Cushings tests... Talk to me...

Queenbee

Queenbee

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 August 2007
Messages
12,020
Location
Cumbria
Visit site
Hi all as some of you will know my girly is in a poor way and as yet we have no conclusive diagnosis, our next two considerations are ulcers or cushings, I was expecting the ACTH (?) test but the vets want to do the surpression test (2 visits) which is more reliable and conclusive? I have no idea, I've read that there is more chance of false results with the surpression test and it seems a bit wrong for them to use this test which will cost me more money if it's not the best and if there is no difference, it still seems wrong because it will cost me more money... I don't mind paying if it's the best but I am looking at an ever increasing bill and have no idea about cushings and related test?

Please guide me... Confused.com
 
As no one is talking I will :)

My only experience with cushings is in an old pony that is kept at my yard, he is not laminitic, never has been, just under 2 years ago he dropped weight extremely quickly,very like your mare, I think I suggested this in your original post.
He was blood tested as routine but as cushings was suspected he started immediately on pergolide, within days he stabilised, although he was not eating well he stopped losing any more weight, there was little left to lose, once stable I played with the diet, upped the pergolide until he improved.
The following spring he was doing really well, back in light work, eating well and turned out 24/7, I gradually reduced his dose to 1/2 a day, he was on 2 daily at his worst, this last winter he did ok, up to 1 a day in the early winter but down to 1/2 every other day this spring.

He is not tested, I use my own judgement, as he is not laminitic there is less risk, he just loses a bit of weight and drinks more when not doing well so it is easy to spot the signs.
No help with the testing options you have but my vet is good at leaving more experienced owners to use their common sense and he is happy that the horses are doing well without too much intervention.
 
I can't really comment as I'm new to Cushings but I've posted a copy of your question onto the Yahoo group and I'll let you know what replies I get.
 
My shettie was blood tested for cushings, what it is they test for came back positive and he went onto pergolide straight away. 1 month later they repeated the blood test, and the levels came back near normal. TBH he did have all the classic signs of cushings, pot belly no top line. I never really noticed his water intake and how often he pee,d as he lived out 24/7 and shared the water troughs with others. He went a bit footie one day and I called the vet and asked about a cushings test, vet agreed and the rest is history.
He was quite young for cushings he had only just turned 13, topline is a bit better and pot belly not so big. And he is much more lively, where before his sparkle was only showing now and again. Not sure how this helps your situation, but can you not just request the simpler blood test to see what that result shows before spending mcuh more on the supression test. ?
 
Thank you, it's just that my gut is telling me the following: the ac wotsit test is one visit, it's also free atm which is a bonus, it's the one I most commonly hear about people using. The other is 2 visits, has incidences of false negatives, isn't on the freebie voucher and I have heard rather little about it. I just have no idea on which is best, why I should use one over the other when the one visit would do (I assume) the same job in a different way. I don't want to be a pain to my vets and I do bow
 
I'd get the free one done to get a view of what's going on....and then consider a suppression test if you still feel it's needed later on?
 
Ah cheers ester... Yay more reading on countless conditions that she probably won't have ;) will get bottle of wine on way home and then get stuck in! I just pray it turns out to be either ulcers of cushings, at least then I can start to plan a strategy for dealing!
 
I would go for the ACTH test in the first instance, that's what we used but it was really a confirmation of the obvious signs. I believe the suppression test can also be risky in that it can trigger a laminitis attack (though I may be imagining that). Then you just need a medic friend who can prescribe you pergolide and a supportive vet - Prascend is a disgrace ;-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top