Bellalily
Well-Known Member
I’m a bit in the dark with this, but after requesting a test three times with separate vets, the last one offered and he’s positive. Any nuggets of wisdom from anyone will be gratefully received ?
Cushings test positive.
- Thread starter Bellalily
- Start date
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
It's so frustrating that vets are still sometimes reluctant to take bloods to test for Cushing's at the owners request.
How old is the horse, what is the current reference range and what ACTH reading did your horse have?
What symptoms, if any, does your horse have?
ETA Good luck anyway. I got my mare tested as an 11 yo purely as a screening test, and was shocked to find that she came back +ve. I'm glad that I found out when I did, though, she's been well maintained on 1 prascend a day for the last 5 years.
How old is the horse, what is the current reference range and what ACTH reading did your horse have?
What symptoms, if any, does your horse have?
ETA Good luck anyway. I got my mare tested as an 11 yo purely as a screening test, and was shocked to find that she came back +ve. I'm glad that I found out when I did, though, she's been well maintained on 1 prascend a day for the last 5 years.
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Gloi
Too little time, too much to read.
How old is he and what was the reading?
Bellalily
Well-Known Member
At work, so brief. 21 today, 195, just not right and recurring abscesses.
Gloi
Too little time, too much to read.
We had 3 ponies tested at about 24yo. All came back with varying positive results and went on 1/2 tablet a day. Forgotten what month it was unfortunately but one was drinking excessively had count of 90. Symptoms resolved within days and he stayed on same dose for rest of his life with normal counts c20. Other had abscesses and skin issues count 120, did not reduce as well and started creeping up again and upped to 1 tablet. Third had count c200 but was pts a year later with dental issues.
With your horse I would certainly be starting him on prascend.
With your horse I would certainly be starting him on prascend.
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Bellalily
Well-Known Member
I’m after any care changes that people have found help.
thanks
thanks
Hepsibah
Well-Known Member
Prascend is the only thing that will help. PPID is progressive and prascend slows it's progress. Things like chasteberry can help the symptoms in some horses but they don't treat the illness. The sooner prascend is started, the better.
Bellalily
Well-Known Member
I’m after any care changes that people have found help.
splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
Keep feed to low sugar type, i fed mine baileys light chaff with formula4feet during the summer and the same in the winter with the addition of fast fibre. Fed soaked hay ad lib in winter. I had mine out 24/7 in summer and all day in winter. I rode mine for about an hours hack 6 days a week in summer and as many days as i could manage due to the weather in the winter.. mine was checked with a blood test in april and october every year and prascend dose altered as required. Hope that helps
splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
I found my horses feet cracked up and i think that was due to cushings so i made sure she had a supplement to feed the hooves
HelenBack
Well-Known Member
Agree with others that say getting on the Prascend is the most important thing. Hopefully once that kicks in and the Cushings is resolved the abscesses will stop, your pony will become himself again and you won't need to make much in the way of changes to his care routine. The only other real change I made was to a low sugar diet but the corresponded with a change in his career from competition horse to happy hacker and I think a low sugar diet is a good idea anyway.
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
In the short term, while the horse is getting standardised on Prascend, take off lush grazing and cut right down on any sugary hard feed to reduce the risk of laminitis. There is a lot of info on here. This is the riskiest time of year for a Cushing's horse.
https://www.thelaminitissite.org/articles/is-it-ppid-or-is-it-ems
We are right into the seasonal autumn rise in ACTH levels, and you see that your horse's current levels of 195 are high.
Once standardised on the correct Prascend dose, many horses can live a fairly normal life.
https://www.thelaminitissite.org/articles/is-it-ppid-or-is-it-ems
We are right into the seasonal autumn rise in ACTH levels, and you see that your horse's current levels of 195 are high.
Once standardised on the correct Prascend dose, many horses can live a fairly normal life.
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
If you hive the Prascend you probably won't need to implement care changes. You will notice a lessening of the symptoms, such as recurrent abcesses almost straight away
I would feed a laminitis friendly fiet but a horse on Prasend isn't really any more likely to get laminitis than a healthy horse.
Bellalily
Well-Known Member
They have fast fibre, mag ox, salt and brewers yeast. And low quality hay.
Bellalily
Well-Known Member
Lush??? Not sure where you are but mine have been on dirt with a bit of scrub since June. No worries on autumn flush here. He’s never had any sugary feed as I keep mine barefoot so I know that horses and sugar just don’t mix ? I tried to upload a pic of their grazing, files too large ?
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
Current management sounds just right then 
. He will be at real risk of getting laminitis until he is settled on the Prascend, so watch him like a hawk for potteriness or elevated pulses.
Good luck.
ETA Going forward, you might finding that feeding extra protein would benefit him as he might need help with his top line. It certainly benefits my two PPID horses. I feed Forageplus Topline Plus, which is a mix of pea protein and potato protein.
. He will be at real risk of getting laminitis until he is settled on the Prascend, so watch him like a hawk for potteriness or elevated pulses.Good luck.
ETA Going forward, you might finding that feeding extra protein would benefit him as he might need help with his top line. It certainly benefits my two PPID horses. I feed Forageplus Topline Plus, which is a mix of pea protein and potato protein.
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