Jericho
Well-Known Member
My 17 yr old mare has just been tested for ACTH and the levels were way way high at 384 (although this was after a night grazing) and vet has prescribed pergolide saying she has cushings.
These are the signs she is presenting - very good doer, is overweight, pot belly, muscle wastage across back (sway back), is always quite warm, points her front feet when resting indicating soreness in feet - she has always done this in 6 yrs I have had her and X-rays, lameness work ups, bute trials didn't stop it and farrier investigations have not showed any laminitis issues but I manage her for this anyway (tiny amount of straw/hay based chop, with vits/mins plus linseed and speedibeet in winter as necessary. She is on restricted grazing out 24/7 usually but is currently in overnight on 1.5% of bw of soaked hay.)
She doesn't have an abnormal coat, looses it well in the spring, nor she does have fatty pads over her eyes (her orbitals are v sunken), doesn't have fatty pads, doesn't sweat, doesn't drink or urinate excessively. She looks and behaves generally like a normal horse albeit one with a slighty dipped back and pot belly. Vet has said treat for her cushings and carry on riding as normal (although we only hack out and school once or twice a week). I don't feel comfortable riding her at the moment because the way her back is dipping and because I know the pointing feet at rest must indicate pain or something.
Don't know if this is related but she is very aloof in nature and generally seems to dislike life unless she is grazing or doing xc. Not grumpy or pulling faces but rather dead or fearful look to her eye, just doesn't want much interaction with humans and almost seems to have no personality, like she has shut down :-( unless there is food involved. She hates quick movements, head and ear shy ( suspect this was due to the fact she was worked hard and without much gentleness at a pro eventers yard during her youth). Makes me so sad, I love this mare - she is amazingly brave and gentle and loves children but breaks my heart that after 6 years I can still panic her by being a bit quick putting head collar on or she moves away everytime I go to touch or pat her. Sorry I digress...
I have read so much on the various groups and Internet but am now just confusing myself. Does she has have cushings or ems? Does anyone have any advice, nuggets of wisdom, experiences to share ?
These are the signs she is presenting - very good doer, is overweight, pot belly, muscle wastage across back (sway back), is always quite warm, points her front feet when resting indicating soreness in feet - she has always done this in 6 yrs I have had her and X-rays, lameness work ups, bute trials didn't stop it and farrier investigations have not showed any laminitis issues but I manage her for this anyway (tiny amount of straw/hay based chop, with vits/mins plus linseed and speedibeet in winter as necessary. She is on restricted grazing out 24/7 usually but is currently in overnight on 1.5% of bw of soaked hay.)
She doesn't have an abnormal coat, looses it well in the spring, nor she does have fatty pads over her eyes (her orbitals are v sunken), doesn't have fatty pads, doesn't sweat, doesn't drink or urinate excessively. She looks and behaves generally like a normal horse albeit one with a slighty dipped back and pot belly. Vet has said treat for her cushings and carry on riding as normal (although we only hack out and school once or twice a week). I don't feel comfortable riding her at the moment because the way her back is dipping and because I know the pointing feet at rest must indicate pain or something.
Don't know if this is related but she is very aloof in nature and generally seems to dislike life unless she is grazing or doing xc. Not grumpy or pulling faces but rather dead or fearful look to her eye, just doesn't want much interaction with humans and almost seems to have no personality, like she has shut down :-( unless there is food involved. She hates quick movements, head and ear shy ( suspect this was due to the fact she was worked hard and without much gentleness at a pro eventers yard during her youth). Makes me so sad, I love this mare - she is amazingly brave and gentle and loves children but breaks my heart that after 6 years I can still panic her by being a bit quick putting head collar on or she moves away everytime I go to touch or pat her. Sorry I digress...
I have read so much on the various groups and Internet but am now just confusing myself. Does she has have cushings or ems? Does anyone have any advice, nuggets of wisdom, experiences to share ?
