Talk to me about Cushings...

Hippophilia

Hippophilia

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Experiences please! Have you had a horse diagnosed with Cushings? What were the symptoms and how did manage it? My 22 yr old TB has a long summer coat and took an age to loose her winter fluff. Are these danger signs?
 
Hippophilia said:
Experiences please! Have you had a horse diagnosed with Cushings? What were the symptoms and how did manage it? My 22 yr old TB has a long summer coat and took an age to loose her winter fluff. Are these danger signs?
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Yep. Difficulty with losing winter coat is a sign.

http://www.talkaboutlaminitis.co.uk/ppid-symptoms-and-diagnosis/

My old boy had a nasty hoof abscess following his routine vacs in 2010 (age 24), then a salivary gland infection, then cellulitits.

I know now that was the start.

I overhauled his diet and he was happy and healthy. Last summer he didn't lose his coat until August but I put it down to the unpredictable weather.

But then this spring he just looked dull in his coat and I felt something was amiss. I took advantage of a special offer on lab tests and had him tested this April. The vet thought I was being silly as he couldn't see any obvious signs of Cushings.

His ACTH came back at over 200 (should have been 29).

He had 1mg Pracsend and was tested again in June. His level was 500 :eek:

We are now on 2mg Prascend and we'll see what happens next month when he is tested again.

My advice would be to have your horse tested as soon as there is any doubt.
If I had known all this in 2010, I would have had him tested then and maybe we wouldn't be struggling to get it under control now.

This is an excellent group with masses of files and articles.

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/EquineCushings/
 
Thanks for those links - I will definitely join the Yahoo group. I spoke with my vet yesterday and she suggested it could just be a mineral deficiency, but after reading your experience Oberon I think I will insist on a Cushings test, as you say to would be best to catch it early while it may be managed more easily. Vibes to your boy :)
 
I started feeding balanced minerals last August and charted my results here

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=498827&highlight=minerals

(of course, I didn't know he had Cushings at the time) but he looked amazing all winter and I put it down to the diet helping him despite the Cushings.

I stopped bucket feeding in the spring as he just wasn't interested but I started feeding Pro Balance + and linseed a month ago as he looked like he needed a boost.

His hooves in particular have improved with a thicker sole and tighter white line despite the grass and mud.

So it is worth testing if you are in any doubt. The Cushings will make them insulin resistant - so adequate levels of copper and zinc to iron in particular is also very important to address.
 
if you do a search on here for cushings you should find lots of posts. my mare didnt lose her coat properly last year and then just didnt seem like herself, a bit grumpy and listless and she was also cribbing in the field as well(she has always done this after her feed) . i got her tested in august and her levels were 172 and normal should have been about under 50, started on 1 prascend daily and have gradually increased to 2 1/2 daily as levels still not low enough, last reading was 48.9 and normal should be under 29...she will be tested again in a few weeks and im keeping my fingers crossed that she is within normal levels. the normal levels fluctuate according to the length of day which is why there are 2 different normal levels quoted. hope this makes sense to you....
 
Go onto talkaboutcushings.com. They have a tonof information and a couple of videos of vets talking about aspects of Cushings. You can also download a voucher to hand to your vets to get money off the lab test (or free).

The symptoms of Cushings are far more than the late shedding of coat and long curly coat. Other symptoms include confusion, laminitis, mild ataxia, obvious inner distress, infestations and skin infections that don't heal well, depression, loss of appetite, weight loss, sagging belly. All these symptoms are caused by the tumour on the pituitary gland that is then responsible for the massive and constant overproduction of cortisone, the fight or flight hormone. Not all horses will display all symptoms. Be aware of the statistics: I think it's about 50% of horses aged over 15 and 80% of horses aged over 21 will have Cushings. The youngest recorded was 8 yrs old I think! If they live long enough, all horses with Cushigs WILL get laminitis.

My horse didn't have a noticeable coat shedding problem but he had skin infections, mite infestation, ataxia, confusion, depression. I thought he was on his way out at the age of 27 but thank god got the ACTH test done (he was 200) and he's at the high end of normal now on 2mg Pergolode daily. Have to say though that there's something not quite right about him as he is losing weight despite summer grass and 2 hard feeds a day. I suspect it's to do with the Cushings as Pergolide/Prascend only addresses the symptoms, it isn't a cure for the underlying tumour.
 
Mine was always laminitis prone, and diagnosed as Cushings in her early 20's. I have to clip and rug her through the winter but pergolide has definitely stabilised her. She's returned to a more "normal" shape, having gained the lost muscle from neck and quarters, and the pot belly has reduced. The biggest visible change has been the loss of the fatty deposits over the eyes, looking back on photos I think she had these long before any other symptoms. She has more energy and spark again now too, which is the biggest plus.

Changing to a natural trimmer (dare I say barefoot?) has also made a big difference to the concavity and shape of her feet so I am hoping she'll go on for a while longer. She has restricted grazing in summer, a high magnesium lick, and small amounts of HiFi. As we're quite high up and have sheep type grazing she can go out properly in winter.
 
had two horses with it. first one 15, laminitic to start, odema of the sheath and thick coat in summer. Lasted another 10 years! pergolide made him depressed so stopped it after a couple of weeks. Other was 22, thick coat again, then laminitic, above eye socket bulges outwards rather than inwards. was weeing everywhere, flooding out of stable. blood test count of 280, so tried pergolide again, which controlled weeing straight away, but again made him depressed and listless and after 4 weeks stopped eating! Gave it up and within 3 days was back to normal self. Feet kept errupting with puss every 2 weeks or so as they kept getting infected around the horn, which was soft and mushy underneath.
eventually had to put him down 5 months later due to this. poor chap. I know everyone loves pergolide, but my experience of it and read the side effects, is not good. weigh it up.
good luck
 
Lots of new research and findings about there being huge amounts of bacteria hiding in the (disrupted) laminae of these animals, and the problems treating/reducing the numbers. Oh THERE'S a surprise!
 
Hi, thought I would post a quick update on my girl as you were all so kind to reply. I decided to make some management changes and give it a month before going for the test. She was wormed with Invermectin (normally I only worm her in April and October) and put on a ration balancer, and the change has been dramatic. Her summer coat is finally in, glossy and shiny as always. Her weight has improved and I feel I have my horse back. I also rode yesterday for the first time since November ( My sharer has been exercising her since pregnancy and a newborn stopped me riding) so feeling pretty good right now :D. Thanks again for all your replies, I hope she keeps this condition through the winter and if not she will be straight to the vets for the test.
 
thats good to hear but please be aware that autumn is the worst time for cushings horses as their levels change with the length of the days and they are more prone to laminitis. if you think your horse is at risk why not get the blood test done now so you know for definate.....not all horses show the classic symptoms..my vet was surprised that my mares levels came back so high as she doesnt really look like a cushings horse but i knew she wasnt quite right....good luck
 
Neither of mine have coat issues. one was diagnosed following laminitis despite hint being a sling fit pony on no grass. The other was diagnosed recently after failing to got weight off despite diet and exercise and just not being herself.
 
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