the cost of testing for cushings?

Mine was diagnosed by the clinical signs .... do you really need the test done?

Sorry not really an answer, but sometimes it is so obvious, a test and any risk and cost involved, is unnecessary
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well i think he has it, and when i describe his symtoms to please they tend to agree but i thought it would be good to know for sure. now i just though it would be a simple case of a blood test cost about £50 (plus call out) but someone told me today to have there horse diagnosed it cost them £200 + call out
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My boy was also diagnosed via clinical signs(although not very obvious) - so again sorry not much help re the cost for the test. My vet did mention around the £250-£300 mark for all the tests!!!!!!!!! but didn't give a definite price.
 
I had mine done about 18 months ago. I read a lot about the various tests beforehand and opted for the insulin, glucose, cortisol (I think) and ACTH test. I think it worked out at around £100, which didn't include call-out because I took the mare to the vets. The advantage of these tests over the dexamethazone suppression is that there is a much lower/no risk of inducing laminitis, and also it's a one-off blood test. Thankfully she turned out not to have cushings. The Laminitis Trust site has lots of useful info about the tests if you want to find out more.
 
it depends what test you do.

If you have the dex supression test it will cost more as it is a dose of steroi,d a blood test (so 1 vet call out) then the next day anotherr blood test and another call out

so this will cost more, but it is the gold standard test.

The other good option is the ACTH stimulation test, this is one blood test and only one call out so should be a bit cheaper

there are other tests but these are less reliable and sensitive for cushings

hope this helps even though I cant give you a price.
Id just ask your vet!
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Direct measurement of ACTH and comparison with a seasonally adjusted reference range is considered the gold standard for equine cushings, the Dex suppression will produce a large number of false positives at certain times of the year.
 
one of my boys had a blood test which I was told would have picked up cushing and various other liver/kidney type problems it was £38 plus visit and vets time, I think in total it came to near £80. I dont know if maybe there would have been additional tests if the original one found abnormalities? maybe thats where the extra cost could come from?
thankfully my boy got the all clear fingers crossed for yours xx
 
My shettie was diognosed with cushings last nov my bill came to around £100, then he was put on pergolide and was retested 4 weeks later and cost another £100. They re-test to make sure he was having the right amount of pergolide, he is a changed pony he is happy again, I opted for the test as he is only 13 and quite young to have cushings but it as been worth it.
 
I had my gelding tested for cushings last week when the vet came to do his jabs and got the results today - negative thank goodness. My vet said he had no clinical symptoms but I had a niggle in the back of my mind as he is 20.

He had a blood test and they measured glucose, cortisol and insulin.

I haven't had the bill yet
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When I discussed my pony's symptoms and likelihood of him having cushings with major vet practice (who had recently operated on him for something entirely different) they said test very expensive and not worth doing for that reason - better to just put the pony onto pergolide - worked brilliantly and pony changed for the better almost overnight!
 
Had the ACTH test done on my pony last month (just to check pergolide was managing her cushings) Bill was:
Call out £17.88 (half price day)
Blood sample £13.00
Liphook lab fees £21.74.
I would defintely recommend doing the test, better than putting him on pergolide if he doesn't need it.

Ets. Looking at some of the charges above I think I love my vets.
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MM - liphook are really good!!! if horses with cushings are having difficulty being managed etc Andy Durham at liphook is a bit of a god on the subject!
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putting them on pergolide doesnt actually do any "harm" as such....... but I would just want the test to be sure. but thats just me! Im a vet student (nearly vet! ARGH scary!) and so I think I am now just a bit anal about everything!
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Stranger..... you might be right but I am just giving my advice on what I found through doing my research project for about 6 months on cushings disease and how it influences owners decision making about treatment of it.

Hope the OP has found this post helpful! and if it comes back positive that the pony in question is ok!
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It wasn't the fact pergolide might do harm I was thinking of Lucy, more the cost! Our girl came back with a "reading" of 16.8, which vet was happy with.
I think being a bit anal about everything definitely comes with being a 4th year student, having one as a daughter.
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