Good, but odd, news from vet.....

[Grumpy Herbert]

My 15 year old gelding has been drinking and peeing a lot recently, and was beginning to lose weight too. His coat is really awful - he looks like a moth eaten old rug! I suspected Cushings, or worse, so called the vet to take some bloods etc. (he is a total needle-phobic, but somehow the vet managed it, bless her!) She suspected kidney problems. Anyway, the blood results have come back and there isn't a single thing wrong with him!!! The vet was really surprised, because she was sure something wasn't right, but they tested for absolutely everything. She thinks that the over drinking is probably a stable vice and that perhaps it is pushing his food through too quickly, hence the weight loss. I'm just so relieved the tests have come back clear. Owning this horse has been a very steep learning curve, I tell you, but I'm so glad that he's ok.

 

[brightmount]

To be honest, my horses are peeing for England at the moment, and this morning I was struck by the rivers coming out of every stable on the yard!!!! I thought that maybe the spring grass has this effect, as I know when my horse comes in off the grass, she drinks half a tubtrug full of water.

And the coat may look awful as they all do at this time of year when they are moulting their winter coat.

Hopefully your neddy is totally OK

 

[JGKJ]

Thats great news that he hasnt got Cushing's!

I know that mine are peeing ALOT more at the moment, must be all the grass their getting! And like lynwood said it could well be the winter coat coming out that makes it look awful!

Did the vet actually test for Cushing's, because when my pony was tested for it, they came out the evening before to inject him with (steroids or something, could be wrong) and then the body should recognise its got enough of it and stop producing it. Horses with Cushings dont stop making it, and therefore when they come the next day and take the bloods, if theres to much they know its Cushings. Correct me if im wrong here cushings owners but i think thats how it works! Unless they can just test for it in normal blood tests?

 

[MurphysMinder]

You are right I am sure, my pony had a specific test for cushings, one in the evening and one so many hours later.I hope your pony hasn't got Cushings Prilly but it is worth checking the vet has done the proper test.

 

[brighteyes]

In tests, Cushing's doesn't always show up!

 

[Grumpy Herbert]

The vet was pretty certain it wasn't Cushings, but I will ask her if the test was done. She's coming back out in a few weeks to take more tests, as we're restricting his water to a normal amount. (he has automatic drinkers in his stable and field - we're going to give him measured buckets now) We need to check that this isn't causing him any problems. I'll have a word about the Cushings test then. It's interesting to hear that others are peeing a lot too - maybe it is spring grass! Is anyone elses horse's coat awful at the moment? I know they can get a bit mangey looking at this time of year, but Woody's is really horrid!

 

[JGKJ]

My vets (even though they had been seeing Kelly for years) never once suggested they thought he had Cushing's. It was only when he got really bad that we said look we want the Cushing's test done.

Im sure the only way to test is if they visit twice, once to inject the stuff, then again to take blood. I got the impression they couldnt just test for it with normal bloods?

 

[JennyMare]

HI, I have a post (currently on page 3, Long summer coat coming through)) about my 21yr mare's wooly coat. She is peeing a lot too, but not drinking much overnight. I put the excess peeing down to spring grass, she is like that every spring. I too have had tests done - blood tests, not the full cushings test, and her blood results were all normal. Her coat is very long, not moulting, but quite shiny. My vet reckons it's not cushings but just a change in her coat, either just down to her age, or the odd weather we have had recently. Have a look at my post - others have replied about their wooly neddies. Hope this helps.

 

[JGKJ]

What i would say is if you do suspect Cushing's, insist to your vet that you want a test done. My vets were ready to have my old lad put to sleep and didnt even entertain the idea of him having Cushing's, but we werent going to let it rest, and he did have it. All im saying is you know your horse not the vets! Im not saying they do have it, theres every chance they wont, but if you do have your suspicions, you make sure your vets listen! Something ive had to do alot during my ponys illness!