Cushings

[Shutterbug]

So, my 19 years old w/b has been diagnosed with Cushing's. He was having a liver function test as he is on Equipalazone for arthritic hocks and the vet suggested we take advantage of the free voucher for Cushings due to his age just to check - and we were both surprised when it came back positive. He has not a single symptom. He is otherwise fit, healthy, energetic and alert, loves his food, loves a blast out a hack, if anything he is more of a handful these days than he was a few years ago - I don't know if horses with Cushing's get more energy, a little more spooky, need a stronger bit because they forget they have brakes and are generally a bit more cantankerous as they age! Do they??

Vet wants him on prascend, 1 tablet a day, and I'm not gonna lie, I'm a bit worried reading all the experiences of horses experiencing side effects from not eating to losing weight to behavioural changes. Obviously I want to do what is best for him but I am apprehensive about the drugs. I am hearing things about Chaste Berry, farrier has recommended Cushcare. I'm getting a bit of an information overload here and I was pretty stressed this morning not knowing what to do - vet has left me to decide if I want him on the meds or not.

Can you tell me about your experiences? I want to do the best thing for him and I know the prascend can slow down the condition and without it he may well start showing signs quicker. Should I start on a low dose and increase gradually or start on 1 a day and decrease if I need to - or perhaps try something else? Due to his hocks I need to keep him in regular work to keep him fit and flexible - he gets turmeric, botwellia and garlic and is on Veteran vitality with a little speedi beet.

Thanks for reading

 

[paddi22]

I have a 19 year old horse too that got diagnosed this year. it never in a million years crossed my mind he might have it, he has and still has no symptoms. he started the tablets and looks a lot better now, he also had issues holding weight and thats gone now, he also looks much happier in himself.

the medication was fine for him. I started half a tablet for a few days and he went onto one with no issue.i pop it in a carrot and he eats. he seems quiet for a day or two at first but then he was fine and normal.

the cushings is a hormonal balance issue in the body. chaste berry has shown to relieve some mild symptoms, but it really won't help the normal imbalance in any way. the medication has been proven to be success and is widely used, so personally I don't see an issue with giving it. it's the only thing that can help balance the hormonal levels.

the medication has really helped my horse, and it makes sense now all the smaller issues he was getting (accesses, infections etc) were worse with a compromised immune system.

there is a great Facebook page on Cushings and I found it brilliant when my lad was diagnosed, it has tons of information.

 

[holeymoley]

Prascend is fine as long as you introduce it gradually and get the dosage checked every 6months-1 year.

 

[hellfire]

I don’t think you want to know my experience with cushings as just taken mine off his meds after 4 years. It’s rare but some do get nasty side effects. Going off his feed was bad enough but he never went off hay or grass just meant I couldn’t get his meds into him easily as often didn’t want carrot, apple, even bread so his tablet was hard to feed at times. For me the reason I now am not medicating is behaviour. Every year his dose increased and his aggression followed to the point (you can find my post as just posted a update) I was considering PTS he was that bad and clearly not happy.
It’s rare and all you can do is try. Sometimes you don’t realise how crap they feel until you put them n the meds and they get their spark back.
Mini just didn’t shed his coat they quick and had become sluggish in work. Bar than no other issues.
I clip him in the spring anyway.
I’d say try and see if you notice a difference and go from there. Your horse will tell you what’s right I’m sure. Good luck

 

[paddy555]

Vet wants him on prascend, 1 tablet a day, and I'm not gonna lie, I'm a bit worried reading all the experiences of horses experiencing side effects from not eating to losing weight to behavioural changes. Obviously I want to do what is best for him but I am apprehensive about the drugs.

people usually only post when they have a problem so you don't hear about all the horses who are doing great on prascend.

one of mine was on prascend for 8 years. The only problem he had was for the first 3 months when he came back to normal and was rather jolly. After that nothing but good. I started on 1/4 per day building up to 1 over about 3 weeks.
My old mare is on prascend. Again not a single side effect except she doesn't get lami any longer and can go out and eat grass.

 

[Shutterbug]

You are right of course - its oft the negative that gets more out there than the good - thank you everyone for your replies.

I had a lovely chat with the vet this evening and we are going to start on 1/4 tablet per day and take it from there, increasing as appropriate. We will retest his bloods in 4-6 weeks and fingers crossed he has no reactions and his levels come down on 1 a day.

The thing is he is perfectly well, so I wont have the back to normal because he is his usual self. Now my main concern is he is going to suddenly go from feeling fine to feeling amazing and I'm going to have something akin to a bouncy 5 year old to ride - oh the joys

 

[Tiddlypom]

Firstly, whilst it must have come as a shock, getting a horse diagnosed early and then stabilised on a suitable dose of Prascend is much better in the long run than waiting til the horse has become ill, and then commencing medication.

It is best practice to start on a low dose, maybe 1/2 tablet daily, and build up. ETA I see you are going to start on 1/4 tablet, good move.

What were his ACTH levels, and what was the reference range when his bloods were taken?

 

[Shutterbug]

Firstly, whilst it must have come as a shock, getting a horse diagnosed early and then stabilised on a suitable dose of Prsacend is much better in the long run than waiting til the horse has become ill, and then commencing medication.

It is best practice to start on a low dose, maybe 1/2 tablet daily, and build up. ETA I see you are going to start on 1/4 tablet, good move.

