Cushings Death... Should I have Known?

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Cheshire Chestnut

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Bit of a sad post really...

I owed a 15:3hh TBX chestnut mare for 7 happy years before making the awful decision to sell her when I went to uni. I kept her for the first year at uni and it proved too difficult and she wasn't getting the attention or riding she deserved so I decided it was fairer to her to find her a new home that would be able to continue working her in the way she was used to prior to me going to uni.

I loved her to bits and was really picky over the home I sold her to, however the nicest people possible came along and I went to visit their home where they had their own stables and I fell in love with it - it was the most perfect home. The new owners kept in touch and adored my mare just as much as I did. She was the sweetest horse I have ever known and I was over the moon she had found a 'forever home' with people that would love her unconditionally. They sent me Christmas cards every year with photos and updates, however I found it too painful to visit and I couldn't bring myself to go see her. After 4 years I felt as though it was time to go see her and I felt ready. She looked wonderful and so happy - I cried (and so did my mum) as it was so emotional and I went home so happy. That was in the August and they had mentioned she had needed clipping 3 times that year, I didn't think too much of it as she had always had a full clip with me and I used to do it twice.

However, the following Christmas (18 months later) I got a letter... I thought it was my yearly Christmas card but no - it was a letter informing me that she had been put to sleep a month ago. She had been diagnosed with Cushings 11 months before and gradually got worse. They had tried to treat it with both medical and natural medicines, however she started to get infections and in the end she got an infection in her nose and hoof and couldnt weight bare or eat properly. It was best to have her put to rest and I agree - she was too nice of a horse to let her suffer and be miserable.

I just feel the owners were robbed of so many years with her, she was only 12 and no where near old enough to say goodbye. We were all utterly heartbroken and I can't help but blame myself - they trusted me and decided not to get her vetted, she had never had any lameness or anything when I had her so they didn't want to vet her - they only wanted her to ride casually and to do very local dressage on so weren't too concerned with a 5* vetting. I had bought her with only a basic vetting so hadn't had bloods done either. I just feel I should have insisted on it and it may have been picked up in her blood tests and it could have been different :-( They miss her terribly and don't want another horse, they don't think they could replace her and I can understand where they are coming from.

I always blame myself and feel so guilty everytime I look at a photo of her - I feel like I failed her and her new owners.
 
That's silly, there is no way you could have known, vetting wouldn't have shown it up.

And they did have her nearly 5 yrs I understand from what your saying.

As sad as it is, you have no blame here.
 
You should not feel guilty, these things happen, with or without vettings and a blood test 4 years ago would not have been done to test for cushings anyway, unless specifically asked for, it was unfortunate she did not respond well to treatment but again that cannot be your fault, it is nobodies fault just the way it goes sometimes.

She obviously had a great life with them so remember you did what was best at the time you sold her and I am sure they do not blame you for something that was totally out of your hands.
 
You couldn't possibly have known. It sounds as though she had a wonderful life and owners who cared enough about her to let her go when her time was up. I'm sure you'll all miss her terribly but you all did what was best for her.
 
be positive said:
You should not feel guilty, these things happen, with or without vettings and a blood test 4 years ago would not have been done to test for cushings anyway, unless specifically asked for, it was unfortunate she did not respond well to treatment but again that cannot be your fault, it is nobodies fault just the way it goes sometimes.

She obviously had a great life with them so remember you did what was best at the time you sold her and I am sure they do not blame you for something that was totally out of your hands.
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Just lost the reply I was writing but it was saying same as this ^^
OP It sounds like she had a lively life with people who loved her and treated her well. It's sad that she's gone at such a young age but there was nothing you could have done to change the end of the story. Hugs.
 
Thanks everyone, I only ask because I stupidly asked the vet about it and he said that blood tests would have shown up with cushings so it could have been caught early! Way to make me feel awful. I had no idea about cushings before so I was genuinely asking him about it and he just told me that (he's not the nicest of people to be honest and doesn't really think before he speaks) so it just left me feeling awful.
 
