Some good cushings vibes please..

My girls now on the meds, ate them fine this morning. I'm just worrying so much about her getting lammy like last November. Her field isn't bare and there's a fair bit of grass in it though I'm only letting her out for 3 or 4 hours max each day. Shes also getting ridden everyday. I asked the vet about her feed and he said it's fine as long as she only has a tiny bit of 16+ mix with it. She's on soaked hay as well. When she got lammy in November she was on like 7 hour turn out in this same field, haylage and much larger feeds. Does it seem like I'm treating her alright? She's not bothered at all about staying in, she would quite happily live in as long as she has a haynet! Also do the drugs help some what with the laminitis? Thanks again kellyheroes, you have done so well with your pony. I hope for you she keeps on going for much much longer!
 
Don't worry, my pony was 39 when he died, he had cushings for many years, luckily he never had lami, just a very woolly coat. Managed properly with help and advice from our super vet, we had many happy years and he acctually died of an unrelated problem.
 
thereaper said:
That's made me happier, so sorry bout your girl. Is the lammy quite easy to keep at bay and do the drugs do anything I help the laminitis? She's starting the treatment tomorrow and I'm just trying to get grips with preventing laminitis. Thats my main concern though she's not overweight at all and is ridden 5/6 times a week.
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My 23 y o TBx gelding was diagnosed two years ago. I became a member of the Yahoo Equine Cushings/Insulin Resistance group and my Cushings learning curve went astonomical. First thing I must say to contradict what someone said about reducing the dose of Pergolide in the autumn.
Please do not do that. The test for Cushings measures ACTH (don't ask me what it stands for), it goes up and down according to the seasons and the autumn is when it is at it's highest, that's why most diagnosis of Cushings comes after a bout of lami in the autumn, (as your mare had in November). It peaks in December and then decreases again towards the summer. The labs usually seasonally adjust their measures of ACTH to take this into account.
Also about Pergolide and Prascend. My vet told me that legally they are not allowed to prescribe the human drug now that there is an equivalent for horses. My vets are allowed to carry on prescribing Pergolide to those horses already stable on it but for any new diagnosis, they would have to prescribe Prascend.
The cost of the drugs can vary enormously. My vet said he could not get Pergolide for the price I can get it at my local chemist. My advice would be to shop around, even Boots are cheaper in some parts of the country. I tried several internet pet dispensaries but local chemists were cheaper.
The main thing the EC/IR group says is if you keep the ACTH level down to within normal levels, it effectively stops the progression and removes the threat of laminitis. I test his ACTH regularly coming up to autumn to make sure the dose is adequate to keep it down.
You carry on enjoying your mare, you will have many more years of happy days with her and she will grow old gracefully as normal.
 
Thanks so much. I trust my vet with my horse, he's got a fantastic reputation in Cheshire. Her levels are going to be retested in 4 weeks time. Already she seems a lot perkier, was fantastic to ride today and was the little powerful pony I'd forgotten she was like. Shes eating the medication perfectly, no problem with them what so ever! She loves her food! The price doesn't matter too much, although I can't now afford a younger horse it doesn't matter at all I'd rather have my old girl happy and healthy. Thanks to everyone for such fantastic vibes.
 
I found, through having a very helpful Pharmacist husband, that the actual cost of the Pergolide is pretty cheap----- as I said in a previous post, we finished on about £10 ish for 30 tabs. What really bumps up the cost is the extra charge from the chemist plus dispensing fee etc. If you can find a very friendly local chemist--- especially a horse/pet owner--- you may be able to reduce the costs! Good luck with your horse. :)
 
Also ask you vet about the cushings supplements instead of Prascend. There have been some very very good things on this forum with people having good results with them. When we thought my mare had cushings, my vet was all in favour of trying her on them too.

But my vet was adamant that it is not Cushings that normally kills horses off, its other things they may have going on so it can be managed.
 
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