Cushings anyone?

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littlen

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My horse is being tested for cushings next week.

He has lost a lot of muscle, has horrible skin infections which aren't healing after lots of treatment and also has had parasite burdons which he has never had before. He does have a pot belly but he has had that as long as I can remember!

Has anyone got any experience of this? If it isn't cushings I'm not sure where I go now as we have tried everything!
 
How old is he? Sounds as though his immune system is compromised - if not Cushings maybe another metabolic disorder? My friend has a horse who never tested positive for Cushings but his symptoms have responded well to Prascend so it could be worth asking your vet to prescribe some even if his ACTH levels are normal
 
My mare was diagnosed last august despite barely having any symptoms. The other thing we were looking into at the time was liver problems, so if that hasn't been investigated yet might be worth running bloods to check?
 
Certainly sounds like PPID (Cushings).
Please be aware that the test can produce false negatives, especially in the early stages .
If you want some up to date, well researched information then try this site
http://www.thelaminitissite.org/ppid.html

The lady that runs this site and their facebook group Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) Cushings PPID and Laminitis UK, works very hard in all these areas to bring all the very latest info out there.
 
I new my horse had cushings well before she was tested (a year in fact). I had to insist on the cushings test to be performed. She lost significant weight, used to always look like she had dandruff and used to stand around staring into space in the field. Drank lots, wee'd lots !! I questioned the dandruff with the vet and they said they could take a skin scarping and see if there was an infection. I declined, did my own research and turns out that it is all connected with hormones, just like cushings is. So I think this is another sign. Have the holes above the eyes filled?

Her weight loss was due to stomach ulcers, which didn't help with her standing around all day not grazing!

4 years on, (and a lot of other health issues inbetween) she is now healthier than ever !!! She has always been on 1/2 a tablet a day.

Cushings horses are easy to keep healthy once you know what to look out for.

Good luck
 
Like others my boy threw a few negative tests first although looked very cushings and had to grade lami
Responding well too half a tablet now and his levels are well below the threshold.
He is managed on very poor grazing, soaked hay and some high fibre low sugar feed, and remains in regular work...weather permitting
Good luck xx
 
Don't rely on the ACTH test. Two of mine had negative tests but were put on Prascend because all the signs showed they had cushiness.
 
It certainly sounds like Cushings. Even if the tests don't show greatly increased levels it may be worth doing a Prascend trial to see if it helps. 0.5 of a table a day keeps our two 26yos healthy.
 
Last edited:
Hello
Good luck!
My 19 year old Id x tb has lost weight muscle, also had a scabby skin infection this winter!
In all he looks crap!
He is also sweating under the belly every night??
Not sure why???
we live in France but he is in a stable, in an open barn, it's not warm or cold! About 3 at night! The others are not hot!
He has had bloods this week, and all good, but we test for cushing on Tuesday!
I know he is in pain as he also just stands in the field waiting to come in, and not interested in playing!

Any ideas????
 
My mare was tested for cushings and ems both came back negative and yet she had abnormal fat pads drank quite a bit and could get a bit scabby/itchy in summer, so I had her tested again when she was in Rossdales and she has both although she controls the cushings herself, they have a test that can tell them this now. She is living out at the moment and looks so much better she has lost quite a bit of weight which she needed to loose anyway, I would have the test for both if you can I was advised by Rossdales to get both done.
 
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