Cheshire Chestnut said:
Thanks everyone, I only ask because I stupidly asked the vet about it and he said that blood tests would have shown up with cushings so it could have been caught early! Way to make me feel awful. I had no idea about cushings before so I was genuinely asking him about it and he just told me that (he's not the nicest of people to be honest and doesn't really think before he speaks) so it just left me feeling awful.
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That is very unfair of your vet, blood tests done at vettings are not usually tested anyway, they are stored for 6 months in case the horse goes lame after purchase and it is suspected that it may have been on medication at the time of vetting. A purchaser can ask for bloods to be taken to test for specific problems such as cushings but having sold numerous horses and ponies, most of which were vetted and blood taken at the time, I have never been asked about a cushings test being done.
The new owners may have waited a bit too long to test but even so it sounds as if this horse progressed very rapidly and even if caught earlier it may have only delayed the inevitable.
 
Your vet said what?

All my understanding is that it's age related and that five years ago it's very, very unlikely that she'd have tested positive. And why would anyone test a symptom free horse anyway!

I think your vet is out of order saying what he did.
 
Cheshire Chestnut said:
Thanks everyone, I only ask because I stupidly asked the vet about it and he said that blood tests would have shown up with cushings so it could have been caught early!
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She was blood tested, it did show Cushings. She was treated. It did not work.

I suspect you've taken the comment from the vet out of context, and it wasn't a hidden barb against you or anyone else.
 
amymay said:
She was blood tested, it did show Cushings. She was treated. It did not work.

I suspect you've taken the comment from the vet out of context, and it wasn't a hidden barb against you or anyone else.
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I think you might be right. I did say to him I had no reason to have a blood test done on her while I owned her and it was only when they suspected cushings that she had the test and it showed positive. I think he was trying to say that it could have shown earlier if she had a blood test a while before like when I owned her, but then again I never had reason for a test. It was an odd conversation and he's not the most tactful person in the world so he probably didn't mean it as it sounded. Never the less I felt bad and just wanted to make sure. It's helped sharing it on here, left with just my own thoughts I make things worse!
 
OP take some comfort in the fact that most people only have bloods tested once a horse shows some signs of a disease or illness. Cushings can start very gradually and it would likely not be until a laminitic episode or hanging onto their coat that one would spot or suspect it.
You could say this about anything, but we don't scan or xray legs and backsat the first sign of lameness do we?
You are in no way to blame and it sounds like the new owners really tried their best. Rest assured that your mare had a cherished life in her time with you and her new owners; you are naturally grieving for a much loved horse.
 
There would have been absolutely no reason to suspect a young sound TBx of having cushings. I can't imagine anyone, especially going back a few years, would have ever tested a horse for cushings in that situation.

Recendly with the lisencing of Prascend, and Boeringher Ingleheims incredibly strategic marketing, then there is heightened awareness generally, and the free testing offers are prompting owners and vets to test horses they never would have previously.
 
There have been many cases where horses aged 7 and under have been diagnosed, so the understanding of it being age related is changing, although its clear that as a horse with cushings gets older, and it goes untreated, of course the symptoms appear worse and can progress.
I just want to add that my horse has cushings, hes 14, and i had him tested for it last year and he was clearly negative, this year, a strong positive, so i just want to say that even IF you had got her tested before you sold her she might not have had a 'positive' result.
Agree with all other posters, you did the right thing by her and gave her a lovely home, as did her last owners. As a loving,caring owner you are bound to feel upset and have some guilt but you have nothing to feel guilty for. I hope with time it gets easier for you, remember the happy times with her and remember she did not suffer xxx
 
ihatework said:
There would have been absolutely no reason to suspect a young sound TBx of having cushings. I can't imagine anyone, especially going back a few years, would have ever tested a horse for cushings in that situation.

Recendly with the lisencing of Prascend, and Boeringher Ingleheims incredibly strategic marketing, then there is heightened awareness generally, and the free testing offers are prompting owners and vets to test horses they never would have previously.
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You're right and that's how this conversation with the vet came about in the first place - he was dicussing this with someone with a horse on trial and that's when I asked about cushings. YasandCrystal is right, I am grieving for her and it's been almost a year since she died and years since I sold her but I still think about her all the time. You think you're just getting over it and then I have a dream about her and there's that feeling all over again!
 
