cushings test - necessary?

MiniMilton

MiniMilton

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I have a 20yo mare with lami issues since she was 5. She's been on a diet since then. She is VERY prone to laminitis. I suspect cushings. No long coat or anything but he stable is much wetter than all my other horses (even though she doesnt appear to drink much :confused:) or she has some sort of insulin resistance or something.
She has a thick cresty neck and fat pads on her bum even if I get her weight so low that I can see all her ribs. I'll be starting her on magnesuim oxide as soon as the delivery of it arrives.
Is there any point in getting her tested for cushings etc? Will my management options change with the results or do I continue to just manage her as a chronic laminitic (no cereals, limited grass etc)
I dont have an abundance of money so I dont want to be increasing my vet bills unnecessarily. I just notice that lots of people on this forum seem to test for cushings
 
The lab fees for the cushings test are still free at the moment (through participating vets) so yes, I would. There are meds that can help a great deal if the test comes back positive.
 
If she does have Cushings, Prascend will transform her life, but many vets would be reluctant to prescribe on clinical signs alone. Mine did because as a rescue I had severe restrictions on funds, but he said the other issue was dose level. Prascend only comes in 1mg size so you could try 1/2 then up to 1 after a few months if there is no improvement. You need a prescription though so you will need to involve your vet, and it all depends on his/her attitude. You will have to get him/her to take the blood sample even if you can get the test done free.
 
She sounds as though it could be cusings or EMS, but you need to test to find out. Your vet is unlikely to prescribe medication without a test as this will also help him decide the level of medication she will need.

My retired mare is on 2 tablets of Prascend a day which keep her as fit and well as a 2 y.o. even though she is 25! However, the tablets are around 90p-£1 each, so it is very expensive to treat, but if you can afford it worth every penny. It does mean that I can no longer afford to keep a riding horse:( but to me she is worth every penny.
 
I would test, you will know what you are dealing with then - Cushings/EMS/both/nothing. That is a long history of laminitis.
 
Although there is the free cushings test offer available at the moment, you will still have to pay for the vet to take the sample and prepare it for the test but according to our vets the voucher (Talk About Lamintis voucher) saves you about £35.
 
Thanks for the replies. What benefits does the medication have?
She is a mare that I'm very fond of but realistically I can't go too crazy on treatment. She is retired 13 years due to other injuries. I want to make her as comfortable as possible but I don't want to break the bank either. My vet would probably be disgusted that I want to pump more money into an animal that I can't ride! He's very much of the opinion that if you can't use them then euthanise them
 
I have a shetland with cushings - she is much happier with the drug than without. I think its about £1 a day .... all depends on circumastances but for me to see her charge round the field taking on the big boys rather than standing in a corner its worth it!
 
The symptoms you describe sound more like EMS than cushings but it is possible she has both as they often go hand in hand. When you speak to your vet ask them to test for both on one lot of bloods taken (ie at same time) as when testing for cushings you can test on blood taken at any time of day whereas if you're testing for IR/EMS you need to withhold food for 12 hours and test first thing in the morning. They are both easily controlled, cushings with prascend and if she is positive for EMS metformin is used but often horses can come off this if the EMS has been managed to get under control by diet and exercise. Good luck anyhow and let us know how you get on :-)
 
My 26 year old was so poor and depressed with Cushings I was planning on having her put down. On 1mg £1.32 a day she is like a new horse or more accurately like the old one! Money no object for my old friend but finances aside I would try the Cushings test.
 
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