Feeling bit deflated and worried

[Chestnutmare]

Mr T hasn't been his usual self recently, been quite lathergic,loose droppings although these have now gone back to normal, feeling very hot and sweating in armpits, ears and not wanting to do any work at all.

I know its been really warm recently, I've cut down his hard feed now too, he gets ad lib dry hay, his front hooves have been quite warm to the touch and at the coronet band... no pulse mind you!

I had a chat to YO tonight about him as she also has her suspicions of him, she also feels the same as I do, that he could have the onset of Cushings!.... my heart pounded and stomach turned upside down in an instant, I'd been thinking it for the last few days to be honest, his water intake has increased, urinating a little more.

I just have the horrible gut feeling about it all, then where would it put things in the sense of me buying him and giving him treatment for it.
But before I do any more worrying like mad, I am giving it about 10 days to see how he things go before I call the vet for bloods to be taken.

Just feeling bit down in the dumps about it.... only cos I have got so attached to this boy my heart would break if he got cushings and then I'd be worried about him getting lami come spring time.... my brain is in massive overdrive tonight!!

Hope all will be ok with him.

Cadbury's swiss rolls all round

 

[SusieT]

Why 10 days? Your horse is unwell now-address it before it goes any further. You are only guessing, he could have a virus or anything..

 

[Flame_]

That does sound quite worrying to me too. Could you just be getting carried away with extra rugs, it is very mild? If he couldn't just be over-rugged you really ought to press on with the vet as your horse certainly sounds uncomfortable.

 

[caramel]

If it was me I'd ring the vet and discuss it with them. If they request a visit, then let them come and look. Put your mind at rest.

 

[McNally]

Although vets bills are expensive by leaving it 10 days your just going to have more time to worry and stress- apart from the fact it he has something like a virus of some sort he could be treated and ok by then!
I often get these idea's in my head and gloat over the what if's for days or longer getting really worried, often its something simple and maybe the vet can put your mind at rest?

Good luck its horrible thinking your beloved horse is sick xx

 

[ebonyallen]

I am sorry to hear this, but have to say if this was my horse I would get the vet out sooner rather than later. I would want to know either way what the problem was, it could be cushings or it could be something else untill the vet is called you are not going to know, and if I had to go another ten day I would worry myself into the ground, what ever the problem is he is not right and I think the vet would be the person to put your mind at rest. Let us know how he goes.

 

[attheponies]

Hi, even if it is Cushing's it's not the end of the world as in my experience this can be managed and doesn't mean imminent disaster. Agree with those above though that this could be a virus or anything, so perhaps get the vet to check sooner rather than later.

 

[attheponies]

Meant to also say, hope he perks up and to let us know.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

If I were you, I'd get the vet to come out on Tuesday. This isn't an emergency but you do need the vet fairly soon.
I'm not really sure why you and YO think this could be Cushings, it sounds more like a virus to me. If it is a virus, of course, the vet won't be able to do anything other than make him comfortable (any more than a doctor can give us something for a virus). If it should turn out to be Cushings, it is manageable.
Give him a few days off, make him as comfortable s you can, which might mean no hard feed at all. If you have some bute available, it shouldn't do any harm, so long as you don't give him any on Monday, so that vet can see him as is. Try not to do anything which would heat him up in the meantime.
Fingers crossed he feels better soon.

 

[Chestnutmare]

There does seem to be a virus about at the moment, as a couple of other horses on the yard are also feeling quite under the weather with same symptoms as each other.

His temp was 37.5 this afternoon, he is only wearing a fleece cooler tonight he was wearing his l/w stable rug today whilst in, they went out for a couple of hours.

He's bright and perky in himself still very cheeky, just warm he's been fully clipped - although this is now growing back well, I do not over rug him at all due to being a connie he isn't a cold type of boy anyway.

 

[LeneHorse]

If I were you, I'd get the vet to come out on Tuesday. This isn't an emergency but you do need the vet fairly soon.
I'm not really sure why you and YO think this could be Cushings, it sounds more like a virus to me. If it is a virus, of course, the vet won't be able to do anything other than make him comfortable (any more than a doctor can give us something for a virus). If it should turn out to be Cushings, it is manageable.
Give him a few days off, make him as comfortable s you can, which might mean no hard feed at all. If you have some bute available, it shouldn't do any harm, so long as you don't give him any on Monday, so that vet can see him as is. Try not to do anything which would heat him up in the meantime.
Fingers crossed he feels better soon.

