Cushing’s mare no longer tolerating Prascend

[Tiddlypom]

Senior mare, now 23yo, was diagnosed with Cushing’s over 10 years ago, and has been on daily Prascend ever since.

Recently she had become a little dull in a similar way to the Prascend veil that affected her every time her dose was titrated up. The vet says that some horses become sensitised to and can no longer tolerate Prascend, even if they have been ok on it in the past, and recommended cutting her dose back.

Now I’ve had to take her off even the half tablet a day that she was left on, though at one time she been on 2 tablets a day.

She seems grand and bright for now, but time will tell. If she can’t cope either with Prascend or without it, then that will be decision made - I’ll be watching her closely. It’s quality of life over quantity for me, but as she’s doing so well I’m cautiously hopeful.

Anyone else had to take a Cushing’s horse off Prascend?

 

[Mustard]

I'm thinking about it. 30 yr old little welsh pony, been on it for maybe 6/7 years. He's got quite depressed recently, and wanders around on his own a lot, just like he was when he first went on it. When his bloods were taken, the vet wanted to put the dose up, but I said no. As you say, it's quality not quantity of life.
A friend did take her mare off because she was so down, and the mare is still going strong at 35.

 

[I'm Dun]

Have you tried supplementing with agnus castus? It doesn't replace prascend but might help if that's not an option anymore

 

[Tiddlypom]

Have you tried supplementing with agnus castus? It doesn't replace prascend but might help if that's not an option anymore

That’s a good shout . I’ve been a bit sniffy in the past with people who have ignored their vet’s advice to put their Cushing’s horses on Prascend in favour of using herbal remedies, but what have I got to lose by trying her on it.

Plus I had some Feedmark points left and got a hefty discount off it! Order is in.

 

[palo1]

I'm thinking about it. 30 yr old little welsh pony, been on it for maybe 6/7 years. He's got quite depressed recently, and wanders around on his own a lot, just like he was when he first went on it. When his bloods were taken, the vet wanted to put the dose up, but I said no. As you say, it's quality not quantity of life.
A friend did take her mare off because she was so down, and the mare is still going strong at 35.

My old pony did that! I thought she had come to the end, so didn't renew her prascend prescription and she improved no end, carrying on cheerfully for another 7 years! She was 42 when we said goodbye and that was because of arthritis. I think that the normal aging process eventually caught up with the Cushings and a balance was kind of re-established. It's a daft theory I know, but just seemed how it was to me. She was blooming wonderful!

 

[Britestar]

Yes, I took my 27yr old off at beginning of year after several colic episodes, and constant diarrhoea.

He's much chirpier, and so far doing well.

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

My mare refused to take it and became almost feral so I made the decision to not medicate. She didn’t suffer from Laminitis though, just the Cushings. She was diagnosed at 23 and lived to 29 and I used to feed her agnus castus.

 

[SpotsandBays]

I think that the normal aging process eventually caught up with the Cushings and a balance was kind of re-established. It's a daft theory I know, but just seemed how it was to me. She was blooming wonderful!

We have one here too that’s done the same. I think you’re right on this, I wonder if it’s metabolism slowing with age that does this

 

[poiuytrewq]

I did think mine had had enough of it last year. I then ran out and he perked up a huge amount.
He had a fairly long break but did after a time start getting footy, which was really his only symptom of cushings and why he was on the pills. I put him back on a lower dose and he’s been fine this time
I’d not hesitate to stop for good if I thought his quality of life was better off them though. Completely agree a lovely short time I’d say nicer than a prolonged but not so happy ending.

 

[exracehorse]

Senior mare, now 23yo, was diagnosed with Cushing’s over 10 years ago, and has been on daily Prascend ever since.

Recently she had become a little dull in a similar way to the Prascend veil that affected her every time her dose was titrated up. The vet says that some horses become sensitised to and can no longer tolerate Prascend, even if they have been ok on it in the past, and recommended cutting her dose back.

Now I’ve had to take her off even the half tablet a day that she was left on, though at one time she been on 2 tablets a day.

She seems grand and bright for now, but time will tell. If she can’t cope either with Prascend or without it, then that will be decision made - I’ll be watching her closely. It’s quality of life over quantity for me, but as she’s doing so well I’m cautiously hopeful.

Anyone else had to take a Cushing’s horse off Prascend?

