Managing a horse with Cushings without drugs. Any tips?

D

dozzie

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 November 2006
Messages
8,670
Location
Hampshire
Visit site
I suspect my oldie may have Cushings.

I would like him to stay out at grass with my other oldie if possible. Otherwise I think it would compromise his quality of life and that of my other oldie.

I am concerned about laminitis but have read that it is most likely to occur in the Autumn with Cushings horses. So maybe worth considering drugs later in the year if cushings is confirmed.

However, I am reluctant to put him on drugs unless absolutely necessary so just wondering if anyone manages their cushings horse without drugs and any tips they can give me.

He has his feet trimmed every six weeks but is currently unshod and retired.

I know he will need to be clipped just not sure when to go for it! I was thinking of a low trace for now and then in a month do a full clip? Or would it be better to full clip now and put his rug back on when it is cold?

I would also appreciate advice on feeding/worming and anything else that people have found useful.

I am not thinking about extending his life,he has been retired for 8 years, but just want to ensure he is comfortable and happy.
 
I think part of its going to be the usual anti laminitis thing i.e reduce sugar intake keep weight down etc. My believe with regards to clipping is to take it all off then rug as necessary as I would rather they were a bit cold than too hot, obviously decide for yourself if you think he will be too hot during the summer sun. It could be worth looking at supplements that might help prevent laminitis. Its why I feed my old welsh bluechip pro as I believe the pro and pre biotics help slightly to prevent laminintis but that is just my view. The baileys website has some really good stuff on laminitis that it may be worth looking at.
Its worth talking to your vet aswell as they can probably suggest alterations you could make to his environment and possibly confirm if it probably is cushing or not.
Good luck
 
Thanks. I have spoken to my vet and we have decided to wait another week or so to see if the coat starts to come out.

If I clip him in a couple of weeks, will he grow another long coat or will he grow a summer coat? Or will he grow nothing until the Autumn?

I wouldnt normally clip this late.
 
There are herbal supplements for cushings, cush aid and cush x come to mind.

Laminitis is possible at any time of year unfortunately with cushings.

After clipping, he will start growing his original woolly coat back. It will grow back at the same rate or a bit faster than clipping a non-cushings horse.

Some of the typical symptoms for cushings are pot belly, drinking and weeing a lot, muscle wasting, and tiredness, as well as the long hairy curly coat.
 
Thanks. He has the pot belly and dipped back but has always been a bit potbellied and dipped in the back (conformationally challenged!)

So he has some of the symptoms but not the full blown symptoms. Last year he had what I would describe as an early Autumn coat all summer. So I began to suspect last year and spoke to my vet then. His current coat isnt really curly. But it is very long and thick and not coming out this year.

I spoke to my vet last week again and we agreed to wait a few more weeks to see what happens and in the meantime he is off the Spring grass. He is carrying a good amount of weight, although difficult to tell with all the coat, and he is now on Happy hoof.
 
Hi there

I use Agnus Castus, and Magnesium oxide for drug-free treatment of one of my horses. Laminitis can occur all year round sadly with Cushings horses.

Cassandra
 
If you look under horse supplements on ebay there is a natural products site that recommends herbs for horses with issues like yours.I have been using them for my horses and they have made a difference.
Im now trying pain relief herb but its too early to tell you if its working.
 
clipping regularly to prevent discomfort due to the long hair coat, another symptom of cushings is excess sweating, which is considered a side effect of the long hair coat, so this means clipping at times of year when you think what the hell?!

Due to the excess drinking, you need to make sure he has a constant work supply.... and be prepared to clear out the bedding more frequently......

Foot care, farrier will start being a more regular occurrence, and be prepared for the increased risk of lami!! this means its a good idea to do a sugar free or minimal sugar diet, not high energy etc, to ensure you are minimising this risk as much as possible. Often people do add supplements like devils claw or chastetree berry, however these are not scientifically proven to make any massive impact!

The muscle wastage and pot bellied (these are linked) are difficult to over come, basically its due to increased protein metabolism in the body due to the hormone in balance, so what you need, if possible, is more protein and fibre in the diet, so lots of hay and haylage etc and no oats etc...... this is also good as teeth problems can occur!

Some people also use herbal remedies as stated, or acupuncture as well to try to lighten the horses mood, but again no scientific backing........

Remember without the medical treatment he may become depressed due to the hormone changes, which with meds would balance out a bit better, so dont seem suprised if this happens but DON'T try to feed high energy food to compensate as this will sky rocket your lami risk!

Hope this helps! Good luck caring for your boy!
 
Last year we found out one of ours has cushings. We have him fully clipped around march every year with a rug on after, as one of the main symtons is long hair,but in the summer he does have a normal summer coat. He has for tablets everyday given to him mixed with ribeana in a syringe. We do have to be carefull to make sure he doesn't get lamintes. Another sympton he suffers from is drinking a lot and there for going to the toilet more than most. He does have muscle wasteage and a pot belly but i'm not sure wether this is just due to the lack of exersise he gets!! We have him at grass all year with access to as much hay as he wants. He will occasionaly get a feed of pony nuts and alfa a but never anything more. He has the same worming routine as the other horses.

I'm pretty sure since last year when we started giving him the tablets his condition has improved (the tablets cost around £30 a month). We never tried him with herbel remedies as he is doing well with the tablets and because of the lack of evidence to support them.

Hope this helps!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top