Good sensible advice.
The only thing I would add is that if it is Cushings, laminitis can strike at any time, in fact they can be more prone to it in winter. So if he shows signs of laminitis over the weekend you should get the emergency vet out as I know from experience they can go downhill quite fast.
Otherwise as quote above says, keep him comfortable and call the vet on tuesday (and try not to worry too much). Hopefully it will be a virus and not Cushings. My girl has a virus just now so can sympathise with you.

 

[MrsMozart]

What makes you think it's Cushings? I have some limited knowledge of it - LL has it in a mild form.

Does your lad have any strange fat deposits?

It sounds virus like. The recent barking mad weather has sent a number of horses systems wonky, with mares coming into season, etc.

 

[Chestnutmare]

No fatty deposits at all no, I fully understand Lami, my old had it, absolutly no pulse, I am keeping a close eye on this and fully realise that it can strike at any time of the year.

My YO going to check on him again probably about 8ish and if theres any change she will let me know straight away.

I am hoping that it is just a virus... that a bit of rest and tlc will cure, with the fact that a couple others are also feeling somewhat poorly too.

 

[Spotsrock]

Lottie has cushings but low grade so not an issue. I just watch her diet and rug carefully.

 

[Tammytoo]

Cushings sufferers are most vulnerable to lami in the winter and can get it suddenly and dramatically. Because it is hormone related the shorter days are the danger times i.e. now!

I would get the vet in sooner rather than later because if it isn't a virus then the symptoms are remarkably similar to cushings. Not all horses display all the symptoms, but sweating and excess weeing are some of them.

 

[Chestnutmare]

Tbh I actually think I will get the vet out this week as I would rather know what the score is... just cos of his symptoms really they are of a worry to me and like you all say.. quicker treatment is the key.

How the hell would I approach his owner about that one?... if it is... hmmmm awkward!

 

[LeneHorse]

No fatty deposits at all no, I fully understand Lami, my old had it, absolutly no pulse, I am keeping a close eye on this and fully realise that it can strike at any time of the year.

Sorry, you said in your original post you were worried about him getting laminitis 'come springtime' so that's why I and others mentioned that Cushings sufferers can be more prone to gettting it in the winter, in case you didn't know about this. I didn't mean to sound patronising.
How is he today?

 

[aintgotnohay]

wot is the treatment for cushings anyway if it is cushings???

 

[Chestnutmare]

Sorry, you said in your original post you were worried about him getting laminitis 'come springtime' so that's why I and others mentioned that Cushings sufferers can be more prone to gettting it in the winter, in case you didn't know about this. I didn't mean to sound patronising.
How is he today?

I do not think I fully explained myself very well last night I was just having so many thoughts go through my head about him... cried buckets too.

My old lad suffered a nasty bout of Lami in winter with slight rotation... not nice at all, so am so aware of it.

He is absolutely fine in himself not depressed in the slightest, took him for a walk in hand this am, he's busy smashing his jolly ball around the stable too.

He's very alert in himself so hoping for good news really
I've cut out his senior mix too, trying to also eliminate if he could have a reaction as it's a new feed to him, although being mixed in with his old feed.

We shall see though.

 

[Tammytoo]

The only effective treatment (but not a cure) is the drug pergolide, marketed now for horses as Prascend. Dosage depends on blood test levels. It gets the horse back to normal and you then keep an eye on his weight and feed a fibre based diet. He needs to be tested again in October when the days start getting shorter to make sure his dosage is correct going into winter.

 

[ruby1512]

My horse has Cushings and he's insulin resistant he's 12 years old, he has Prascent one tablet a day and Metformin 12 tabs in the morning 12 tabs tea time and he's doing really well, cushings isn't the end of the world nowadays.

 

[LeneHorse]

It's good to hear he's more like himself today. It's such a relief when you go up and they are looking better. I hate that feeling when you are driving up to the yard thinking 'what am i going to find this morning'.
Anyway keep us posted about his progress