dreading cushings results :(

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braveheart

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I am looking for peoples advice here. I have a 13.2hh cob who is approx 14 years old. In the last 3 weeks he has been quite lethargic when being ridden either out or in the school. Everything appears to be as normal in every other sense. No extra drinking and weeing (although his bed has always been discusting!), no sweating, no temperature, no pulse in his hooves. He is completely sound. He seems really alert but just doesnt have much "go" in him at the moment when ridden.

The vet came out and said he appears fine outwardly, lungs and gut all sound fine- but took some blood tests. Everything has come back normal, but I am just waiting for the cushings test to come back and I am absolutely dreading it coming back positive. I am really careful at managing my pony. He is stabled at night time all year round as he is a little fatty. I only give him a small feed (A cupful of baileys lo cal balancer and a handful of good doer chaff), he also has a small to medium haynet (double netted) which I hose off- he wont eat it soaked. He is all up to date with vaccinations, worming, teeth etc. What else can I do. Im really worried about him and really worried he has cushings. :(
 
Mine is due to have the bloods taken tomorrow - in a way I am kind of hoping it is positive, I know it will respond to Prascend and will account for a few things I was a little worried about (no energy, footy after a couple of days on winter grass). Best to know and be able to treat IMHO.
If it is positive replace the Baileys with unmollassed beet pulp - just get rid of cereals and sugars, the Prascend will do the rest. I already have one, 35 years young and she has been managed like that for 5 years.
 
If it is positive, is the outlook good these days? Is he likely to still carry on being ridden? It doesnt matter to me if not, I just want him to have a happy life x
 
braveheart said:
If it is positive, is the outlook good these days? Is he likely to still carry on being ridden? It doesnt matter to me if not, I just want him to have a happy life x
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Try not to worry - mine (18 years old) was diagnosed earlier this year. He's on one quarter tablet of Prascend per day, plus some Chasteberry and he's ticket-boo! Ridden 6 days a week and full of beans. I just pop the tablet into a bit of apple every morning and give it to him before his feed and tbh, I don't think about it any more than that. As JillA says, if he is diagnosed keep him off the cereals and sugars, watch his weight and carry on as normal.

The ACTH levels are always higher in the autumn: it explains why my lad felt really 'down' for the previous 2 Autumns - I thought he'd got a virus and gave him some time off, so am rather relieved to have found out exactly what was wrong.

Good luck with the test results and do PM me if you want to :)
 
braveheart said:
If it is positive, is the outlook good these days? Is he likely to still carry on being ridden? It doesnt matter to me if not, I just want him to have a happy life x
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mine was diagnosed last year at 14, has been on prascend for a year and is ridden 2.5 hours a day, seven days a week. He hasn't felt this good for a long time.

Don't panic. When you get the results ask the vet for the actual number eg 15, 50 or whatever and the normal level (probably 29 depending on which lab) That way you can see exactly what the results show.

everything Jill says about the diet. You may have to muzzle to restrict the grass and in all honesty if he won't eat soaked hay (soaked to reduce the sugars) then he cannot be very hungry. If he is lethargic due to cushings then the drug, prascend, should cheer him up which means more exercise to get the weight off.
 
I have just had mine tested on 10th November, no reason other than a slightly wetter bed than this time last year. Results were "borderline" with a reading of 40.5, had it been in October it would have been within normal ranges. Lab suggested testing again in January but not to worry just yet, as levels don't just drop right down when the new month starts.
Good luck with your pony.
,
 
jgmbng said:
I have just had mine tested on 10th November, no reason other than a slightly wetter bed than this time last year. Results were "borderline" with a reading of 40.5, had it been in October it would have been within normal ranges. Lab suggested testing again in January but not to worry just yet, as levels don't just drop right down when the new month starts.
Good luck with your pony.
,
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How long did it take between bloods and result? I have got the Liphook voucher.
 
Hi,

My horse (21 yo web x tb 16hh) was diagnosed this June. Last year he was tested as part of a clinical trial and he had a score of 11. This June his score was 125! He went onto Prascend (1 per day) and has just been retested and his score 25.

He became very subdued when he first started on the Prascend and lost his appetite. He turned completely off his new diet of Fast Fibre, Speedibeet and micronised linseed. He was dropping weight alarmingly fast - he has always been tricky to keep condition on especially at this time of year. I got in touch with Topspec and moved him onto Topspec Senior balancer, Topspec Cool Condition Cubes, Alfa-a molasses free, and Speedibeet.

I believe the combination of the Prascend and his new diet has made an incredible difference and he on terrific form - and eating all his feeds. It is as though the clock has been turned back 10 years!

Ref the cost of Prascend, I did some searching on the web, gathered cost comparisons and approached my vet. He came up with a great deal as long as I bought 160 at a time. It is equivalent to the web price and prescription cost which I would have had to pay for if I bought them online. It was a huge discount compared to the vets list price but they were pleased to keep the business.
 
