Cushings experiences? Something else?

EmmaB

EmmaB

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Hey guys, just seeing if anyone here has experiences with cushings or anything similar.

My horse is a 17y/o tb x arab, and this past year he has changed quite a bit. The main things that are pointing that somethings wrong, and that are making me think cushings, are that he is really hard to keep weight on now, used to be fine, has lost a lot of muscle especially topline which means he looks like he has a pot belly and ribs are visible, he is not as feisty as he used to be (though sometimes he does perk up?), seems like he's feeling a bit blah...he doesn't have the thick coat but last year he was fully clipped in October, didn't grown it back fully til July. This year he was clipped in October and now is really fluffy again and needs another clip already. Whether that means anything I don't know!

I always thought cushings was mainly in ponies so I never though about it until recently, I've been having physio out for him and she suggested the vets doing a blood test to see if anything is there. Although he has put a tiny amount of weight/muscle on, it just seems to be taking so long when a year or so back he was fine on just grass and a handful of food, and now he is on 3 feeds a day, out on grass all day and has 2 massive haynets a night!

I put most of this down to age/varying workload before but its worrying me, he isn't THAT old after all!
 
EmmaB said:
Hey guys, just seeing if anyone here has experiences with cushings or anything similar.

My horse is a 17y/o tb x arab, and this past year he has changed quite a bit. The main things that are pointing that somethings wrong, and that are making me think cushings, are that he is really hard to keep weight on now, used to be fine, has lost a lot of muscle especially topline which means he looks like he has a pot belly and ribs are visible, he is not as feisty as he used to be (though sometimes he does perk up?), seems like he's feeling a bit blah...he doesn't have the thick coat but last year he was fully clipped in October, didn't grown it back fully til July. This year he was clipped in October and now is really fluffy again and needs another clip already. Whether that means anything I don't know!

I always thought cushings was mainly in ponies so I never though about it until recently, I've been having physio out for him and she suggested the vets doing a blood test to see if anything is there. Although he has put a tiny amount of weight/muscle on, it just seems to be taking so long when a year or so back he was fine on just grass and a handful of food, and now he is on 3 feeds a day, out on grass all day and has 2 massive haynets a night!

I put most of this down to age/varying workload before but its worrying me, he isn't THAT old after all!
Click to expand...

Hi,
this could be a number of things really so probably best to get the vet to give him the once over. I had a similar problem last year with one of my horses, the bad winter meant it was more difficult to get the weight back on him. I find once they've lost it, it takes ages to get it back on again unless it's summer and they have lot's of grass to go at. Can I ask, have you wormed your horse recently?
It could also be a virus and as for the coat growing back so soon - I don't think this is odd, I clipped mine in October and they are both now due to be done again. For your own peace of mind I'd suggest the vet, especially if he's lack lustre, it does sound like a virus but it's just a hunch.
Best of luck - I hope he perks up soon
 
My Connie x Tb mare has just been diagnosed at 28. The only symptom I noticed was a thicker coat. Not curly but only had patches that didn't moult properly

She's been on meds for 21 days and I've noticed a change already. She's got more energy. The loss of Which is just put down to her being older

She had hives and itchiness that was unexplained and treatment wasn't working. Now stems to have sorted itself out. Do would defo recommend the tests

Good luck
 
Get the test if only to rule it out. My 19 year old mare's just been diagnosed, she's still full of life though and the only difference I noticed was weight issues - too much not too little - she's always been a good doer and I'm thankful I've always assumed she's IR as she's always been on a no molasses/no sugar etc diet.

Oddly she had hives a few years ago, vet came out and thought it was a reaction to something and they went but I wonder if that was a first sypmtom and the hives were from excess heat.
 
The test is free til the end of November, just had mine tested and I need to call back later to speak to the vet in more detail but they have advised test is borderline suggesting early/ mild cushings. Not sure what the vet will recommend when I call back, bit upset but at least I know now.

He had the excessive sweating, lethargy, fat pads above the eyes etc sotthought I would get him done. Also some coat changes

You just print out the voucher online x
 
Agree get him tested my cushings pony became hard to keep weight on and when she put weight on a little it would go on in odd places while she stayed really ribby.
 