I took my elderly boy off prascacend as it gave him liquid poo. And suppressed his appetite. Side effects. He was on one a day. I watched his grass intake etc. He never showed any classic signs of cushings. But was tested positive. But I wonder if most older horses come back positive. Fast forward three years and he died of a stroke at age 30

 

[exracehorse]

Yes, I took my 27yr old off at beginning of year after several colic episodes, and constant diarrhoea.

He's much chirpier, and so far doing well.

Yes. Beau had horrendous diarrhoea. He had it the whole time he was on the tablets. And it was a battle as he was a skinny old boy. Within weeks he had normal poo. And gained weight

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

My vet recommended I took my boy off it as he had reduced down over the last few years to half a tablet a day as his readings were always very low. He’s been off it for 4 months now and I haven’t noticed a difference in him. He’s 22 and retired and had been on it for 10 years previously.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Thank you all for so many helpful replies and sharing of your experiences with your Cushing’s horses.

My vet ideally wanted her ACTH levels rechecked 6 weeks after every reduction of Prascend by 0.5 tablet/day, but after the first reduction of 0.5 tablet/day I haven’t bothered. If the numbers are bad putting her dose back up isn’t an option, so I’m better off just observing the horse in front of me.

She lost her top line early on after diagnosis, but it hadn’t deteriorated much further in the last few years. Her paces on the lunge for her 6 monthly chiro vet check are still absolutely elevated and spectacular.

We’ll see. I didn’t expect her to last this long, but she’s still here and happy for now. This is her today.

 

[TheBigPony]

Interesting to hear how horses have been ok without the prascend.

Cabergoline is now also being used to treat cushings. I have not used it on a horse so I can't tell you about side effects, effectiveness etc but there is now an alternative if you need something. I understand it is a monthly injection.

 

[Noble]

Another that stopped my prescription as I felt my horse was coming to the end and I was going to PTS before winter. He was depressed, lethargic and looked in general poor health. Within days of stopping the Prascend he was back to his old self and had 5 more happy retired years and was only PTS at 29 due to falling in his stable being a prat and breaking his hip. He didn't have any symptoms before going on Prascend but was tested due to his age at my vets recommendation.

 

[Beausmate]

Interesting to hear how horses have been ok without the prascend.

Cabergoline is now also being used to treat cushings. I have not used it on a horse so I can't tell you about side effects, effectiveness etc but there is now an alternative if you need something. I understand it is a monthly injection.

I was going to mention the injection. Not all vets are aware of it, as I think it's a fairly new option, so might be worth asking your vet about it. Unsurprisingly, it is more expensive! There is also pergolide in a paste form that might be more easily tolerated.

 

[teapot]

Interesting to hear how horses have been ok without the prascend.

Cabergoline is now also being used to treat cushings. I have not used it on a horse so I can't tell you about side effects, effectiveness etc but there is now an alternative if you need something. I understand it is a monthly injection.

I was going to mention the injection. Not all vets are aware of it, as I think it's a fairly new option, so might be worth asking your vet about it. Unsurprisingly, it is more expensive! There is also pergolide in a paste form that might be more easily tolerated.

I’ve been on Cabergoline for years (not for Cushings though), fascinating to see it mentioned for horses!

 

[HuskyFluff]

I took my 31 yr old off prascend about 4 months ago. I know he has a tumour, and he was slow, lethargic and depressed, and I thought the end was coming. I had the vet check his levels just in case and it came back lower than she was comfortable with for a horse on prascend, so we jointly decided to take him off it. He's since returned to his opinionated, happy self - marches to and from the field and is back to the cheerful chap he was.

 

[Cortez]

Senior mare, now 23yo, was diagnosed with Cushing’s over 10 years ago, and has been on daily Prascend ever since.

Recently she had become a little dull in a similar way to the Prascend veil that affected her every time her dose was titrated up. The vet says that some horses become sensitised to and can no longer tolerate Prascend, even if they have been ok on it in the past, and recommended cutting her dose back.

Now I’ve had to take her off even the half tablet a day that she was left on, though at one time she been on 2 tablets a day.

She seems grand and bright for now, but time will tell. If she can’t cope either with Prascend or without it, then that will be decision made - I’ll be watching her closely. It’s quality of life over quantity for me, but as she’s doing so well I’m cautiously hopeful.

Anyone else had to take a Cushing’s horse off Prascend?

I did eventually take my mare off prascend for the same reasons, and she was put down a few months later.

