A Cushings Question.

TheresaW

TheresaW

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I have a 24yo mare with Cushings. She was diagnosed about 3 years ago, and it is controlled with 1 prascend a day. She never had any of the obvious symptoms, only thing was a bit lethargic to ride, which at the time I put down to age. Once the prascend kicked in, she was like a 10yo again.

Mac is 20, a Suffolk cross. Around this time last year, he looked a bit ribby, and I got him tested just in case. His test came back negative. He held his own throughout winter (out 24/7), but gradually over the last few months he's been dropping weight. He's always lived on grass all summer, hay in field in winter. Last couple of weeks he has dropped a lot. Him and Dolly did, so have played around with feed, and she has put the weight back on, but he isn't. Vet is booked for Monday, and will be getting full bloods run.

I think my main question is, is it possible to get a false negative result? He may just have a virus or something, but seems well in himself. He's been retired for over 3 years due to arthritis, so can't tell if he's more lethargic ridden or anything. Another thing is, he did hold onto all his muscle, which has now suddenly dropped off, again, possibly a Cushings thing.
 
It is possible to get a false reading for cushings I was convinced my mare had it and had her tested it came back negative, I ended up having 3 done and the 3rd one came back with slightly higher levels so she went on pracsend I think the levels can differ through the year so I think if they are borderline it's difficult to get a positive result.
 
One of ours had the blood test last year and came back at 27, she had another test last week, which came back at 40, so just under borderline. She is showing some symptoms, particularly hanging onto her winter coat, this year. We were given the option of retesting in 6 months, or having the alternative test now. Vet is coming back next week to do the aternative test, so that we get a clear picture of what is going on with her. We already have one on Prascend and I was very pleased when vet said her level is stable.
 
Yes from the pics, even if he comes back negative I would discuss treating anyway with the vet I think to see if it generates an improvement.
 
mine came back showing 17 , retested and came back 11 a couple of weeks later. Those were very low results yet he was so seriously ill with every cushings symptom we were close to PTS. Put him on prascend and he was a different horse, lethargy gone, skin problems gone. Muscle came back (with help from high dose vit E) pot belly went.
Another of mine has done exactly the same as Mac this summer. ACTH test was at the high end of positive but certainly did not reflect his symptoms. He is on a prascend trial and after 2 months he is now extremely jolly.

I always consider both the test result AND the symptoms together.
 
Thank you everyone.

Mac is very hairy already this year, clipped and rugged him last year as he was itchy and scabby. He does have a bit of a pot belly too.
 
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