Equine cushings test results, behaviour treatment etc

Swift00

Swift00

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Hi, I have a 13.2welsh c who is 16yrs old I had him tested for cushings back in November 2013 which came back negative at 20.9. Recently his behaviour became more eratic. Than usual and since spring he has had loose droppings, which is unusual for him even on Spring grass, so vet did bloods, and we re-tested for cushings which came back mostly fine but cushings test was at 64.1 this time. He didn't feel that this was high enough to worry to much about yet,
He also doesn't think that the behaviour and droppings are linked to cushings and wants to re-test in 3 months to see if it's stable at that result or getting worse. And decide weather to Medicate at that time. A probiotic seems to of mostly sorted out his tummy.
The only classic symptoms he has is abnormal coat loss, which he has had for years anyway and was partly why I tested him back in 2013.
He is out 24/7 muzzled (shires) on old grazing currently at a good weight, but doesn't need any more! Never had laminitis.
I have no experience with the disease, can it cause more erratic/spooky behaviour?
What can I expect in the future? Has anyone not medicated? I have looked into supplements but to be honest think it's best not to change anything untill he is re-tested so that the results are accurate
Anyone got any advise/insights?
 
If you're on facebook there is a very good group called "Equine Cushings Disease Horses" worth joining over 5 thousand members. If not the talk about laminitis is another page you can ask questions and a expert will answer.
 
mightymammoth said:
If you're on facebook there is a very good group called "Equine Cushings Disease Horses" worth joining over 5 thousand members. If not the talk about laminitis is another page you can ask questions and a expert will answer.
Click to expand...

yes that is a very good group. Your question has been asked there many times so you can trawl through the responses to get some ideas.
As for my own experience it is that test results mean little. To my mind far more important are all the symptoms, and there are lots. Mine tested at 16 (<29) I was not satisfied with the results so used a different lab (Liphook) and it came back at 11 (<29) there was a weeks difference between the results. My horse had every cushings symptom possible. My vet accepted this and put him on a prascend trail which made a lot of difference.
For me it is a case of looking at the symptoms and the test results together.
 
My pony tested 55 and I went straight for medication. My vet said the number is irrelevant and you treat the horse if they have symptoms. He had mild symptoms but I have had him a long time so I knew he wasn't right.

I wouldn't waste time or money on herbal stuff personally, if they are off and have a higher than normal result, get straight on the Pracend. It has worked wonders for my pony.
 
Thank you for your response, I have joined the Facebook group.
Other than late coat shedding and his spooky behaviour he has no symptoms, I think that is why the vet said leave it 3 months.
I looked at the herb route but it looks to me like it would cost the same per day as 1 pracend tablet anyway, so if I use anything I feel it may aswell be pracend, happy to be informed otherwise tho. I am very open minded about this sort of stuff.
 
The thing you leave it three months you are hitting the seasonal rise anyway so it will likely have increased.
I'd be erring on the side of starting treating if he were mine.
 
Swift00 said:
Thank you for your response, I have joined the Facebook group.
Other than late coat shedding and his spooky behaviour he has no symptoms, I think that is why the vet said leave it 3 months.
I looked at the herb route but it looks to me like it would cost the same per day as 1 pracend tablet anyway, so if I use anything I feel it may aswell be pracend, happy to be informed otherwise tho. I am very open minded about this sort of stuff.
Click to expand...

I would definitely use prascend. I think it is important if you are going to treat it to use medication as you want to see what results it produces. Oh and if you do go down that route introduce it very slowly, quarter tablet per day building up to say 1 over say 3 weeks or so.
 
Thanks, will definitely use pracend if that is what the vet recommends, happy to start now or later, following the vets advice at the moment by waiting 3 months. think he wants to test in 3 months because it is the seasonal rise, and will give a better idea how bad it is as he said it is the best time to test in the autumn.
In the meantime Topspec have recommended to put him on their antilam with Topchop zero. At the moment he is on long but poor grazing 24/7 with a shires muzzle
 
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