A cushings diagnosis is not always a terrible thing - one of ours was diagnosed with cushings last year and it was actually such a relief that he was as we finally understood what was wrong with him - we thought he was coming to the end of his life, he had seemed to suddenly age, had no energy, had a dull coat and had really lost his spark - he looked and acted ancient and it was heartbreaking to see him like that. We'd always managed him so carefully but he was always getting laminitis - hence the suspicions.
When he was given the prascend he initially went off all his food completely and we were worried sick, but when we reduced the dose slightly he started to eat a little and after a week or so he was eating normally and had turned into a different pony.
He is now unrecognisable (literally!! - someone thought he was a new addition!), full of energy and back to his naughty self, he looks fantastic and can now go out with his friends on semi-normal grazing which he could never do before. He is back in ridden work and the change in him has just been incredible - I can't believe that half a tiny tablet a day can make such a difference both physically and to his personality, it's lovely to see him happy and healthy again - just a positive story for you. Let us know how you get on xx
 
Thank you so much everyone. Im really glad I posted my worries on here as I do feel more reassured that this is not the end so to speak.

Please forgive my ignorance, but is baileys lo cal balancer a cereal? (had always been led to believe its a good feed for fat ponies as gives them all their vitamins but doesnt cause weight gain) I've not long brought a new bag! This is what he has had for years. I'm feeding this in the mean time until I get his results, or is it worth dropping it and using unmollased sugar beet pulp as a precaution?

Good luck with yours JillA, I hope you're not kept waiting to long for the results. x

Thank you Mrs B, I shall PM when I get the results. I am pleased to hear that you're horse is doing really well. x

Thank you paddy555, I feel more prepared now with the info you've given me for the next conversation with the vet. x

jgmbng- good luck for your horsey too. x

Northern hare- It's good to hear that your horse is doing really well now. Thats very useful to know about comparing prices and I shall do exactly that. Where is best for me to start? I wouldnt have even thought to do that and unfortunately cost is something I have to think about.

Starryeyed- Thank you so much. That really has made me feel really hopeful about things. Im glad things worked out well for you and your horse. x
 
Baileys Lo Cal - this is from their website " Ingredients - Grassmeal, Distillers’ Grains, Wheatfeed, Micronised Soya Beans, Dicalcium Phosphate, Molasses, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamins and Minerals, Sodium Chloride, Calcined Magnesite, ScFOS (Digest Plus prebiotic) 5g/kg" Not a huge amount of cereal so probably not going to be a problem unless you feed it in vast quantities, but there is molasses in there :(.
 
starryeyed said:
He is now unrecognisable (literally!! - someone thought he was a new addition!), full of energy and back to his naughty self, he looks fantastic and can now go out with his friends on semi-normal grazing which he could never do before. He is back in ridden work and the change in him has just been incredible - I can't believe that half a tiny tablet a day can make such a difference both physically and to his personality, it's lovely to see him happy and healthy again - just a positive story for you. Let us know how you get on xx
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We have had exactly the same experience! Ours is absolutely zinging with life and bouncy opinions, his 1/2 pill a day has transformed him and looking at the way he is behaving in the field and when ridden at the moment, no one can believe he is the age he is! I have been very worried about the effect the weather has had on the autumn grass and have been proceeding cautiously. but the farrier has confirmed that there is absolutely no signs of any laminitis and he certainly wouldn't be joining in with exuberant honing about behaviour with the youngsters if his feet hurt.
 
we have had the same experience as well. People look at my horse when ridden, Palomino, say how well he looks, I tell them he has cushings and they say they didn't know cushings horses could look like that.

OP
If cushings is confirmed the vet will most likely prescribe Prascend, a small pink pill. Dose may be one a day. Some of us have worked up to that dose slowly over a few days rather than giving the entire dose at once. My vet said to just start on the full dose but I introduced it so slowly and had no side effects. Some people who have given the whole tablet at once have had horses go off their feed and had to reduce the dose.
That introductory period is called the "pergolide veil" and may or may not happen. I don't think you can tell in advance so it may be something you want to research.

My suggestion for a newly diagnosed horse would be to get the first 10 days supply from the vet. It is more expensive but gets you going. Then get a prescription for 160 and go online (vet medic I think is the cheapest) and you have a few days to sort out ordering.
Some vets are willing to match the internet price plus the cost of the prescription so it is worthwhile asking.
Their price list will show an horrendous price for prascend, probably around £1.50 but if you ask if they can match the online price some will.

Not pre empting your diagnosis but life does become a blur sometimes with a newly diagnosed horse so forward planning can make it a little easier.
 
My 19 year old has just been diagnosed too. Her reading was 200, 5 times the expected level for this time of year.

I feed her Baileys Lo-Cal and rang them to ask about the molasses - I'm waiting for the call back still so will ring today (I first rang a few days ago after the diagnosis). I have already introduced ecchinacea into her diet and suddenly the eye infection's cleared up that's been hanging around for a while - my old vet did look at it and said it wasn't anything to worry about.

Mine's barefoot and has problems with sugarbeet affecting her feet so feeding's got another minefield to deal with !!

