's stated purposes, and its iron-free design reflects research into mineral imbalance as a laminitis trigger. Equine Science Solutions also offers a dedicated product, Laminitis PLUS™, focused on maintaining blood flow to the hooves and preventing recurrence. For a horse with both PPID and laminitis history, these products are designed to work in the same maintenance philosophy.
Is Cushings PLUS™ a synthetic product or natural?
Equine Science Solutions builds its PLUS line as synthetic-free formulations using natural ingredients such as herbs, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. The company's overall philosophy is to activate the body's own healing processes rather than introduce synthetic compounds. Cushings PLUS™ follows that same natural-ingredient approach.
Does Cushings PLUS™ replace my horse's Cushing's medication?
No. The company's site carries the disclaimer that the information is not meant to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease. Cushings PLUS™ is a nutritional support supplement intended to work alongside your veterinarian's PPID management plan, not as a substitute for prescribed medication. Always consult your vet before changing a treatment program.
What other products does Equine Science Solutions make?
Beyond Cushings PLUS™, the company offers a full lineup that includes Muscle Mass PLUS™, Ulcer Answer PLUS™, Laminitis PLUS™, Sweet Mare PLUS™, and Joint PLUS™ within the PLUS maintenance line, as well as PRO Formulas, Focus PRO, Horse Balancing (temperament) Formulas, and the Whole Pastures whole-food micronutrient supplement. The brand reports its formulas have been used by Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify and across 429 graded stakes winners.
How is Cushings PLUS™ different from Laminitis PLUS™?
Both are iron-free PLUS maintenance formulas, but Cushings PLUS™ is targeted specifically at the nutritional needs of horses with Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction, including coat-shedding and the broad symptom picture of the disease. Laminitis PLUS™ is focused on maintaining blood flow to the hooves and preventing the recurrence of laminitis, and it also includes ulcer-protective nutrients. A horse with PPID-driven laminitis may benefit from the Cushings-specific support.
What should I expect when starting my horse on Cushings PLUS™?
Begin with the loading protocol of one scoop twice a day for the first week, then settle into the maintenance dose of one scoop daily at 32 cc per 1,000 lbs. If a laminitic episode occurs, step back up to two scoops daily until it resolves. Because individual results vary and PPID is a serious condition, Equine Science Solutions recommends contacting them at (888) 917-8565 for protocol guidance and keeping your veterinarian involved.