My old boy (17.1hh warmblood) was diagnosed with it at 29yo after he had a mild laminitis attack. Once I'd got the diagnosis, I realised that he'd probably had it for several years but I just hadn't added the symptoms up. He didn't get a curly coat - this isn't as common a symptom as we're all led to believe.

He was on the Prascend for a couple of months, and improved enormously - sadly his big heart started failing him after that so I had to say goodbye to him :( Over a year ago and it still brings me to tears talking about it :(
 
I agree with Optimisateeq ... def worth asking vet to give the horse an MOT.

I have one horse, now 28, who was tested by hormone suppression test which came back negative in 2006 but in 2008 he got lami in autumn at which point he started pergolide. Then it was only available as human medication. Now its only available as equine medicine (called prascend) so drugs companies are making a mint. Now my vet tests ACTH levels. I think there is a charity covering cost of blood processing for their research. My vet told me about it rather than the other way round. Either way it's a fairly cheep test to run.

My vet practice runs an annual health check scheme which includes blood test, teeth check / rasp, heart & lungs check, eye check & trot up then jabs at cost price. Excellent value for money, especially a regular eye on the not so young ones. I had my other oldie's annual check at 9 months because he wasn't looking pregnant in the summer & I had gut feeling something was wrong. Turned out big dental problem affecting grass intake (he lives out 24/7) & chewing & leading to protein depletion in blood. We've changed bucket feed to increase protein and decrease need to chew & he's back to his normal self :-) He also had cushings test which came back negative.

If you get diagnosis and advice to use prascend then ask vet to write a prescription (they can't refuse but can charge small fee). Then shop around the web. Charges vary from 95p to over £2 per 1mg tablet! Horses can initially become more depressed on pergolide, but for many it massively improves their quality of life.
If I had another with Cushings I would start with homeopathic and herbal remedies combined then add drug in later if necessary. My preference is Hilton Herbs Cush X and Global Herbs C-Aid spray.

My oldie with Cushings has become a better doer as he's got older. Last winter he was too hot in a medium weight rug with neck cover despite a full clip because it's so much easier to handle than when he moults a cuddly teddy coat! Usually coat is last to return to normal. My boy's is like rabbit fluff but moults in the pattern it did since he was about 12. The other thing I've found makes a big difference is light. Cushings alters the hormone system that is controlled by light detected by the eye. TB breeders use lights to trick the reproductive hormones into thinking it's spring. I tried the same for his coat & it definitely helped. I pay my livery yard an extra £5 per month and he had an outdoor light mounted in his stable and connected to a plug with a timer which was set to give him a light from 6am to turnout and bring in time until 10pm.
Dear pony is 28 years old but behaves like he's 2 years & 8 months! Worth his weight in gold.

Good luck!
 
Thanks everyone, JennBags so sorry to hear about your boy :( 29 is a grand old age though! And yes I always thought the curly coat was the main symptom which is why I never thought about it. It was only when I read about the pot belly, ribbiness, muscle wastage and lethargy that I really thought hang on!

Me&Harvey thanks for that, just found the voucher I'll have to get it printed, do all vets accept them then? I suppose I will just have to pay whatever the vet fee is?

Optimisteeq yes he was wormed a couple of months ago, it could be a virus but the change has been sort of gradual I guess over the last year. And I know they can grow the coat back quick but the year before he didn't grow it back for 10 months and now its only taken 1 month which is why I was surprised.


Horsey Anne thats interesting about the light, I've heard similar things before but never knew how it really worked. So with his body thinking its spring, does it mean his coat comes through like a summer coat?
 
Last edited:
EmmaB, sorry I got carried away getting myself all upset & forgot to reply properly!

I meant to say I definitely think it's worth getting him tested - and you shouldn't need to print the voucher, your vets probably know what to do (they did it all for me). Yes you'll still need to pay the vet to take the blood but at least you don't have to pay for the actual test.
 
No need to apologise I totally understand!

Thankyou though thats great, I would have never known about the free test otherwise, I will def give them a ring and see what they say, heres hoping they can shed some light! :)
 
My horse who was diagnosed with cushings got laminitis in the winter and was tested for cushings then but had a normal reading he then started dropping a lot of weight and he was a cob so not easy and seemed to go from a normal weight to seeing all ribs within a few weeks so he was retested and was positive for cushings the only other sign was that he was starting to get really wet in his stable, but his coat was always thick!
 
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