Cushings.

Bettyboo222

Bettyboo222

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Just found out B has got Cushings disease, after talking it over with the vet he has decided not to give medication to help with it because of her age. He says we should continue with our current routine (no-bute or tri-Bute)

But what will I need to do now ?

I know about clipping in summer as she won't lose her coat but thats about it.
 
Haven't had any experience myself but a lady at my yard had a pony who had cushings and unfortuantely had to be PTS quite recently because of it.

Expect a lot of laminitus (caused by the cushing and can be triggered by hormones, grass etc.. the list is endless). The pony literally had one month of good work but the next of boxrest. Eventually the bone in the hoof (either navacular or coffin bone - cannot quite remember) rotated to the point of the pony barely being able to stand. It is all downhill I'm afriad. This particular pony had 2 years left after being diagnosed with cushings.

Sorry to be so down but it is such a horrible condition and I can only feel for you.
 
Has your horse/pony has laminitis because of the Cushings? Cushings makes horses/ponies more susceptible to laminitis, but careful management can help, but can't always prevent it. Keeping to a low sugar/low starch diet helps to prevent laminitic attacks - so avoid cereal-based feeds - ie barley, oats, mixes, cereal-based cubes etc. Also avoid sugar-rich feeds such as heavily molassed chaffs, molassed sugar beet, rich grass etc. Very sensitive animals may need hay soaked to remove excess sugars.
 
i have a 29 year old tested positive for cushions, started on prescend (pergolide) and is like a new pony. she is still ridden about 3 times a week. she is on a sugar free diet, gets turned out as much as possible on frost free grass, that has been previously grazed tho not stressed. is given hay but due to several teeth missing on both sides, upper and lower doesnt manage much. she is on high fi, fast fibre and oil and is doing very well. clipping is the way to go with cushionoid oldies.. usually every 4 weeks, sugar free diet. but maybe some pergolide would help your boy have a lovely summer? good luck he is a splendid age, keep him happy!!!
 
Carefully managed and with Lady Luck on your side, Cushings horses and ponies can live for years with the condition. But at 44 and with other inevitable old age conditions present, it's probable that your girl is coming to the end of her days x
 
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