DizzyDoughnut
Well-Known Member
I had my old pony tested about a year ago, because he was weeing a lot, had dropped weight and muscle and just seemed dull and quiet, he'd never been quiet in his life. He came back as positive, I can't remember the exact figure that came back but I think it was around 150 so not crazily high levels. since then he's been on Prascend and initially did perk up but despite living out with more grass and food than he's ever had before didn't gain weight back easily, the vet has checked him over when he's been to re test and wasn't concerned and advised to carry on as we were.
Fast forward to now and I forgot to order more prascend, by the time I got it he'd been off it for about a week. In that week he really perked up so I thought I'd give it a bit longer before starting the pink pills again. He's now gaining weight and is absolutely full of himself. I though I might just be kidding myself so I got my my OH to take him out to the field today for the first time in weeks without telling him anything was different and he asked what I'd done to old pony because it was like leading him in his younger days, he was ready to run and prancing about in full dramatic welsh style. The only symptom he still seems to have is slightly excessive weeing.
When I got him tested initially he had just had a stressful few months, after living in a stable herd of 3 for about 18 years I'd had to PTS his best buddy the year before, then I had his other long term friend PTS, he was very down about that. I then borrowed a friend for him which seemed to make him happy, then I got my youngster, unfortunately the borrowed friend hated the new annoying child so he had to go back to his own human. So at 20 years old after living most of his life with the same friends, they had at times been out as part of a bigger herd as well, but always the 3 of them together. I'm now thinking that all of that change would have been pretty tough on him and even though it was a couple of months after everything had settled down when I got him tested initially that perhaps he was still stressed/depressed and that could have affected the result.
I'm obviously going to talk to my vet about this and am planning to have him retested while he's off the pills so see what it comes back as. But I'm conflicted what to do if he does come back as positive for PPID, he is so noticeably happier off the pills and he's gaining weight and muscle again, I'm leaning towards not medicating him because what would be the point in medicating to hopefully prolong his life and slow progression if that longer life would be miserable for him, I'd rather he was happy and just enjoyed whatever time he has and PTS when the time comes. But if I've been medicating him for a year and he doesn't actually have PPID could the medication be the cause of him not gaining weight and being dull etc? What effect does prascend actually have on a horse that doesn't need it?
ETA reading that back I've realised I'm not conflicted at all if he is still positive then I'm not going to medicate him again at this point, I'd rather he was happy and enjoying life. I'm also not entirely sure what my question is, it's just al been going round in my head the last few days.
Fast forward to now and I forgot to order more prascend, by the time I got it he'd been off it for about a week. In that week he really perked up so I thought I'd give it a bit longer before starting the pink pills again. He's now gaining weight and is absolutely full of himself. I though I might just be kidding myself so I got my my OH to take him out to the field today for the first time in weeks without telling him anything was different and he asked what I'd done to old pony because it was like leading him in his younger days, he was ready to run and prancing about in full dramatic welsh style. The only symptom he still seems to have is slightly excessive weeing.
When I got him tested initially he had just had a stressful few months, after living in a stable herd of 3 for about 18 years I'd had to PTS his best buddy the year before, then I had his other long term friend PTS, he was very down about that. I then borrowed a friend for him which seemed to make him happy, then I got my youngster, unfortunately the borrowed friend hated the new annoying child so he had to go back to his own human. So at 20 years old after living most of his life with the same friends, they had at times been out as part of a bigger herd as well, but always the 3 of them together. I'm now thinking that all of that change would have been pretty tough on him and even though it was a couple of months after everything had settled down when I got him tested initially that perhaps he was still stressed/depressed and that could have affected the result.
I'm obviously going to talk to my vet about this and am planning to have him retested while he's off the pills so see what it comes back as. But I'm conflicted what to do if he does come back as positive for PPID, he is so noticeably happier off the pills and he's gaining weight and muscle again, I'm leaning towards not medicating him because what would be the point in medicating to hopefully prolong his life and slow progression if that longer life would be miserable for him, I'd rather he was happy and just enjoyed whatever time he has and PTS when the time comes. But if I've been medicating him for a year and he doesn't actually have PPID could the medication be the cause of him not gaining weight and being dull etc? What effect does prascend actually have on a horse that doesn't need it?
ETA reading that back I've realised I'm not conflicted at all if he is still positive then I'm not going to medicate him again at this point, I'd rather he was happy and enjoying life. I'm also not entirely sure what my question is, it's just al been going round in my head the last few days.
