muff747
Well-Known Member
Also posted on NL
Winter lami in a Cushings horse or pony is not "caused" by lush grazing, frosted grass etc, although that won't help getting the lami under control.
I learnt this when my TBx was diagnosed in 2009 with Cushings. I was shocked because he has none of the typical Cushings signs, for instance very hairy, drinking loads, and as a result peeing loads, and quite often the hollows above their eyes are filled in - my horse had none of these signs but his blood test said he definitely is.
I joined this online group http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/EquineCushings/ for help and support for owners of Cushings equines. This is where I learnt that it is the increase in the ACTH in their blood which indicates they are at great risk of laminitis.
They discovered that all horses experience an increase in the ACTH starting late summer and rising until late December. (cant remember what it stands for but find out on the web site) but if a horse has Cushings, it rises much higher and if it is not brought down to "normal" levels, bang, they get hit with laminitis. It is the ACTH which is measured in a blood test to diagnose Cushings.
Please go on this web site for information http://www.ecirhorse.com/
and then join the Cushing group. They have well over 10,000 members now all contributing their experiences and advice on how to manage their diets etc. There are expert moderators on there who will come to your aid if you cannot get the lami under control. No amount of soaking hay/haylage or starving or keeping off grass will help if the ACTH is still very high, the lami will continue until it is brought down.
Have I stressed it enough? It is not the grass that causes the lami in a Cushings horse and if your horse has lami at this time of year it WILL almost certainly have cushings, even if it is under 10 years of age, it is still possible!
Winter lami in a Cushings horse or pony is not "caused" by lush grazing, frosted grass etc, although that won't help getting the lami under control.
I learnt this when my TBx was diagnosed in 2009 with Cushings. I was shocked because he has none of the typical Cushings signs, for instance very hairy, drinking loads, and as a result peeing loads, and quite often the hollows above their eyes are filled in - my horse had none of these signs but his blood test said he definitely is.
I joined this online group http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/EquineCushings/ for help and support for owners of Cushings equines. This is where I learnt that it is the increase in the ACTH in their blood which indicates they are at great risk of laminitis.
They discovered that all horses experience an increase in the ACTH starting late summer and rising until late December. (cant remember what it stands for but find out on the web site) but if a horse has Cushings, it rises much higher and if it is not brought down to "normal" levels, bang, they get hit with laminitis. It is the ACTH which is measured in a blood test to diagnose Cushings.
Please go on this web site for information http://www.ecirhorse.com/
and then join the Cushing group. They have well over 10,000 members now all contributing their experiences and advice on how to manage their diets etc. There are expert moderators on there who will come to your aid if you cannot get the lami under control. No amount of soaking hay/haylage or starving or keeping off grass will help if the ACTH is still very high, the lami will continue until it is brought down.
Have I stressed it enough? It is not the grass that causes the lami in a Cushings horse and if your horse has lami at this time of year it WILL almost certainly have cushings, even if it is under 10 years of age, it is still possible!
Testing for Cushings is also important in unexplained laminitis and recurrent symptoms or difficulty in stabilizing.
