your thoughts Cushings?

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Finlib

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Our 21 year old anglo arab was diagnosed with Cushings in February after suffering 5 abscesses from Nov to Feb. He had no other symptoms at all .
Blood test was 230!! Started on Prascend 1 tablet a day .Tested on 25/4 reading 31 .No abscesses since February feet looking good.
Slightly off on a circle at trot on a front foot on Friday so gave the farrier a call given his history he came out and found a bit of pus in toe cleared it out and said to poultice and phone him on Tuesday morning.
He is very slowly getting worse (not 'broken ' leg lame) but now slightly lame at walk .I will phone the farrier first thing on Tuesday

Interestingly over the last couple of days I have seem him wee 3 times. I know excess urination is a symptom of Cushings but never saw him wee before! If his reading is 31 (3 weeks ago) then surely his Cushings is under control so why suddenly do I see him weeing and he has an abscess again after 3 months clear?.
I will discuss with the vet and farrier on Tuesday but interested in peoples opinion.
Obviously I will phone the vet if he gets a lot worse but at present he is eating and mooching about so don't feel its an emergency.
Why do horses do this on a bank holiday !!!
 
Bear in mind the spring grass has come through more since end of April. Is he off the grass? If not, you may need to sort that initially. It could be that his levels have risen suddenly - when we called it a day with my CB she had gone up to 525 despite being on Prascend, and it came out of nowhere in the middle of winter. She had also developed abscess after abscess. I'm not saying that's the case with yours, and I hope it isn't, but medical problems don't always follow the rules. His diet may need adjusting, or the amount of Prascend - it does progress. Fingers crossed for him.
 
You could try the EMS, PPID (Cushings) and laminitis UK group on Facebook. The lady that runs that is very knowledgable and helpful.
 
Mine, who has been on Prascend for the past 2 years has just started weeing on hacks again. The vet is coming to test him on Tuesday to see if the dose needs increasing.
 
He is on a short field with one of my other horses a 27yr old T/B The same field he was on all of April and May the vet thought it was ok for him .We haven't had a rush of grass here as it has been cold at night.
He was already on a low starch feed and unmolassed sugar beet before his diagnosis so vet was more than happy with his feed regime.
The vet(and farrier) didn't see him as high risk laminitis no fat pads no pulses good muscle tone ideal weight.
Will monitor and chat to the vet and farrier on Tuesday
Don't do facebook (bit of a dinosaur!)
 
This is a good knowledgable site for all things Cushings related

http://www.thelaminitissite.org/ppid.html

*
*Laminitis*- often first noticed in the autumn (August - October) or occurring later in life for the first time* → laminitis any time of year.
NB clinical signs of laminitis due to PPID can be subtle, possibly because high levels of beta-endorphin lead to high pain tolerance, so "foot-soreness" rather than obvious laminitis may be noticed. *See*Laminitis p 98.
 
Thanks for the link I had read this before but hadn't saved it .
Definetly an abcess as pus on poultice .
He is not very very lame so will cary on today and phone farrier and vet tomorrow to talk about options as I don't think its an emergency.
I do wonder if he needs an increase to Prascend so will chat with the vet about a blood test to see levels again.
I was feeling very positive in April when his level had come down dramatically this feels like a set back
Still hopefully I can sort it out .
 
When he was first diagnosed I tried feeding agnus castus (Cushy-VX®) in his feed alongside the Prascend but he point blank refused to eat the food whatever I tried to disguise it with .As Prascend can cause a drop in appetite I decided to just get him to eat his feed as I need to maintain his weight .
Cushy -VX is a liquid is a powder more palettable ?
He looks more comfortable today changed the poultice and pus at the toe possibly need the farrier to take a look and will phone the vet for advice.
 
Farrier was out Tuesday and vet Wednesday
Definitely an abscess larger drain hole cleared out by the farrier no pulses.Vet wanted him started on bute and he is now much more comfortable and pottering about which is clearing the puss out more.
Both vet and farrier think that the abscess is a grit penetrating the poor quality hoof at the toe dating to before he was put on Prascend .It is going to take several months to grow out to solid hoof.
They both feel we are winning.
Vet doesn't recommend another blood test as there are no other indications. Has suggested a retest in July (apparently they don't recommend a retest Aug-Oct)
Haven't seen him weeing in the last couple of days and his water bucket is not being drained down . I must have been unlucky to see him wee several times in those first couple of day.
If another abscess occurs in the next 2/3 months will x-ray to see if pockets are being left causing a reoccurrence.
They both feel this is the tail end of the problems relating to before he started medication
I have now got some agnus castus but he still won't touch food with it him. Trying again with the tiniest amount in and increasing very gradually any thoughts on how to disguise it.
 
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