Cushings, how high could a false positive be?

[weebarney]

Had vet out for routine stuff the other day and decided to get a mare tested for cushings purely because it was free and she is in her 20's. She doesn't show any outward signs of cushings. The result came back 119. Could this be a false positive or a natural spike or is it too high to be false?

 

[splashgirl45]

acth levels are naturally higher at this time of year for normal horses but for cushings horses the levels go quite a bit higher. some horses hardly show any signs of cushings and the first sign can be an attack of laminitis. i know when my mares levels are going up as the first sign is that she becomes a little bit grumpy ... when mine was first diagnosed she had a thick coat which didnt shed properly and fat pads above her eyes and quarters, her level was 172....so your may be at the beginning of cushings and it may be worth putting her on the medication to control it and then getting her tested again to see if it has made a difference. unfortunately the medication is quite pricey but youmay find she only needs a low dose..good luck

 

[Micky]

I would recommend starting her on Prascend ( the pills!)...there are many signs of Cushings ( PPID), urinating, weeing, fat pads, lethargy etc...check out the laminitis site for more precise info...i would start as my lad got LGL and was lethargic, the only signs oh and fat pads ( which he'd always had and i took no notice of).
There are seasonal rises ( when the flush of grass comes through spring and autumn) which can give higher readings but it is all relative...i would say that is high!! Good luck oh and review her diet too, low sugar etc, good facebook group you could join for info and others in the same position as you ( and me).

 

[weebarney]

Thanks for replies she isn't showing any signs if anything she is the opposite of what a pony with cushings would look like. I do already have one pony on prascend but I slightly begrudge to put another on medication unless she really needs it.
Think I will speak to the vet to make sure if the grass might have caused the high reading. She is on barefoot diet but we have loads of grass and I'm having to strip graze and muzzle.

 

[Chestnut mare]

Thanks for replies she isn't showing any signs if anything she is the opposite of what a pony with cushings would look like. I do already have one pony on prascend but I slightly begrudge to put another on medication unless she really needs it.
Think I will speak to the vet to make sure if the grass might have caused the high reading. She is on barefoot diet but we have loads of grass and I'm having to strip graze and muzzle.

My pony was diagnosed today her levels were 97 and anything >40 is cushings. She looks like the complete opposite of a cushings pony. We only tested due to the fact she was getting recurrent tooth root abcesses and the test is free at the moment.