Cushings

[Britestar]

Some one posted on here not so long ago wondering if their horse had Cuhsings and was worried about the blood test which can involve injecting with steroids.

There is another test as my horse has just had it and it measures basal ACTH, and only one sample has to be taken.

Its a bit of a pain for the Vet as he has to seperate the plasma and then freeze it immediately, and I understand that it has to to be sent to the Lab on a sepcific day for testing.

That said, it was nice and easy for me! No fasting, no steroid risk.

And, yes my mare has Cushings in a mild form at the moment - no Lami - so here's hoping we can get her onto medication before things get bad.

 

[goldypops]

Can I ask what made you suspect cushings in the first place as I am wondering about my mare. Just had her clipped as she had a rather funny coat this summer - not thick, just long fine hairs. What other things shall I look for or shall i just get her tested??? Going to wait and see what grows back from the clip first!

 

[hellybelly6]

Sorry about your cushings horse. They can, with good management, lead a full and good quality life.

Things to look out for with cushings
Increased thirst and urination, loss of weight, lethargy, pot belly, long curly coat, weight loss and increased appetite, laminitis in the later stages.

If you suspect your horse has cushings, might be worth calling your vet out.

 

[goldypops]

Hmmm dont think my mare fits into any of those symptoms so fingers crossed it was just a weird coat! certainly not long and curly. Will see what grows back and watch for the other things, thanks for the info!!!

 

[Britestar]

In my mare things I noticed were that her coat wasnt really as nice as it should be at this time of year. She has lost condition but has a hard crest and can be a bit footy on hard ground.

Generally she just looked a bit manky, and having owned her for nearly 20 years, I knew she wasn't quite right.

 

[KarynK]

Just lost my 28 year old to cushings but he had been displaying a long coat since he reached 20, I had him tested at 22 but he was negative at that time.

He had had a really bad bout of laminitis at about 10 yrs, a combination of an over keen farrier and rich grass. He had another touch at 12 but nothing more, just needed clipping late August onwards when he got to 20.

But over the last 2 years though he changed his coat it grew thick and long, last autum he looked well though old, in september he got a bout of laminitis which I caught in good time and was not severe. But through the winter he lost weight drastically, drank loads and peed accordingly, sadly he did not regain any weight but got laminitis in the spring and I immediately called it a day. So they can live with this for a long time.

 

[hellybelly6]

Britestar - Is your horse on cod liver oil? that can help with skin and coat condition.

As for being footy, my horse was footy recently, the vet took one look at him said he was very stiff and diagnosed high and low ring bone, side bone and possible pedal osteitis. My horse is only just 15. So it is possible that maybe being footy is the start of arthritis.

I didnt get my horse x-rayed as he is not a good traveller, the vet is very experienced I have every confidence in him and I didnt want my horse go through the stress of x-rays and nerve blocks to be told to treat him with Danilon which he is on already now.

What I mean is, keep on eye on things, just in case. I really hope your horse has nothing wrong with her/him

 

[Eaglestone]

In my experience your biggest threat is Laminitis and if you say that your horse is 'footy' then let the warning bells ring

My old boy who is now 27 went down with Cushings induced Laminitis 2 1/2 years ago in October 2005

. I had seen his coat start to go curly and the sockets above the eyes protrude and also some legathy ... from what had been a very very very fizzy chap up until then ....

It was only when he nearly fell over when I turned him to go back to his field that I knew something was wrong

5 Months of box rest and seeing my poor beloved horse in so much pain, I managed to get him back out for a little bit of grass

But now his grass is limited to such a small amount a day and I have to be so careful otherwise that horrid stuff will kill him

So please please please get back to your Vet and talk about her being a bit 'footy' ..

PM me if you want to ..

PS Touch wood .... my old boy is doing really well,

however I have to be so very careful now .... he is the horse in my siggie ... this was taken 2 years on from going down with it

 

[Britestar]

Thanks for the thoughts.

Re footiness, she's been like that for years, and is partly due to being unshod. We're very care regarding the 'L' word, its banned from the yard

I'm afraid she won't eat CLO, but is is on a seaweed based vitamin supplement.

The Vet in on hol at mo, but when he gets back we'll discuss treatment to keep it all at bay, I'm not really worried as her results were at the low end of abnormal, but at least I'm forwarned and can try and make sure it doesnt develop further.

 

[carabella]

My friends horse was diagnosed with cushings.

She was put on a course of PERGOLIDE which is a human drug.
The dosage was adjusted according to how she was coping at the time. With very good care and medication she went on to live 5 years after diagnosis. Rather longer than the vet had envisiged.

This was not without ups and downs with lami and ulcers. She was finally put to sleep when she no longer had any quality of life.

Not an easy decision at all as we all know. This had been a very heart breaking time for my friend with the knowledge that her horse had a limited life and also the expence of the drugs which were about £ 5 or so per day along with any other supplements that were used to aid the mare.

Good luck and best wishes to all who have cushings.

My boy has just been diagnosed with Chronic stomach impaction which itself is a rare occurence. I have posted in the veterinary section but if your reading this and know someone who has or had a horse with this problem then could you please let me know.

thankyou and love to all who are having a very rough time at the moment