Gum Proliferation aka Gingival Hyperplasia

[Red-1]

There is a free lab test voucher for cushings. You can have a free test once a year. The vet fee still needs paying, but that can be combined with another visit, such as vaccination.

https://www.careaboutcushings.co.uk/voucher-terms

 

[skinnydipper]

I won't be having him tested for cushings.

What harm will it do to have him tested, for peace of mind if nothing else?

 

[Sandstone1]

What harm will it do to have him tested, for peace of mind if nothing else?

Because ignorance is bliss? I really do not understand why some posters ask for advice and help and then completely ignore that advice anyway

 

[Birker2020]

I can see where this thread is heading yet again so I'm out. Every single thread I start these days actually. U.I again.

Thanks for the comments but I'll go with the people that know him best and that's the professionals: vets, farrier, dentist, staff and y.o. all who are totally bemused at the insistence that he has cushings like they were about EMS which he didn't have either.

 

[ycbm]

Nobody is insisting he has Cushings.

We just can't understand why you won't rule it out. I was on the receiving end of similar arguments a few years ago when it wasn't the question I had asked. I got cross because my pony had no symptoms of cushings except a touch of lami caused by a stupid loaner letting her get bellyfulls of spring grass.

I didn't want to test my pony because I wanted to sell her and didn't want to sell her with a cushings diagnosis, nor did I want to have to get or pay for a prescription for prascend for a pony without symptoms. If anything like that is holding you back you are, as I was, wrong.

In the end I gave my pony mucana, a herb which does what prascend does, and the result was obvious in her demeanour. I sold her to a lady who had another pony with cushings who didn't care whether she had it or not.
.

 

[Fleece Navidad]

I can see where this thread is heading yet again so I'm out. Every single thread I start these days actually.

Thanks for the comments but I'll go with the people that know him best and that's the professionals: vets, farrier, dentist, staff and y.o. all who are totally bemused at the insistence that he has cushings like they were about EMS which he didn't have either.

You asked if anyone had any experience, I shared the experience/information I had, you called it a leap...

There was no insistence he has Cushing's, simply a comment on what the EDT had said. It may not be relevant to you but it could help someone else.

Anyway, when I get hold of the article, I'll share it because it might be useful to someone if they search gingival hyperplasia in the future.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

You wouldn't have said she had cushings either looking at her but this was a month before diagnosis with trh stim result of 187. I thought mum was being a right tit suggesting we stim test what I thought was an asymptomatic 13yo.

But at the same time we tested (basal ACTH and stim) the pot bellied, sunken eyed 21yo tb tested, certain he'd be positive, but he was negative, and is still negative now at 23. So of course, Larry could be the same. But it's so so nice to have this peace of mind with older ones.


B no one is meaning poorly, people are just concerned for Larry and concerned for you: you don't need a sick horse to manage as well, and PPID testing is so cheap and easy but it can cause so many other issues not controlled there really is nothing to lose by testing for it. Rather, it would be an easy way of putting your mind at rest if you are right and he does not have it (but it's very easy to treat if he does).

 

[ycbm]

For others if Birker doesn't want to hear it, this is the AI Google result for the search " gingival hyperplasia horse cushings". I'm actually shocked, having read this, why the vet involved isn't recommending a cushings test.

 

[Amy May In A Manger]

This is such an interesting discussion.

I'm a huge fan of blood tests. Daisy (dog) has a full panel run every year. Admittedly testing her may be cheaper overall than a horse, but as a senior dog I want every tool available to me to keep her as well as possible.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

I am very much of the attitude that rule out everything you can where you can, too, in the least invasive way possible.

 

[Fleece Navidad]

Sharing this as well, I was sent it after my gelding was diagnosed and found it interesting as some of the possible comorbidities in the early findings were things we noticed first.

https://www.gddiergezondheid.nl/-/media/Files/Flyers-producten/flyers-Paard/PPID-Recommendations.pdf

 

[ycbm]

This is such an interesting discussion.

I'm a huge fan of blood tests. Daisy (dog) has a full panel run every year. Admittedly testing her may be cheaper overall than a horse, but as a senior dog I want every tool available to me to keep her as well as possible.

I think they are actually cheaper for horses AM. I had Ludo tested for various things on a regular basis. One set for minerals was £100 for the blood draw and first test and £10 per mineral. That was 2022.
.

 

[ycbm]

Sharing this as well, I was sent it after my gelding was diagnosed and found it interesting as some of the possible comorbidities in the early findings were things we noticed first.

https://www.gddiergezondheid.nl/-/media/Files/Flyers-producten/flyers-Paard/PPID-Recommendations.pdf

Tendon problems? I didn't know that, how interesting.
.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

Anyway b whatever you do going forward thank you for posting as I and I am sure many others have found it educational to learn about hyperplasia; I hadn't even heard of it. And I really hope you can get to the bottom of lovely Lari's issues. Take care and take heart that really no one means badly to you at all.

 

[Fleece Navidad]

Tendon problems? I didn't know that, how interesting.
.

I found it all very interesting! And the different reference ranges for different seasons. I test approx every 6 months and it's interesting to see how his levels vary.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

I think they are actually cheaper for horses AM. I had Ludo tested for various things on a regular basis. One set for minerals was £100 for the blood draw and first test and £10 per mineral. That was 2022.
.

