Cushings Disease

L

LadyRascasse

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 September 2008
Messages
5,263
Visit site
Hi,

if i scan in my blood test results page can someone tell me what it means please? vets sent it to me but no explanation other than he doesn't have it so i would be interested to see what the whole thing means.
 
Having spoken to my vet at length (poor man must despair of me!) he is of the opinion that a positive test is can never be wrong, but a negative can. He is also of the firm belief that if a horse or pony over the age of 20 shows two or more classic cushings signs, that horse or pony should start pergolide treatment forthwith in addition to vi-sorbin.
 
I have a Cushings pony and one who is probably pre-cushings. I believe the tests for Cushings are soooo unreliable. Which test did your pony have?

The most reliable is supposed to be a simple fasting blood test taken first thing in the morning, which has to be spun and frozen then tested for endogenous ACTH. The tests are easily affected by stress and handling of the sample.

My little pony is on Pergolide. We never got her tested as she was so seriously ill last year, we started her on Pergolide and it gave her back her life. However, probably the most important part of her recovery has been eating a very strict diet with sugars kept to an absolute minimum.

It sounds like you need to ask your vet to explain the results of the tests. I also found the Laminitis Clinic very helpful, although it is a premium rate number, I'd recommend ringing them. Good luck.
 
yes he had the fasting blood test, he has about 4 symptoms of cushings, he gets the pot belly, the excessive drinking, excessive urinating and he hangs on to his coat. also his mane grows so fast not sure if this is related but it has started about the same time as the others. he has also become an amazingly good doer where he struggled to keep weight on in the past. for example he recently had some sort of virus, lost a hell of a lot of weight and a normal horse would never put it on so quickly yet within 2 weeks he was looking back to his old weight. i do keep him slightly on the lean side due to problems with his joints anyway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top