possible cushings diesease

W

weebarney

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 January 2009
Messages
2,038
Location
England
Visit site
Cushings is not something I've ever known much about other than they get a long coat, so I happened to be reading about it yesterday and realised that loss of topline and dipped back are signs of cushings. My pony is 27 and he has had a dipped back for maybe 3 years ish which i put down to old age he has also started hanging onto his winter coat so I clip him in the spring to tidy him up.
If this is cushings is it better he starts on medication sooner rather than later even if it doesn't appear to be bothering him?
 
The 33 year old I have on my yard was similar to yours, his topline was going if not kept in regular work and over the last few years he was holding onto a thicker coat during the summer.
He never had laminitis which is often the thing that makes people get testing done so he continued happily until about 2 years ago when he rapidly lost weight, he started drinking and peeing excessively and was going downhill very rapidly so was tested and immediately put on prascend before results were through, it took a few weeks for him to stabilise and pick up, a lot longer than he took to go down in the first place and for a few days it looked as if he might not pull through.
In hindsight he should have been tested earlier but he was so well, he competed and got placed in a ODE just a month before his rapid deterioration, I just thought it was his age taking its toll and his owners would have the if its not broke dont fix it attitude.
You can, I think get, testing done free and it may prevent him getting a bad bout of laminitis or like mine having a real crisis, he is now managed on 1/2 a tablet daily but otherwise needs no other special treatment and still does very light work.
 
There is a post to a free offer I think by the laminitis trust that is on at the moment. I had my mare tested the week before I found out about the offer and fortunately she doesn't have it. If you have to pay my vet quoted £50 for the test but I haven't had the bill yet.
 
Ok so sounds like better get onto this soon as if it is cushings, I will look into finding this laminitis trust voucher as money is tight at the moment.
 
Hi there

Definitely get her tested. The test is free and should give you a definitive answer. My boy was diagnosed with cushings last week after an attack of laminitis which resulted in rotation of all 4 pedal bones. He is on 1mg prescend per day. His ACHT levels were only 25 over normal range but enough to cause the laminitis. The last 9 weeks have been so hard for both of us, so the earlier you can confirm the cushings the sooner you can treat the symptoms. My boy is only 13!
 
Hutch02 said:
Hi there

Definitely get her tested. The test is free and should give you a definitive answer. My boy was diagnosed with cushings last week after an attack of laminitis which resulted in rotation of all 4 pedal bones. He is on 1mg prescend per day. His ACHT levels were only 25 over normal range but enough to cause the laminitis. The last 9 weeks have been so hard for both of us, so the earlier you can confirm the cushings the sooner you can treat the symptoms. My boy is only 13!
Click to expand...

I'm another one with a younger horse (14 yrs) with Cushings. She didn't have a hairy coat or any other obvious symptoms but just 'wasn't right' so I took advantage of the free test to rule it out and was shocked when it came back positive. Her ACHT levels were similar to yours Hutch02 but are back down to normal on 1mg prascend which she has been on since end May. Out of interest Hutch02 what breed is yours? Mines is irish cob x and a good doer. I'm still terrified of laminitis and I know that winter is a bad time for cushings horses so not looking forward to the months ahead. :(

So I would definitely say to anyone who had any worries that their horse might have it to get them tested. As mentioned above there are various free test offers around - ask your vet - but you will probably have to pay the vet call out - it is just the lab costs for the test that are free I think.
 
Hi LenneHorse, my boy is a warmblood x but we think the x is irish draught. He is due to have another test in a few weeks to see how levels are doing, will also be tested for insulin resistence again to double check as last test for this was negative. My boy has had three undiagnosed lamenesses over the last few years, all of which have happened in August/September. I was sure that he had low grade laminitis but vet didn't agree and he was due to go to Newmarket for a bone scan. He didn't make it due to the acute attack, but now he is confirmed as cushingnoid I believe that my instincts were right! My boy has always had a cresty neck, but apart from that and the lami no other signs. I agree that it is worth testing because if your horse/pony is positive then the sooner you start to treat symptoms the better and happier your horse/pony will feel.
 
Hutch02 - mine also tested negative for IR but to me she is a prime candidate for it as shehas always had a weight problem and foot problems. Think I'll speak to the vet about getting her re-tested. Hope your boy makes a good recovery from laminitis. It just seems so unfair that they have got Cushings disease at such a young age when it is usually thought to be a disease of older horses.
 
I totally agree LenneHorse. I was sure my boy would be positive for IR and not cushings! I don't know about you but I am really struggling with the whole thing, but I think the laminitis has been the hardest part. Now we know the cause we can hopefully prevent any future attacks. My vet said that if cushings is caught early and the symptoms treated there is no reason why they cannot have a normal healthy life. My vet also said it will not shorten their life expectancy. Not sure about mine though!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top