 

[exracehorse]

Another that stopped my prescription as I felt my horse was coming to the end and I was going to PTS before winter. He was depressed, lethargic and looked in general poor health. Within days of stopping the Prascend he was back to his old self and had 5 more happy retired years and was only PTS at 29 due to falling in his stable being a prat and breaking his hip. He didn't have any symptoms before going on Prascend but was tested due to his age at my vets recommendation.

I honestly wonder if these horses all need prascacend. It can have horrible side effects. I stopped my boy as he was struggling with the medication. Depression. Water poo. Lack appetite. And had an amazing extra three years looking so much better. And died with a stroke. My vet suggested a cushings test with my elderly mare. She had started to hold her winter coat. But, I guess I didn’t want to open Pandoras Box as I saw the negative side with Beau. She lived to a ripe old age and was pts because her back legs went

 

[TheBigPony]

I’ve been on Cabergoline for years (not for Cushings though), fascinating to see it mentioned for horses!

I think they have been using it in the US for sometime and vets have recently started using it in the UK.

 

[TheBigPony]

I honestly wonder if these horses all need prascacend. It can have horrible side effects. I stopped my boy as he was struggling with the medication. Depression. Water poo. Lack appetite. And had an amazing extra three years looking so much better. And died with a stroke. My vet suggested a cushings test with my elderly mare. She had started to hold her winter coat. But, I guess I didn’t want to open Pandoras Box as I saw the negative side with Beau. She lived to a ripe old age and was pts because her back legs went

If you look at Christian Fritz (a scientist) her work /view is that the majority of horses that have been diagnosed with cushings, don't actually have cushings and the ACHT test is completely unreliable. However, I haven't been brave enough to test this out and actually take my horse off the prascend!!

 

[ihatework]

I had one who started to refuse the tablets after having been on them for 5+ years and was starting to show mild progressive symptoms. I stopped medication and put him down less than a year when he was showing LGL and repeat abcess’

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

I honestly wonder if these horses all need prascacend. It can have horrible side effects. I stopped my boy as he was struggling with the medication. Depression. Water poo. Lack appetite. And had an amazing extra three years looking so much better. And died with a stroke. My vet suggested a cushings test with my elderly mare. She had started to hold her winter coat. But, I guess I didn’t want to open Pandoras Box as I saw the negative side with Beau. She lived to a ripe old age and was pts because her back legs went

I agree with you. As I said up the thread, my boy has been on it for ten years. We moved to a new area 3 years ago and new vet suggested we wean him off it. He’s now off it completely and no different. I always understood it to be a progressive illness so assumed over time he would need more not less! He’s retired so I can’t gauge if he’s any different to ride. He’s always been on the pudgy side and prascend didn’t help this. I guess I will find out in the winter if being without it has made any difference.

 

[Hackback]

This is so interesting to read. My horse was diagnosed at age 9 which is unusually young. He never had laminitis, just muscle loss and lethargy. Last autumn his annual blood test showed his levels were up and the vet increased his dose from 1.5 to 2 tablets. The result was terrible scouring so after a while (on vet advice) I reduced it back to 1.5. Tried upping the dose again a month or so later with the same result so he's back on 1.5 tablets permanently. I wonder if I could reduce the dose down to 1 tablet. He's 18 now, still going strong but he does get liquid poo with exercise.

 

[Pidgeon]

Very interesting. Pig has been on prascend since January 2015, he had a couple of abscesses in 2014, and his coat was awful when clipped Autumn 2014, hence test, then retest and on tablets. Had to drop and go back on as he scoured terribly, no appetite for anything other than grass and hay, and as a 17hh ISH, (3/4 TB), he could not exist on that alone. Went pretty thin until eventually found food he would eat. He still isn't the best eater, and is not where I would like him to be weight wise. Bear in mind this is why one of his nicknames is pig, as he would literally eat and eat, though never was even verging on fat, thankfully. Definitely food for thought, thank you.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Update. 5 weeks in of having to take senior mare off Prascend and fingers crossed so far, so good. I am giving her Agnus castus, apart from that her management is the same.

She did go a bit footy, but it wasn’t low grade lami as I feared. I’d stopped applying the vet recommended Keratex hoof hardener as the ground has dried up, but it turns out that she does much better on it with her thin soles, so she’s back on it.

This time of year with the autumn ACTH rise is going to be a real challenge. I was half thinking of putting feelers out for a companion for wonky mare to be on standby if things go wrong, but haven’t as yet acted on that.

Here she is today.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

She looks amazing. Well done.

 

[blodwyn1]

She looks well good luck!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

She is looking well.