What a lucky horse to have found two homes that loved and cared for her so much – thousands of poor souls out there never find that once in their miserable life let alone twice. OP be kinder to yourself and focus on the positives like the pleasure you and her subsequent owners got from her; your grief will ease in time. Yes she went too soon but all thanks to you she had a great life.

And FWIW I see two horses daily who scream advanced cushings with their coats, body shape, lameness etc and it doesn’t even occur to their owners that anything is wrong, so no, there’s absolutely no way you should have known.
 
joelb said:
What a lucky horse to have found two homes that loved and cared for her so much – thousands of poor souls out there never find that once in their miserable life let alone twice. OP be kinder to yourself and focus on the positives like the pleasure you and her subsequent owners got from her; your grief will ease in time. Yes she went too soon but all thanks to you she had a great life.

And FWIW I see two horses daily who scream advanced cushings with their coats, body shape, lameness etc and it doesn’t even occur to their owners that anything is wrong, so no, there’s absolutely no way you should have known.
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Thank you -that's made me feel better. She was very much a loved horse and was a huge part of both of our lives. Her new owners did all they could but she just didn't respond to the treatments and her body could only hold it off for so long. She will be hapy again now where ever she is :-)
 
hate to say it, but you're obviously a really nice person. You can only do what you think is the right thing at the time, you can't change the past. Its sad that she died so young, but they were happy, loving times. Her owners, as you have, will learn that there are lots of lovely horses out there who give you as much love and happiness back as you give them. ;) x
 
Thank you everyone for your kind words. I feel much better about it all, I just suppose in upsetting situations you always want to blame someone or something and in this case I just blamed myself. Maybe I went looking for a reason that wasn't really there in the first place, just so I could blame myself for something. Kind of still in denial that she's gone, still imagine her at her new home in their massive meadow :(

Don't think you ever get over losing your horse, that's why I decided to get a pony this time round when I decided I could start again. He's completely different to her in every way, that way I can't ever compare the two of them. He will be the best pony ever in his own way and never second best :) x
 
OP I feel so much for your pain, especially as I lost my old boy to lammi brought on and in addition to Cushings.

But you were soooo lucky to be able to find a lovely home for your horse where she was obviously adored and cherished, and you were able to keep in touch with the owners and know she was OK.

Lucky horse in that she was adored and cherished to the end of her days.

You mustn't blame yourself; the new owner was at liberty to have a full vetting, or not, and they decided not. So nothing you could have done.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
OP I feel so much for your pain, especially as I lost my old boy to lammi brought on and in addition to Cushings.

But you were soooo lucky to be able to find a lovely home for your horse where she was obviously adored and cherished, and you were able to keep in touch with the owners and know she was OK.

Lucky horse in that she was adored and cherished to the end of her days.

You mustn't blame yourself; the new owner was at liberty to have a full vetting, or not, and they decided not. So nothing you could have done.
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Thank you - she was a lucky horse but then again I was a lucky owner to have found her :)

Since posting this I have heard from her owners and they are considering having another horse, I'm really happy for them and I hope they find what they are looking for :) x
 
OMG my heart goes out to you!!! All vets should do a blood test with a full chemistry blood count showing everything especially Cushings when doing a 5* testing, as this is becoming more and more common, even now effecting the young!! Why is this happening!! I wonder if its their diet with more man made fillers in feed. Its scary!
 
Lucky Lady said:
OMG my heart goes out to you!!! All vets should do a blood test with a full chemistry blood count showing everything especially Cushings when doing a 5* testing, as this is becoming more and more common, even now effecting the young!! Why is this happening!! I wonder if its their diet with more man made fillers in feed. Its scary!
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I know, it's strange because I'd never really had an any experience with Cushings before and a few months before I heard my sad news, a friend lost her horse to cushings too. He wasn't old at all and was fit and healthy - he went down hill in a matter of weeks. It's strange because since my mare died, I have heard so many similar stories about young, healthy horses being diagnosed with this condition. Previously it was often associated mainly with older horses, however that doesn't quite seem to be the case anymore...
 
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