Seasonal rise in Cushings horses

[ATrueClassAct]

I just read about the seasonal rise in cushings horses and was wondering if it also affects those on Prascend/Peroglide. My mare got lamy last November when we didn't know she had cushings and obviously now she's medicated for it due to the tests coming back 110 ACTH levels in Late June. But now she's on the drugs does that mean she isn't as much at risk of laminitis? She is on 4 hours max turn out in a field with ample grass. On old horse mix(only a tiny bit) and hi fi lite. Soaked hay twice a day. Ridden 6 times a week farely hard, very fit pony. She's got a grazing muzzle now but isn't using it. She can't go on a starvation paddock since our yard doesn't have the facility for one right now. ( we've got an old mare with severe chronic lamintis who really needs the paddock and isn't ridden so doesn't get to stretch her legs much).
So does she need special lamintic treatment over winter or does the Prascend help her?

 

[Tammytoo]

As the days get shorter, so hormone levels drop. (Cushings is hormomne related). Pergolide helps to balance the hormone levels, but it is adviseable to have your horse blood tested around October/November to ensure that the pergolide levels are sufficient.

I was unaware of this until last Christmas. My mare had been on Pergolide for about 3 years but suddenly went down with a lami attack in December (when the days are shortest). Tests showed that the drug dosage was no longer high enough and it was increased from 1 tablet to 1.5 tablets. She was soon back to "normal", but I now intend to have her tested every Oct/Nov to make sure the levels are OK!

If I were you I would cut out the mix completely and subsitute with a scoop of speedibeet (hi fibre, no sugar) and a cup of Lo-cal feed balancer. Veteran mixes are quite high protein so not really adviseable.

 

[ATrueClassAct]

I'm just sending my vet a text about her. Mine is in very early stages of cushings(ie) literally no symptoms and seems pretty alright now. I'm just really worrying about this winter.

 

[Tammytoo]

Just a note about symptoms - mine had no symptoms at all until she suddenly went down with lami one winter. She had no curly coat, no excess wee-ing etc. She still hasn't, but that's probably down to the pergolide.

Good luck with your mare.