Cushings results today

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Beau jangles

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Had my horse 24 yr old Arab x tested for cushings on Monday has been getting slightly hairier with no other clinical signs , so took advantage of the laminitis trusts free cushings blood test.
Results came back today with 51. Normal range of a horse at this time of year is 29.
Vet is happy not to medicate but suggested a glucose test to see his tolerance for glucose and risk for laminitis , I have declined this as dont think its of any benefit as never been at risk of laminitis before.he likes to snooze in the stable in the summer and have spoken to farrier he will check his feet every 2 weeks for me when he is up shoeing others at the yard , mine gets shod every 8 weeks.
Have agreed with the vet to re test bloods in 6 months to see if any change.

Just really looking for some advice on cushings and anybody else in the same boat as diagnosed but not yet requiring meds ?
 
You could try him on Agnus Castus (Vitex) which is chasteberry, a herbal remedy. I wouldn't recommend except for those only slightly over the normal range for ACTH, but it can bring benefits. And also change to a low sugar/cereal diet if you haven't already - Cushings is normally accompanied by Insulin Resistance which is what predisposes to laminitis. Low sugar/cereals in a laminitis diet anyway so much the best route (by the time your farrier notices changes it will probably be too late)
 
No, I'm at a different end of the scale!

I've recently started one of my mares on pergolide despite a "normal" ACTH test in summer 2011, summer 2013 and earlier this year.

However, a post-TRH measure of ACTH earlier this year showed her to be only 6 units below the new upper reference.

Given that the last two summers has seen her feet start to flare much more rapidly, and that she has become increasingly footy each of those summers, and that her feet are now flatter than they've ever been, I decided I needed to do something now rather than wait for a catastrophic laminitis attack before taking action.

Having had one mare with acute laminitis, I'd rather avoid it if I possibly can. As clearly our diet, trimming and exercise regimes weren't doing enough to keep my mare "safe", pergolide really seemed the only sensible option.

I guess whether we choose to put them on pergolide or not, each of us has to monitor them closely for anything which suggests more action is required.

Sarah
 
I mentioned Chasteberry at the time of testing , vet wasn't convinced .
Vet also didn't mention any change to diet as He is a good doer anyway , chaff pasture mix and beet pulp at winter and chaff and pasture mix in summer.
By good doer I certainly don't mean overweight he is actually in perfect condition.
 
I would be changing to Speedibeet (unmollassed) or simialr and alfalfa or grass nuts. The starch in cereals isn't good for those at risk, and almost certain to be cereals in pasture mix? Just a thought, it works for my old mare.
(Vets don't like herbal remedies, but Vitex was trialled by the Laminitis Trust, my other old mare was on the trial years ago, but with an ACTH level of 200 (!!!) before pergolide was available it didn't have a hope in hell. Check the Laminitis Trust website for more information - I was told it relieves the symptoms more than actually controls the progression of the condition)
 
Thank you yeah he is on speedi beet but I think I will phone top spec for advice as my my friends horse had diabetes and borderline cushings and there service was invaluable to her, other horse at the yard has cushings diagnosed through laminitis and has changed to eating safe and sound approved by the laminitis trust.
Vet did say its getting really common the more they are testing the more they are finding but assured me when the time comes for meds to start it will let him lead a normal happy life and it shouldn't affect his life span as I've warned my horse he better make 40 lol
 
Hello :)

Mine's results came in at 44 when tested 6 weeks ago, but my vet has prescribed one quarter of a tablet of Prascend daily. He started out on a half, but he was pretty depressed on that, so (with advice) took him off for 10 days, then restarted the lower dose.

His feed is Simple Systems' Green Gold chaff, Total Eclipse and Farrier's Formula plus last year's 2nd cut of hay (so, considering the awful season, not too much sugar!)

He's an IDxTB, rising 18, a good doer and I'll be using a muzzle for part of the 24hrs when the grass comes through and have him re-tested in a month or so.

Good luck with your lad :)
 
Beau jangles said:
Had my horse 24 yr old Arab x tested for cushings on Monday has been getting slightly hairier with no other clinical signs , so took advantage of the laminitis trusts free cushings blood test.
Results came back today with 51. Normal range of a horse at this time of year is 29.
Vet is happy not to medicate but suggested a glucose test to see his tolerance for glucose and risk for laminitis , I have declined this as dont think its of any benefit as never been at risk of laminitis before.he likes to snooze in the stable in the summer and have spoken to farrier he will check his feet every 2 weeks for me when he is up shoeing others at the yard , mine gets shod every 8 weeks.
Have agreed with the vet to re test bloods in 6 months to see if any change.

Just really looking for some advice on cushings and anybody else in the same boat as diagnosed but not yet requiring meds ?
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if it was me I would be testing for the risk of laminitis, Mine have never had laminitis before then suddenly one morning he got it. His result was 39.
 
Just spoke to my vet again he is happy with just re testing in 6 months just keep a close eye on him , I use an equine only practice so I am happy they know there stuff , just to keep an eye on it , will change his feed and bring him in for a few hours every day which I have always done as he loves a snooze .
 
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