Advanced Cushings

Undiagnosed, or untreated Cushings can cause the following symptoms though not all horses have all of them: thick curly coat, coat shedding problems, inability to control body temperature, heavy and very smelly sweating, weight loss, loss of appetite, sagging belly muscles, ataxia, confusion, very high ACTH count (blood test), sudden unexplained laminitis. Think there's a couple more but can't remember. The only scientifically proven relief for Cushings is Pergolide/Prascend and most horses do amazingly well and return to their pre-Cushings selves in a week or two. However, it's worth remembering that Pergolide isn't a cure for the benign tumour on the horse's pituitary gland that causes the Cushings, so the deterioration will continue and in time will mean pts before its fatal. Watch closely for laminitis, for obvious reasons. The website talkaboutcushings.co.uk is an excellent source of clear information.
 
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