cushings test and laminitis??

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luckyjac

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Hi, my mare has just been diagnosed with laminitis. I had suspected cushings but vet said its not advisable to test for cushings at the moment but cant remember the reason, it obviously gives wrong indicators but can anyone actually explain why??
Thanks
 
I don't know why your vet doesn't want to test for cushings while your horse has laminitis, but cushings can cause laminitis. I saw a pony at the weekend which was only 12 and had lamy due to early onset cushings and it had only come on since December and now he is unridable. If the lamy could be due to the cushings surely treating the cushings could improve the lamy?
 
thats what i thought, i think il give him a call and find out! maybe it would wrongly show cushings from the blood test due to lami???
 
The main test for Cushings involves giving the horse steroids and this is not advised in currently laminitic animals as it can worsen the attack.It is also used with caution in horses that have suffered from laminitis already.

So your vet is waiting until the horse stabilises and is less likely to suffer side effects from the test :)
 
That is odd because my vet tested for Cushings last month while my pony was suffering a mild lami attack. He visited and took a blood sample and didn't mention anything about waiting until the lami had cleared. Could it be because of any medication your horse is on? Mine was just on Danilon at the time
 
Agree with Aru and think your vet is acting wisely. The dex suppression test is one of the tests that they do for cushings, but it can actually induce laminitis, so it is best avoided especially where the horse already has laminitis.

Even when the horse has recovered some vets won't use it in case, whereas others say you can't have a definite diagnosis without it. I changed vets when mine suggested doing a dex suppression test - I prefer to err on the side of caution, whereas some vets are so science-driven they just want the hard facts, never mind that it may not be good for the horse! Sorry, rant over.

There are other blood tests that can be done, my pony just had a glucose & insulin test (came back high) and ACTH test, also high, both from a simple blood sample with no steroids given first. Both indicate cushings well enough to not need any dex test, so he will be treated as cushingoid from now on. Vet did wait until the worst of the laminitis attack had passed, as otherwise the insulin would have been sky high anyway, so that is perhaps why your vet is waiting. I would advise that you say no to a dex suppression test if he suggests it.

Join the Metabolic horse group on Yahoo - they are fabulous for up-to-date information and advice. Can't remember the exact address but it will come up on google. There are a couple of seriously well-informed people on there that are highly regarded in the horse world - and it's free!
 
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My vet won't test for Cushings if they have laminitis, as can make situation worse. Also, as already posted, it can bring on a flare up of laminitis in susceptible ponies.
 
My vet wouldn't test for Cushings in the past when Lami was possible, due to having to use steriods which in themselves can cause Lami.

However, they are able to do a new test now which involves testing blood only. No reason why this can't be done. They get a test kit from Liphook so could be an idea to contact them
 
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