Cushings do i start the meds?

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LOU83

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My mare has cushings - vet said she would just see how she goes as currently is fairly well not depressed in any way. Has lost some condition but not poor at all. Never had lam but does have a very hairy coat. Would you wait or start the meds? ACHT level 154
 
It is entirely up to you! They never have Lami until the first time which can be the only time and fatal in some cases, so personally I wouldnt take the risk!

My boy's highest level was 60 and he has to have 4 Prascend per day to control it
 
I would wait.

Have you thought about using CushX from Hilton Herbs. I have a little New Forest mare that was diagnosed with Cushings last year and my vet advised me to use it. It has made a great difference in her.

Just to say she always sheds her coat , only ever had one lot of Laminitis and that was due to her being very ill with toxic poisoning.

I only found out she had Cushings because of the free blood test Liphook were doing.

If you don't have to you the drug DONT
 
Thanks I think ill have a look at that CushX, i had the free test done so I know what we are dealing with always a bit sceptical when the drug company is funding the cost usually a reason. And as she is fine in herself will going along with my vets thoughts stay off drugs and retest in another 6 months unless anything changes
 
Entirely up to you but 154 seems quite high and usually they show a lower level now than later in the year (or so I understand) My TB hadn't lost condition, hadn't had lami, was a bit slow to lose his coat but I did notice he was drinking more and his skin was scurfy and itchy. His reading was 70ish and on my vet's advice I decided to start him on prascend. I thought he was just showing his age but once the drug got into his system he was like a 5 year old again. I know it doesn't suit every horse but it has helped mine and at 25 he's looking good and still in work.
 
My 20yr old horse was tested end March and his result was 91.4 . He doesn't have any cushings symptoms other than weight loss - he is quite ribby with a huge belly. He has been having 4 big feeds a day and adlib haylage since December but is still not gaining any weight. He lost his winter coat as usual end December and it was as thin as usual until late March when he was looking cold one day, he has since grown a coat while wearing 2 rugs. He had a glucose absorption test which came back showing partial malabsorption, but apparently that can be normal for cushing horses so he started 1Prascend 10 days ago.
 
Mine had an ACTH reading of 50 something in December and went on to prascend then. It has had a very positive effect on her.
 
Its your choice! Two years ago my 32 yr old had the free test done and her reading came back as 379! Only sign was long cat hairs in her coat. I never put her on anything and there is no change in her in anyway. I also know a few people whose horses were put on pergolide/prascend, saw no difference (only in their purse!) so took them off it and still no difference!
 
My mare was only borderline cushings when she came down with laminitis. Vet said I didn't need to treat her, but I decided I would do and she was put on one prascend a day. Since then she has had several more bouts of laminitis but when she is sound, she is just amazing. Loads of energy and despite being 19 years old is far more supple than every other (younger) horse on the yard. I have to keep her weight down as she puts it on really easily. So yes, I would treat the Cushings. Even though she still gets lami, the other symptoms such as lethargy, heavy breathing, thick coat, etc have all gone.
 
The whole point is that PPID is degenerative and the earlier it is diagnosed and treated the better the outcome can be. With a result that high then you horse has probably had symptoms for a while and they come on so gradually you might not have noticed them. I would try a trial period of Prascend in your situation you might just find a huge difference in your horse. If you dont notice a big difference you can always stop it again.

My horse is on Prascend and the difference in her is amazing.
 
ACTH count of 154 is very high. My boy had some weird symptoms so we were late to diagnose Cushings but his ACTH count was 200. Immediately started on 2 Pergolide (Prascend now) per day and was back as right as rain after a week. Take care because untreated Cushings causes problems you can't see. The most dangerous is laminitis and once your horse has had an attack he'd be a permanent ex-laminitic. Properly controlled, a Cushings horse is no more likely to get laminitis than any other horse. Untreated Cushings also causes problems with the horse's immunity and ability to respond to and recover from other illnesses, infections and/or infestations. Start him on Prascend now!
 
Box_Of_Frogs said:
ACTH count of 154 is very high. My boy had some weird symptoms so we were late to diagnose Cushings but his ACTH count was 200. Immediately started on 2 Pergolide (Prascend now) per day and was back as right as rain after a week. Take care because untreated Cushings causes problems you can't see. The most dangerous is laminitis and once your horse has had an attack he'd be a permanent ex-laminitic. Properly controlled, a Cushings horse is no more likely to get laminitis than any other horse. Untreated Cushings also causes problems with the horse's immunity and ability to respond to and recover from other illnesses, infections and/or infestations. Start him on Prascend now!
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I have a horse on prascend, it has been a godsend for him. His cushings was untreated for a long time yet his test results were very low.
I echo the comments above and also Charliejets. If you try prascend for 6 months and have no change then you have lost nothing. If you don't with such a high reading then who knows.
Personally having lost one to the effects of cushings I would be down at the vet's the same day to get prascend.
 
My Boy has been on Prascend for a week now. His reading was actually very low, but he'd been difficult to keep weight on over the winter and has had two brief and very mild bouts of lami over the last couple of years, so the test was carried out just in case, me never even considering it would come back positive.

It may be wishful thinking but I can see a difference in his general demeanor already. Less grumpy, less stressy, and romping about like a 2yr old (he's 20).

If I have to make a choice between possibly more lami or him taking a pill, the pills wins every time! Obviously monitoring the situation and researching too.

Hope this makes sense, typing between phone calls and visitors!

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