Curly coat but not cushings! HELP!

[bluehoofprints]

Hiya, I have a pure bred highland gelding who's winter coat, once wet, will curl up. He has been tested for cushing's and came back negative. It is so bad, like its so curly all over his body unless I rug him or brush him constantly. Does anyone have a solution for this? He is heading off to a new home and I want him to look pristine, and he just looks so awful right now!

 

[_HP_]

A false test does not necessarily mean he hasn't got Cushings.... Please have a read of this site

http://www.thelaminitissite.org/ppid.html

According to this site the tests for Cushings are not 100% accurate and many things can effect the result and give false negatives and clinical signs should always be taken into account.

And perhaps join their Facebook group ...the ladies on there are very helpful and knowledgable.....Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) Cushings PPID and Laminitis UK.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I agree with the above my mare had a negative test and I was convinced she had it, so did another test and it was positive only just over and she is controling it herself so she doesnt need any medication, there is a test the vet does to see if they are managing the cushings, so might be worth getting another one done.

 

[forkesy]

Agree with the other posts, it is fairly common to get false negatives with cushings test. I think its free atm if you download a voucher from talkaboutlaminitis.co.uk meaning you only need to pay for the vet to come out and draw the blood, not for the lab fees

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

When was he tested? If earlier in the year, i.e spring time my vet recommended a retest in autumn time as levels tend to be lower in springtime.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

In these days of clipping everything 'just because' I rarely see it any more, but IME any pony with a full winter coat will go curly when wet.

 

[touchstone]

Agree with Sugar and Spice, all our unclipped native ponies would have a curly coat when wet, far better protection than any rug as the wet just runs down the curls!

 

[fatpiggy]

My part-bred Welsh D would curl like a poodle if she rolled in wet mud. She also had a couple of areas which seemed to just curl naturally, but not all the time. Sometimes she was curl free for a year or two and then the patch would come back.

 

[RamblingRosa]

My horse used to go curly when wet as a foal. He definitely didn't have cushings at that age!

 

[bluehoofprints]

Thank's you guys, this has made me feel alot more relaxed about the situation, he was tested for cushings/ems in early summer and negative result for cushings but positive for ems, i doubt that you could have that and for it to be wrong. The chap just has a long coat and a lack of shelter from rain now, but in no fill rug. Out of curiosity, with cushing ponies, if you rug them, does that stop the coat from curling?

 

[Equi]

How is the coat in his legs? Im inclined to think it's just natives too as my old pony would curl (my tb curled too!)

 

[bluehoofprints]

his legs get very curly in winter, once his coat completely comes through, his whole body is curled unless he is rugged, then the rug area is flat

 

[bluehoofprints]

hi here's pics

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/album.php?albumid=6799&attachmentid=25193

 

[Equi]

I would test again to be honest.

 

[CobsGalore]

I would test again to be honest.

Me too. The curly coat on the legs wouod suggest he does have cushings to me.

 

[_HP_]

Agree...
Did you check out the link I provided? A negative test does not necessarily mean no Cushings and EMS can actually be a symptom of Cushings so if he has been tested positive for that and you have a curly coat then that is two symptoms right there. This is also the best time to test (seasonal rise).

http://www.thelaminitissite.org/ppid.html

 

[Gloi]

Has it always been like this or has it got curly as he's got older?

 

[maybedaisy]

My horse tested negative on the acth test and the gluscose test. The other test TRH came back positve. Not all horses with cushings respond to the acth test. She doesn't get a curly coat but my friends ems pony gets a thick coat all year round. I clip her with an a5 7f blade which leave her with a summer type coat. I have been trying to get the clipper manufacturers to make an A2 blade in the 7f with no joy. They don't understand that some horse owners want a shorter coat over winter and sometimes in summer but not a traditionally clipped coat.

 

[splashgirl45]

it may be the photo but have the hollows over his eyes filled. fat pads in the hollows point to cushings. is he quieter than normal, also a symptom..i would also get him tested again just to be sure..