Cushings - long coat

Magicmillbrook

Magicmillbrook

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 October 2006
Messages
3,163
Location
Norfolk
Visit site
My companion mare has stayed quite hairy this summer, she did last year but not so bad. Her coat is still quite glossy and she has lost her long hairs but is still 'fuzzy'. She is a section A type and we thinks about 18. I am worried it may be the start of cushings. She is fine and perky in all other respects. Those of you who know about such things, does it start gradualy?
 
From my experience knowing a couple of friends who have cushings horses and ponies it does seem to start very gradually. Has your pony had lami? Both of my friends horses get it frequently despite getting hardly any grass and it's apparently part of the cushings. Upon further investigation on another horse by a specialist it turns out that he has an equine version of parkinsons (similar symptoms to cushings) and is now on half a tablet for humans with parkinsons (there isn't an equine version yet). Since then his coat is thinner and actually casts, hasn't had laminitis since, can be ridden again and acts like he's 15 years younger (he's 30!) :)
 
Last edited:
Never had Lammi in the 6 years we have owned her, but then we are extremely strict regarding her turnout and weight. Will have a chat with the vet when she has her vaccs done in the autumn
 
Mine started with just a fluffy summer coat, the next year it was a bit longer. and the year after I had to clip him as he maintained his thick winter coat.He never developed the curly coat and didnt get laminitis but was on restricted grazing and low starch diet. This year he was put onto pergolide but he continued to lose weight so I had him pts.

As your mare is so young I think it may be worth getting her tested for cushings as pergolide should help her.
 
My 28 yo pony kept patches of coat last summer & really held on to last winters coat. My Vet suggested trying an Agnus Castus based supplement first & it has worked well for him. I use Cushinaze basically because I can get hold of it easily but I have also heard good things about Vitex4Equids (think that's the right name).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top