Cushings test?

[ATrueClassAct]

Argh! My mind is gonna explode. Right the situation is this for my pony. Last winter she got laminitis on November 6th, the day after down the road there had been a huge firework display. Laminitis treated and it literally only lasted a day. Since then she has gone back to her old turnout, which is from about 9.30 til 4.30 every day. The grass is quite rich but for 7months now she has been absolutely fine and (touch wood) the lammy hasn't come back. However two weeks ago she was lame so the vet came out to see her and after we'd sorted the lameness he suggested a cushings test. But as far as I can see she hasn't got any of the symptoms.. Though I might be wrong since I'm no way near as experienced as the vet. Anyway she is happily shedding her winter coat and her summer one is coming through nicely, she hasn't lost any weight recently
Infact if anything since she was on boxrest shes gained abit of weight but still healthy since she was quite skinny before. Her drinking is normal, she has a large black bucket thing each night and she some days does finish it but it only needs filling once a day. Anyway I was just wondering if anyone thinks it would be best just to have the test done? Obviously if she does turn out to have cushings then we will make sure she gets everything she needs to be healthy. I just wanted to know people's opinions on whether or not to get the test. X

 

[Sprout]

I think I would want to know, particularly in relation to the previous laminitis, then you have a better idea of what you are dealing with.

One of my poor ponies has just got laminitis in his hinds - the vet thinks from concussion or possibly Cushings. He doesnt have any of the classic symptoms, but is the right age to get it and did hand on to his winter coat longer than usual, so he will be tested then we will know how to help him in the future.

Good Luck with yours.

 

[Tammytoo]

My mare was diagnosed with Cushings about four years ago. She developed laminitis in the middle of winter and didn't respond to the usual treatment, box rest, bute etc. She just stood there looking so miserable and depressed . She had no other symptoms. no excessive wee-ing or drinking, no weight loss or pot belly, no curly coat. She did however have filling in the hollows just above her eyes, almost like two little ping pong balls. My vet thought this was a pretty good indication, but instead of doing the test which was quite expensive and complicated then hem put her straight onto a month's course of Pergolide. A sort of sink or swim approach which completely turned her round in the space of a week!

She is on pergolide (or Prascend as it is now called) permanently, but once she had recovered from the laminitis she was brought back into work and has never shown any "typical" symptoms. We had a setback this winter when she went down with lami, but blood tests showed that she needed an increase in her dosage of pergolide and she's once again back to normal - in fact it's hard keeping the weight off her!

I believe the test is easier now so it would be worth having it done - not all cushings sufferers show the full range of symptoms and at least you will be able to treat it in the early stages if she does have it.