Another who's just booked a Cushings test....

Tr0uble

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 August 2009
Messages
1,709
Visit site
My boy is only 8, but has basically been out of work for three years with various health issues....diagnosed and treated various things but he still just isn't right. This year has been his best year for a while, but once again we got to the beginning of November and he turned into demon horse again (no routine change)

He's 8 but looks more like 18. He's WBxTB but has such a thick coat that goes curly with any dampness/sweating... I've just had to clip him, even though he is out of work, because he'd be dripping with sweat even just standing around.

He's sway backed and pot bellied even though he is managed very carefully.

He drinks a lot, and pees a lot, sweats in strange patches, reacts badly to spring grass and frosty grass....he's generally NOT a happy horse, but there's nothing we can put our finger on.

Spoke to the bet last night, expecting them to be quite dismissive due to his young age, but he was anything but dismissive of the idea and he is booked in for the starvation blood test a week on Thursday, testing for Cushings and insulin resistance.

I'd had a niggle about it for a little while, but the other night I read something about november being a 'danger' month for the condition....and that it could cause severe behavioural changes....really struck a chord because at the same time of year, every year, he changes in the last few days of October and stays a demon until early spring.

When the spring grass comes through he has a funny episode...like colic or tying up (he has been diagnosed wi exertional rhabdomyolysis) but the tests always come back clear for both...these episodes always see him dehydrated and sweating in strange patches.
 
Young horses can have Cushings. It is very unusual and hopefully your boy will be proven clear because (and this is only in my experience) it would seem that the conditon degenerates faster in the younger horse.
Fingers crossed for you both!
 
Yes I'm half wanting it to be clear, but if I'm honest, I need there to be something to treat. He can be such a lovely horse, and to see him have these extreme behavioural changes and benso unhappy is killing me.

We've beaten stomach ulcers and we've got the tying up under control (regular blood tests to prove it!) but there has to be something we're missing.
 
I have mine booked in for a test at the end of the month. 16 yo Dales . I have owned him for 2.5 years and he is a laid back chap but seems so lethargic at the moment.

He has recently had treatment for bone spavin none of which have worked so is on 1 Danilon per day to keep him comfortable.

Just finished a course of ABs for a suspected respitory infection which seemed to start after annual flu jab, and blood tests showed a few things 'not quite right' on both red and white blood cells and liver enzymes but could be the infection so re-testing at the end of the month to make sure they are at normal levels.

Both the blood test and the cushings test were at my request for my peace of mind as i have a friend just lost a horse to cushings.
 
Top