What were his ACTH levels, and what was the reference range when his bloods were taken?

He was at 404 - which I am led to believe is rather high - although a friends horse was almost double that so I know it can get much worse - so yeah definitely feeling better about ploughing ahead with the meds

He starts his meds as soon as I receive them, which should be Monday - vet has given me a starting 20 tablets and a prescription because they want £1.49 per tablet Getting them for £1.04 online with a £15 script so that I can cope with

 

[splashgirl45]

if he has had cushings for a while you may never have experienced his normal...mine was nutty and then changed to be nice and quiet and i kidded myself it was because i had changed her management to out 24/7...she then seemed to be depressed and didnt lose all of her coat vet didnt think she had cushings but we got her tested and her levels were at 172 so quite high, she started on prascend and went back to be a looney.... i started her on 1 tablet a day and she didnt have any sife effects..

 

[paddy555]

So, my 19 years old w/b has been diagnosed with Cushing's. He was having a liver function test as he is on Equipalazone for arthritic hocks and the vet suggested we take advantage of the free voucher for Cushings due to his age just to check -

Thanks for reading

SB, what does this mean? he was having a liver function test. Not sure what that was. If your horse has no symptoms was the horse stressed which could lead to a higher ACTH level. Even a blood draw for liver function if done first could stress some horses.
It is not recommended to test horses for example when they have just had their teeth done and the vet just happens to be there (which people sometimes do) but to do the acth test first.

Just wondered if you have no symptoms if this stress could have affected the ACTH result? (presumably he was not sedated)

there is stuff on google if you google "acth horse stress."

Sorry just checking to discount this if no physical symptoms.

 

[Shutterbug]

SB, what does this mean? he was having a liver function test. Not sure what that was. If your horse has no symptoms was the horse stressed which could lead to a higher ACTH level. Even a blood draw for liver function if done first could stress some horses.
It is not recommended to test horses for example when they have just had their teeth done and the vet just happens to be there (which people sometimes do) but to do the acth test first.

Just wondered if you have no symptoms if this stress could have affected the ACTH result? (presumably he was not sedated)

there is stuff on google if you google "acth horse stress."

Sorry just checking to discount this if no physical symptoms.

Soz I should have worded that differently - he is on long term equipalazone for right hind hock arthritis - he gets it every winter to keep him comfortable, 1 sachet a day atm. Because he has been on it a few years now, the vet wanted to do a blood work up to check his liver and kidneys have not been affected by the meds. That all came back clear - he had 3 phails of blood taken at the same time to cover both tests

 

[Shutterbug]

if he has had cushings for a while you may never have experienced his normal...mine was nutty and then changed to be nice and quiet and i kidded myself it was because i had changed her management to out 24/7...she then seemed to be depressed and didnt lose all of her coat vet didnt think she had cushings but we got her tested and her levels were at 172 so quite high, she started on prascend and went back to be a looney.... i started her on 1 tablet a day and she didnt have any sife effects..

Sorry that did make me laugh

I have had him since he was a 5 year old and he has always been a steady, safe horse - lately he has a bit of an attitude. Nothing crazy, just lack of brakes when hacking and argumentative when asked to slow the hell down on a hack. The odd head toss and back legs bouncing. Saddle and teeth have been recently checked to rule those out - he ditched 2 riders last year and that is something he would never have done previously. I wonder if these changes are at all connected to the Cushings? I thought he was just getting cantankerous in his old age as some of them do. Its very reassuring to learn that your mare is doing well on 1 tab a day and not having any side effects. I am keeping my fingers crossed for a similar result

 

[splashgirl45]

Sorry that did make me laugh

I have had him since he was a 5 year old and he has always been a steady, safe horse - lately he has a bit of an attitude. Nothing crazy, just lack of brakes when hacking and argumentative when asked to slow the hell down on a hack. The odd head toss and back legs bouncing. Saddle and teeth have been recently checked to rule those out - he ditched 2 riders last year and that is something he would never have done previously. I wonder if these changes are at all connected to the Cushings? I thought he was just getting cantankerous in his old age as some of them do. Its very reassuring to learn that your mare is doing well on 1 tab a day and not having any side effects. I am keeping my fingers crossed for a similar result

mine started on 1 but her cushings progressed very quickly and i lost her in 2016 when she was on 4 prascend daily. i had 5 years from first diagnosed so had her for longer than i would if she wasnt medicated... it is caused by the pituitary gland and maybe this puts pressure on the brain and changes their behaviour, or maybe mine had a tumour, i would have liked to find out what she had but couldnt afford to and wouldnt have changed the outcome..good luck with yours

 

[TinseLeneHorse]

Mine had none of the classic symptoms either other than being a bit lethargic. She's been on the prascend for 8 years now and is currently on two pills a day. I was just wanting to agree with what paddy555 said about false results if the horse is stressed when the bloods are taken. It happened to me once when the vet took the blood after sedating for teeth rasping. The level came back at 800 and vet immediately wanted to increase to three pills a day. Luckily I did some research on line and found numerous examples of false readings in those circumstances. So I asked for retest and it came back within normal limits.
I also think there is another more accurate test that vets can use if there is any doubt about the diagnosis so in your circumstances with no symptoms it might be worth asking about this.