It's about 80 here for a basic panel; PPID/metabolic panel adds 30 ish depending on lipids tested. So really not very much at all.
But the vouchers make it about 30 per horse for a first test iirc
I test a fair bit too just routinely really, much easier to spot problems before they become problems this way.

 

[Beausmate]

OP isn't going to test for PPID. And probably not even if her horse grew a coat like a poodle. For some reason, she is in denial and can't hear you through the sand she's buried her head in.

I have had three with Cushing's. The only things they had in common, were age and foot problems.

 

[Amy May In A Manger]

OP isn't going to test for PPID. And probably not even if her horse grew a coat like a poodle. For some reason, she is in denial and can't hear you through the sand she's buried her head in.

I have had three with Cushing's. The only things they had in common, were age and foot problems.

I thinks that's a bit unnecessary, and unkind.

The horse may or may not have Cushing's, it doesn't mean that the OP is in denial.

Is it wise to run bloods? Of course it is, we'd all agree on that.

 

[Tiddlypom]

One can only hope that the professionals who are involved with Lari do now advise the owner that the horse needs to be tested for Cushing’s. This latest symptom, the gingival hyperplasia, is yet another indicator that he has PPID.

It needs to be ruled in or out. My money (as the owner of two PPID mares who are on Prascend) is that he has it. If he’s not tested or medicated and he does have PPID he will continue to develop more and more symptoms. It might well end in a crisis.

Like many I am flummoxed as to why the owner is so reluctant to get this simple blood test done.

I am lucky that my own vets (first opinion, dental, chiro) keep well up on the latest veterinary research. I’d have been strongly steered to get the horse tested for PPID well before this had he been mine, and I would have followed their advice.

 

[ester]

Really interesting discussion and learnt a few things

I had Frank tested at least 3 times as he got older, first age 19 I think, no symptoms I just wanted to be sure I wasn’t missing something so it’s always weird to me when people would prefer to not know even when their horse actually has numerous symptoms and have had it suggested multiple times when advice has been requested.

 

[Beausmate]

I thinks that's a bit unnecessary, and unkind.

The horse may or may not have Cushing's, it doesn't mean that the OP is in denial.

Is it wise to run bloods? Of course it is, we'd all agree on that.

It is born of frustration. OP posts for advice, gets advised to test for Cushing's as the evidence is pretty clear to most people giving the advice but refuses to even consider it every time. A short time later, another post, the same advice given and the same response, with the OP getting all upset about it. Surely, if you wanted to help your horse, you would do it?

 

[ihatework]

I think Cushings is an interesting topic and I’ve got all sorts of IHW stuff swirling around my head. Will start a separate thread in due course with my brain dump so OP on this can ignore me and we can have the discussion without it being about a specific scenario

 

[skinnydipper]

I really do not understand why some posters ask for advice and help and then completely ignore that advice anyway

I think it is for attention. Happens on AAD. Asks for advice, people take the time to try and help. Advice is ignored.

 

[Beausmate]

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Bloody hell! I must be one of the tiny percentage of forum members not to be on UI. I've never been described as a keyboard warrior before. Sounds exciting. Do I get a big sword with the keyboard on it and a mousemat shield? Maybe a tin helmet? And a thick skin. Cool.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

[Content removed]

I think I'm on UI but I'm not trolling you. I've said before Lari is one of the hho horses I really really like. I'd pay for him to be tested if you'd let me, and be glad to be wrong, but worried for him & you over potential alternative diagnoses that could fit the problems he'd presented with.

 

[Sandstone1]

I think it is for attention. Happens on AAD. Asks for advice, people take the time to try and help. Advice is ignored.

I think you are right there. However, since when is it ok for someone to accuse people of being Trolls that are only replying to the original thread purpose? ie giving advice and opinions of the condition mentioned? Its really not on.

 

[Beausmate]

I think you are right there. However, since when is it ok for someone to accuse people of being Trolls that are only replying to the original thread purpose? ie giving advice and opinions of the condition mentioned? Its really not on.

People are only trying to help the OP to help her horse. Beats me why she asks sometimes.

 

[Tiddlypom]

ETA Accidental post, but I can’t really add anything more beyond what has been said already.

Apart from that a separate PPID general info and discussion thread would be a great idea, ihw.

ETA 2

I think you are right there. However, since when is it ok for someone to accuse people of being Trolls that are only replying to the original thread purpose? ie giving advice and opinions of the condition mentioned? Its really not on.

The AAD four were given multi day forum suspensions back in Feb for way less than for directly accusing another forum user of being a troll and/or a keyboard warrior .

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

In response to the posts above, agree its not just elderly ponies that get cushings, my Welsh D had it and was on prascend for several years

If you look up care about cushings, they do a yearly voucher to cover some of the costs of the tests (cant remember what it is you still pay for i think just the vet call out and lab fees?) Its been a few years now so I cant remember - they email you a voucher

 

[Sandstone1]

ETA Accidental post, but I can’t really add anything more beyond what has been said already.

Apart from that a separate PPID general info and discussion thread would be a great idea, ihw.

ETA 2


The AAD four were given multi day forum suspensions back in Feb for way less than for directly accusing another forum user of being a troll and/or a keyboard warrior .

Quite, I was openly called a troll by that poster recently. Again she has called people Trolls and keyboard warriors today. How come admin allow this but ban others for much less?
ETA It seems that the post calling people trolls has been removed.