cushings and other serious ailments

[millimoo]

Splashgirl45, I've read the horses metabolise Prascend differently, so what's right for one may be completely wrong for another of a different type and size.
My Shetland is on 1mg (0.5mg wasn't enough for him) even though his diagnosis level was 69.
He was diagnosed 16 months ago, and is actually more full of life this year than last year. He didn't show obvious signs in his appearance, but was becoming more footy even though restricted/muzzled earlier and earlier each year.
I have clipped out this year, and he looks like a black shiny competition pony. He gallops out of his stable every morning, and is happy and well.
I do monitor him carefully, and would call the vet sooner rather than later. I also test his liver yearly, as he had a liver infection a few years ago, and he had borderline results at his first Cushing blood test - they were back to normal at his next test.
I will PTS when I and my pony are ready, and not because of one persons graphic opinion.
My vet says there are loads of horses out there who are not even diagnosed, and are not showing outward symptoms. And as another poster said, ultimately most horses will end up with Cushings - diagnosed or not

 

[0ldmare]

I'm another who would say don't make a quick decision.

Mine was diagnosed with Cushings November 2010 (after she unexpectedly went down with laminitis). Her levels were astronomic something completely insane like 700!!

18 months later and she looks fab and is very obviously happy and feeling well. She's living out 24/7 which is what she likes. I know her so well I can tell when something's wrong just looking at her. She gets a strained sort of pinched look on her face. At the moment I'd bet good money she isn't in any pain.

Of course at some stage she will decline, get laminitis or colic and at the point she'll be PTS but until then she's just fine

 

[poppypiebald]

[QUOTE..., I've read the horses metabolise Prascend differently, so what's right for one may be completely wrong for another of a different type and size.
[/QUOTE]

Only 2 days late joining this thread; but my cobby pony was ACTH blood tested in May (tempted by the free testing offer) and her reading was 70.9. She had absolutely no symptoms of anything wrong, it was just that she is 23 and has had laminitis in the past.

She had 1mg of Prascend daily, and almost instantly went from a bubbly, energetic mare to a semi-comatose zombie. By day 20 of the drug (having been reassured by everyone on cushings groups that lethargy was just the pergolide veil and only a passing phase) the poor pony was obviously completely 'tripped out'. She had no idea of whereabouts she was, she could not focus on anything, was lifting her feet as though she was wading through treacle because she couldn't see where they were going and spent her day with glassy eyes trying not to bump into things, and mostly lying down.

Night time was awful; I had to tie white strips to everything so she could see boundaries. She got 'stuck' for hours one evening (hopefully it was no more than 2) as she couldn't see her way past an empty plastic bucket until I put the outside light on.

20 days have now passed since her last tablet and she is more or less back to normal; she's lost a lot of condition and it's going to take a long time to build her back up again. She was doing 12 mile pleasure rides before 'treatment' so was pretty fit for her age. Now a 10 minute walk out in-hand, although perking her up absolutely exhausts her.

I'm never going to put her back on 'that pill' - she is a worker, she's not a lawn ornament. She can grow old naturally, and when she doesn't enjoy life anymore, then she will be PTS at home, with me holding her.

 

[splashgirl45]

poppy piebald,only just read your post, so sorry that the tablets had such a bad effect on your horse. as previous posters said they all react differently. one of the reasons i got mine tested was that she was quite depressed and not her usual chirpy self. her test showed levels of 172 and after she had been on the tablets for about 4 weeks she seemed to be back to almost normal and gradually the levels came down..... she has just been re tested because i felt she was not quite herself,and the levels are 48 and should be below 29 so she is now on 2 1/2 prascend daily . im feeling pretty depressed myself as i am on a very tight budget and these tablets are very expensive... still if it means her quality of life is ok its worth it....hope your horse is soon back to normal.....