People with borderline Cushings horses

[stangs]

What did your horse get on the ACTH test and when did you decide to start giving Prascend, if you did?

My boy’s tested as 27, vet says to keep an eye on it but not treat for now. Shows none of the clinical symptoms except for being pot-bellied (but is also fat and out of proper work).

 

[paddy555]

3 tests all under 20 over a short period of time.
Lowest was 11.2.

Started giving prascend at that time. Horse had full blown cushings. Little confidence in ACTH tests.

If I wanted a better answer would go for TRH test.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

When mine was borderline I got the TRH test done which was negative.

 

[Gloi]

If you suspect anything about him is changing I'd do a prascend trial for a couple of months.

 

[Britestar]

Mine was borderline as well, but I chose to treat.
He owes me nothing, I owe him everything.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

Mine was borderline as well, but I chose to treat.
He owes me nothing, I owe him everything.

I nurtured my horse to 27yrs in fabulous condition until he fractured a pastern in the field. I owed it to him to make sure I wasn’t unnecessarily treating him for something he didn’t have. Prascend isn’t without side-effects.

I don’t think it’s good to give Prascend unless you either have a positive test or they’re symptomatic for Cushings. Mine was tested because of minor issues and his advanced age and I wanted to catch it sooner rather than later IF he had it.

 

[meleeka]

Mine was just very sensitive to grass. He’s only 15 so I’m just monitoring for now.

My old mare came back borderline and I really wish I’d insisted on a Prascend trial or an ACTH test. I lost her to laminitis due to a suspected pedal bone infection caused by an abscess. I’ll never know if it was preventable.

 

[Britestar]

I nurtured my horse to 27yrs in fabulous condition until he fractured a pastern in the field. I owed it to him to make sure I wasn’t unnecessarily treating him for something he didn’t have. Prascend isn’t without side-effects.

I don’t think it’s good to give Prascend unless you either have a positive test or they’re symptomatic for Cushings. Mine was tested because of minor issues and his advanced age and I wanted to catch it sooner rather than later IF he had it.

Mine was symptomatic hence the reason to treat.
He is 26 now and doing well.

 

[TheOldTrout]

I got my mare tested the winter before last (2021-22) because she was drinking more water than usual. Her result was 28, no other symptoms than the water drinking, and she was back drinking the same amount as previously in the winter just gone. (I suspect there was a non-pathological reason for the drinking, such as eating a higher proportion of hay and haylage to grass, so she was drinking more because she was getting less moisture from her food.) Vet didn't suggest medication so she's not on any.

 

[stangs]

Thanks all. Will get a TRH and ACTH done next month then and see how they compare.

If you suspect anything about him is changing I'd do a prascend trial for a couple of months.

He’s definitely got something metabolic going on (signs of a not brilliant immune system, thin soles) but I don’t know how much of that is EMS and how much of that could be Cushings. My main concern is reducing the risk of laminitis as much as possible.

I’d also heard there were risks attached to bringing a horse off Prascend after a trial?

 

[Gloi]

Thanks all. Will get a TRH and ACTH done next month then and see how they compare.


He’s definitely got something metabolic going on (signs of a not brilliant immune system, thin soles) but I don’t know how much of that is EMS and how much of that could be Cushings. My main concern is reducing the risk of laminitis as much as possible.

I’d also heard there were risks attached to bringing a horse off Prascend after a trial?

I don't know how long the Cushing's had been going on with mine because the first sign something was wrong was when he started stopping for a pee when being ridden. We had the three 25yo ponies tested in the autumn and all had high scores and started on Prascend. The other two, one had had laminitis and the other rain rash which only afterwards was put down as Cushing's.
You'll have to ask the vet about risks I'm afraid.

 

[paddy555]

Thanks all. Will get a TRH and ACTH done next month then and see how they compare.


He’s definitely got something metabolic going on (signs of a not brilliant immune system, thin soles) but I don’t know how much of that is EMS and how much of that could be Cushings. My main concern is reducing the risk of laminitis as much as possible.

I’d also heard there were risks attached to bringing a horse off Prascend after a trial?

then I think it is a good idea to get the TRH test done.

ETA There are many signs of cushings which are not often listed. (not saying that is the case with yours) It is only when the horse has been on prascend and a symptom is gone, or even comes back if the dose is insufficient and needs increasing that you start to realise.
I can relate to Gloi's stopping for a pee whilst riding and rain rash except for mine it was hives, everywhere and in fact I was considering PTS a 12yo horse because of this problem. (and I don't PTS easily) Once on prascend it was bye bye to so many things I had never considered could be related to cushings.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Louis was borderline but his coat just didn't shed in spring just after I tested him, my vet looked at him and said to put him on half a tablet for now, this spring he shed much better and has a much better coat.

So I say if in doubt put on a small dose.

He also had some fat pads in some areas they went once on prascend he looks much better for being on it.

 

[Caol Ila]

My horse wasn’t that high (can’t remember what exactly it was) but I had her tested because of muscle wastage despite being in work, sweating just during the 15 minute walk to the park, and low energy.

She felt better once I got the dose right, but she definitely got ‘the veil’ when we first started. She also became very fussy about feed, which isn’t ideal with a horse who you’re trying to get weight on.

 

[stangs]

Low energy is definitely not a problem, and he's not sweating or peeing excessively - if anything, he's sweating and peeing less than you'd expect. Coat's been shed quickly, didn't get any rain rash or mud fever over the winter despite living out naked.

The things that have me concerned are more sarcoids developing, despite living as anti-sarcoid a lifestyle as is possible, and continued issues with thrush over the winter, worse than the other horses, though it's seemed to clear up completely over the last couple weeks.