Vitex 4 Equids for Cushings - anyone tried it?

HollyWoozle

HollyWoozle

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Our pony Cosmo appears to have Cushings (he has not been tested but it's quite evident and the vet agreed when she visited a few months ago) and his coat is exceedingly thick. He's also looking quite thin in the past week or two when he has always been a very good doer and he has other symptoms such as the fatty deposits over his eyes. He has always been prone to laminitis so we are managing this with Happy Hoof and he will soon be on restricted grazing (with hay, supplements etc). We will also be getting the vet out again in the next week or two.

I have been looking into treatments and have found Vitex 4 Equids which contains extract of the herb Vitex Agnus Castus and has apparently been quite successful in some Cushings cases. I was just wondering if anyone has had any experience with this and if so, what do you think of it?

We would of course consider other treatments if necessary but I'd like to give the herb a try. Cosmo still seems reasonably happy and has been galloping around following the others. He is about 17 years old, retired and lives out 24/7.

Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks! :)
 
I've not used the Vitex version, but something similar. My pony has Cushings and didn't respond to the Chasteberry extract. She also hated eating anything with it in (but is a very fussy pone). We eventually put her on Pergolide which did the trick and she showed improvement in 10 days. If your pony's symptoms are not too severe, it's probably worth trying.

Sue
 
Not tried that but gave Lacey crushed chasteberry to start with early her symtoms. This worked for a few months, but then she had to go on Pergolide which was very good.
 
Many thanks for the replies. I think I will discuss it with the vet and then hopefully give it a try. :) I guess he will need the Pergolide or equivalent eventually but perhaps the Vitex could help for now.
 
Basically the medical "treatment" for cushings (you cannot treat it, just manage it to a normal state....... its actually caused by a pituitary tumour (non malignant!) so cant treat but just stop the effects of it) is PERGOLIDE. Its a fab drug and will do the job (in the majority of cases, unfortunatly no drug is perfect!)

However Vitex is a Chastetree berry extract herbal remedy, some people swear by it and in mild cases it can do a fab job and helping the symptoms (its a common therapy in human cushings) in more severe cases people say it helps minimise the symptoms along with the treatment with pergolide.

You can use it at the same time as pergolide so using it will not hinder your pergolide use (which I would recommend starting A.s.a.p as it is a progressive disease, and the earlier you start preventative treatment the better, as it minimising the risk of the devastating lami that can occur with cushings!)

so ye, no harm in using it! :) just be aware it is not a medical treatment....... :)

Hope this helps!
 
Before you buy expensive supplements, you need to get your pony tested. This will tell you if he actually has Cushings and if so what the levels are. My pony tested positive for Cushings over 5 years ago - I did try herbal supplements, but they made no difference whatsoever. He has now been on Pergolide 1mg a day for 5 years and up until recently this did the trick. He has just gone down with laminitis and his pergolide has been increased to 1.25 mg a day. The Pergolide works out considerably cheaper than supplements - 100 x 1mg tablets is £35.00 from the chemist with a veterinary prescription.
 
I'm in the same situation as you - 28yo pony hasn't been tested but have 2 vets have seen him & agree that they are as sure as they can be without the blood tests that he has Cushings. At the suggestion of the first I started him on Cushinaze last September & he has responded well . 2nd vet agreed that he has responded well.
My decision has been to keep him on this until he starts to suffer & then we will pts. He is arthritic & starting to lose his teeth as well, but for the time being he is still going for occasional light hacks & since being on the cushinaze has felt well enough to have the odd manic moment in the field. I'm sure putting him on pergolide would keep him going for longer but there no tests or drugs are risk free, he has had a good life & semi retirement.
 
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