PPID Blood Test Result - experiences please

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DD265

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The current threshold is 47, my boy tested this week at 53.

I got him tested because he has (over the course of a few months, although a few things have been present over years and I thought that was just him) shown the following symptoms to varying degrees:

Holding onto his winter coat
Shedding his summer coat early
Coarse summer coat (as though he had been clipped, but he wasn't!)
Slightly ribby even when a bit overweight
Napping (unusual for him)
Tanking off (unusual when ridden)
Spooking (unusual for him)
Sheath swells if kept in
Slightly sensitive on his feet
Lacking topline
Low grade lami

I can provide non-PPID explanations for all of the above but thought it was worth getting him tested so I have something I can monitor. At this point the vet doesn't think we should medicate and I agree, although I'm toying with something like Agnus Castus.

What are your experiences of horses testing at similar levels?
 
I can't help you with experience of borderline results as mine's was over 400 when first tested.

There are quite a few owners with borderline results on the facebook group 'Equine Cushings Disease Horses'. There are conflicting views on there regarding Agnus Castus but might help you decide what you want to do.
 
When my old mare was tested originally, she wasn't much higher than that. I chose to medicate her, as she had never had any signs of laminitis, and I didn't want her to get it. She had half a tablet daily for years, and only increased to one the last year of her life.
She was diagnosed at about 24 yrs old, and lived until 31. She was pts due to colic, nothing to do with her Cushings.
 
Merlin was also borderline when first tested: 44 - couldn't tolerate more than a quarter of a tablet of Prascend, becoming lethargic and miserable and picking at his food on a half. So we kept it at a quarter and he perked up no end, having a very happy summer. However, I was surprised by just how high his ACTH reading was when it was time for his Autumn blood test last year: 129.

My vet suggested I try him on chasteberry (I used C-Plus by Feedmark) alongside the quarter Prascend. We retested him 3 months later and his ACTH levels had come down by two thirds. They will come down anyway after the Autumn, but not by that much and vet was very pleased with the result. He was on cracking form this spring and looking nothing like his 19 years, going to grid clinics etc. Sadly, I lost him very suddenly in May to an unrelated issue so I can't give you more results than that.

HHO member mybfg tried her mare on C-Plus after she coliced on Prascend. She came back to post a while later and it had worked for her too.
 
Thanks all. I'll join that FB group and also look into Chasteberry.

Mrs B and Britestar I'm sorry that you both lost your horses x
 
Hi,
Take a look at the laminitis site and it will give you a link to the PPID/EMS facebook page and also there is a forum on the site with all the bumf on chasteberry etc...Prascend is the only thing that will control PPID unfortunately..
 
http://www.thelaminitissite.org

This is a very useful and knowledgable site . They have a link to their Facebook group where you'll get some really good advice from someone who is extremely knowledgable in all things cushings/ lami/ ems. Only facts based on research allowed.
 
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