Feed advice, newly diagnosed cushings

[Rainbowbear]

Hi, my 24 year old 16hh retired ISH came out of winter unusually poor. I usually stop hard feed when out on her spring/summer/autumn field but continued to feed to gain some weight. I then noticed she was not losing her winter coat as usual so had bloods done and confirmed cushings as well as low white cell count and low red cell count. Her previous feed was molassed sugar beet, Dengie Hifi Molasses free and horse and pony mix. Since suspecting cushings, I changed to speedibeet (unmolassed), Dengie Alfa-A molasses free, micronised linseed and cut out any carrot or apple treats! She is on a seaweed supplement as recommended by the vet for the low red blood count and it has been suggested Supersolvitax would be good. I think she has gained some weight but still looks a bit 'ribby'. She is now on one pergolide a day for cushings. I feel like something is missing from her feed, but this could be because I was used to feeding a mix! Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks for reading.

 

[HelenBack]

You should have plenty of calories with what you're feeding already so you could just add a balancer to make sure she's getting all the vitamins and minerals she needs. If you do still want more calories then Allen and Page do some good feeds that are aimed at weight gain while still keeping the starch and sugar low, or you could try something like Baileys Ease and Excel.

A few carrots and apples are fine too so don't feel the need to be totally restrictive on those.

A couple of other thoughts are that depending on when you started the pergolide it can take a little while for it take full effect. Also it might be if she's retired as well that she's lost muscle and topline so might look poorer partly because of that rather than all because she's underweight.

 

[Kirstd33]

I had good results with a poor doer cob who lived out 24/7 over the harsh winter with Allen and Page Care and Gain with a big mug of linseed chucked in also.

 

[meleeka]

Her diet sounds ok to me. Allen & Page Care and Gain has had good reviews for weight grain safely. I’ve fed Cushcare which worked a little too well!

 

[9tails]

You may be overthinking but horses don't suddenly become laminitis prone as soon as they're diagnosed with Cushings, she can still have some treats. Cushcare Condition by Dodson & Horrell, as meleeka says above, is a fantastic conditioning feed. Mine went from skinny and ribby to tubby in a couple of months. If your grass is good and she's not going on hunger strike from the pergolide, feed sparingly and a bag will last a couple of months.

 

[Rainbowbear]

Thank you all, I really appreciate you taking the time to reply. I'll give the Cushcare Condition a try. Nice to know the occasional carrot wont hurt

 

[9tails]

Thank you all, I really appreciate you taking the time to reply. I'll give the Cushcare Condition a try. Nice to know the occasional carrot wont hurt

How are you getting the tablet into her?

 

[NOISYGIRL2]

Hi, my 24 year old 16hh retired ISH came out of winter unusually poor. I usually stop hard feed when out on her spring/summer/autumn field but continued to feed to gain some weight. I then noticed she was not losing her winter coat as usual so had bloods done and confirmed cushings as well as low white cell count and low red cell count. Her previous feed was molassed sugar beet, Dengie Hifi Molasses free and horse and pony mix. Since suspecting cushings, I changed to speedibeet (unmolassed), Dengie Alfa-A molasses free, micronised linseed and cut out any carrot or apple treats! She is on a seaweed supplement as recommended by the vet for the low red blood count and it has been suggested Supersolvitax would be good. I think she has gained some weight but still looks a bit 'ribby'. She is now on one pergolide a day for cushings. I feel like something is missing from her feed, but this could be because I was used to feeding a mix! Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks for reading.

You could swap the Alfa A to Alfa A Oil to give more calories, depending on how much micronised linseed you are feeding you can give up to 2 mugs a day. Other than that the feed you are currently using is good. How much speedibeet are you feeding, you could increase that its only 5% sugar/starch combined. I would steer clear of D & H Cushcare due to her blood results, they don't recommend it if there are issues like that, and if you wanted to change anything I'd go for the Allen and page option instead. Another option would be Equijewel or Baileys outshine but it stinks