Sophstar
Well-Known Member
My 21 year old pony came in foot sore last thurs and was put on box rest for 2 weeks. On the evening of the 3rd day, he lost the plot and after trying to throw himself over the stable door and run at the stable walls, we literally had to board up the stable door so he couldn't hurt himself. Following morning I had to have a vet come assess him, as he continued to go crazy as soon as he heard my other pony leave the stable next door. Vet assessed his feet with the foot pincher thingys and said he showed no sign of soreness at all, and after seeing him march and trot round his stable, said he was sound enough to go out in the bare paddock, which he promptly cantered round for the 1st 20 minutes and where he has to stay for 1 - 2 weeks just to keep off the grass sugar.
He had blood taken and was tested for cushings. The vet rang me with results explaining that the 'normal' levels (of what she didn't say) should read around 47 however his came in 'slightly' raised at 76, which apparently is to be expected for this time of year. She said he may have had a bit of a blip with the foot soreness as they all escaped into another field and spent the night charging round and gorging themselves or it could be the early signs of cushings. She asked me if I 1) wanted him to go straight onto the medication or 2) just keep an eye on him and keep maintaining a healthy weight and see how he goes. I chose to not go with drugs for the mean time as I don't think it's the right time just yet to whack him onto medication when it's still only a possibility. There is a pony at the yard whose readings came back at just over 100 and another vet said he wasn't in the necessary band that require medication but just to maintain strict control of his weight.
Any fellow cushings sufferers who have any thoughts? What were your ponies levels on the blood tests? I'm happy to get better control of his weight (he was only 10kg off his ideal weight when he went sore) and get him into a muzzle if necessary! He is currently sound and charging round in his paddock, but still traumatised from his box rest experience and now having to introduce him gradually back to his stable as he rears up at the door as soon as you lock it. Dam ponies.
He had blood taken and was tested for cushings. The vet rang me with results explaining that the 'normal' levels (of what she didn't say) should read around 47 however his came in 'slightly' raised at 76, which apparently is to be expected for this time of year. She said he may have had a bit of a blip with the foot soreness as they all escaped into another field and spent the night charging round and gorging themselves or it could be the early signs of cushings. She asked me if I 1) wanted him to go straight onto the medication or 2) just keep an eye on him and keep maintaining a healthy weight and see how he goes. I chose to not go with drugs for the mean time as I don't think it's the right time just yet to whack him onto medication when it's still only a possibility. There is a pony at the yard whose readings came back at just over 100 and another vet said he wasn't in the necessary band that require medication but just to maintain strict control of his weight.
Any fellow cushings sufferers who have any thoughts? What were your ponies levels on the blood tests? I'm happy to get better control of his weight (he was only 10kg off his ideal weight when he went sore) and get him into a muzzle if necessary! He is currently sound and charging round in his paddock, but still traumatised from his box rest experience and now having to introduce him gradually back to his stable as he rears up at the door as soon as you lock it. Dam ponies.