I also feed dried grass chaff, I've swopped arthritis supplements so she's now on nothing with glucosamine in. My new vet says that they only go off their food if the dose is too high, if the dose is right I should only see improvement. TBH she's been behaving like a lunatic this week anyway, I definitely won't stay on if she gets any livelier !!

Vets have given me a prescription and recommended vet medic website for me.

I was quite depressed when I got the diagnosis but it's not the end of the world really, and it's all about quality of life so I'm going to ensure hers is as good as it can be.

That's one reason why I've decided to go the Prascend route rather than, as I probably normally would, try the herbal alternative first. Prascend is proven to work and trials/research around the Agnus Castus route have mixed results.
 
Brave heart....in reply to how long results took. Vet took the blood Monday afternoon and telephoned with results Friday morning. I am pretty certain it was Liphook too.
 
I'm pleased to report that my pony does not have cushings. His result came back at 14 and normal for the lab they use is 27. I am really pleased I posted my question on here as I've recieved some really useful advice and felt much better prepared.

I have decided as a result of all the advice I have recieved from this forum I will gradually change my horses feed to Hi Fi Lite and unmollased beet pulp. I am also going to be even stricter in the summer with grazing. Does anyone have any tips on soaking hay in the winter as I darent do it yet as its now coming to the time of year where everything freezes! x
 
zandp said:
My 19 year old has just been diagnosed too. Her reading was 200, 5 times the expected level for this time of year.

I feed her Baileys Lo-Cal and rang them to ask about the molasses - I'm waiting for the call back still so will ring today (I first rang a few days ago after the diagnosis). I have already introduced ecchinacea into her diet and suddenly the eye infection's cleared up that's been hanging around for a while - my old vet did look at it and said it wasn't anything to worry about.

Mine's barefoot and has problems with sugarbeet affecting her feet so feeding's got another minefield to deal with !!

I also feed dried grass chaff, I've swopped arthritis supplements so she's now on nothing with glucosamine in. My new vet says that they only go off their food if the dose is too high, if the dose is right I should only see improvement. TBH she's been behaving like a lunatic this week anyway, I definitely won't stay on if she gets any livelier !!

Vets have given me a prescription and recommended vet medic website for me.

I was quite depressed when I got the diagnosis but it's not the end of the world really, and it's all about quality of life so I'm going to ensure hers is as good as it can be.

That's one reason why I've decided to go the Prascend route rather than, as I probably normally would, try the herbal alternative first. Prascend is proven to work and trials/research around the Agnus Castus route have mixed results.
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Which joint supplement are you using? currently i am using glucosamine and msm, but I have read that glucosamine may not be the best thing to give a horse with cushings. I havent been able to find one that doesnt have any in.
 
Came back with a level of 18, so whatever is going on with mine it clearly isn't Cushings. I'm now about to investigate mineral levels, to see if that can account for low grade laminitis after a couple of days on long winter grass (horse not noticeably fat) and lack of energy
 
braveheart said:
I'm pleased to report that my pony does not have cushings. His result came back at 14 and normal for the lab they use is 27. I am really pleased I posted my question on here as I've recieved some really useful advice and felt much better prepared.

I have decided as a result of all the advice I have recieved from this forum I will gradually change my horses feed to Hi Fi Lite and unmollased beet pulp. I am also going to be even stricter in the summer with grazing. Does anyone have any tips on soaking hay in the winter as I darent do it yet as its now coming to the time of year where everything freezes! x
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that's fantastic news!!
 
Spillers lite balancer has better levels of balanced vits and mins and lowest sugar/starch....see thelaminitissite for more info on Cushings/PPID and EMS plus the facebook page for accurate and helpful support/info from other owners :)
 
Equine Metabolic Syndrome, i think its when the horse produces too much insulin..not 100% sure, and also rubbish at explaining things, which is why i said to check out thelaminitissite as all the info about ems and cushings is on there :)
 
Micky said:
Spillers lite balancer has better levels of balanced vits and mins and lowest sugar/starch....see thelaminitissite for more info on Cushings/PPID and EMS plus the facebook page for accurate and helpful support/info from other owners :)
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Spillers lite balancer as an alternative to lo cal balancer? It's useful to find all this stuff out. I am def going to change what he is being fed. Dilemma now is sugar beet or spillers lite balancer ? :confused:
:)
 
I am pleased to hear he doesnt have cushings, but its concerning if there are things out of the norm that you have noticed. Especially the lack of energy. My vet couldnt offer me an explanation as to why my horse has been off colour especially as all his blood work came back ok, so she was certain not a virus. I've recently worm counted and that came back no eggs seen. I will keep looking in to this and may get the vet back out. I will keep you posted in case your horse has same prob as mine x
 
braveheart said:
Spillers lite balancer as an alternative to lo cal balancer? It's useful to find all this stuff out. I am def going to change what he is being fed. Dilemma now is sugar beet or spillers lite balancer ? :confused:
:)
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They aren't interchangeable - unmollassed sugar beet for fibre and some protein etc,- a balancer for the vits and minerals. The Coursera Equine Nutrition course is being run again starting in January, it's free and has a lot of information about feeding various foodstuffs, well worth doing https://www.coursera.org/course/equinenutrition
 
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