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Post by kelly on Oct 23, 2008 7:46:58 GMT -5
The last month or so I've noticed that Rock seems to be losing weight. His topline seems to be disappearing, and I can easily feel his ribs and sometimes see them through his very thick coat. I plan on calling my vet this morning for a consult, but have been researching the Internet in the meantime. What do you guys know about Cushings? He seems to have some of the symptoms I read about. Then I read that you can't actually test for it this time of year.
I've upped his Ultium, rice bran, beet pulp and added alfalfa hay to his free choice timothy. Does not seem to be helping. His teeth were done in April, and he's current on worming. The other horses are fat. I'd say Rock has gone from a 4.5 - 5.5 this summer to a 3.5 - 4. He has had a hard time staying warm in damp weather for a few years. He is blanketed.
Advice?
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Post by kelly on Oct 23, 2008 12:32:21 GMT -5
Just got off the phone with my vet. She said it's not a good time of year to test for cushings, but that he has quite a few indicators. We talked for a long time about all his issues. With a heavy heart, I am considering putting him down. Money is tight, tight, tight, and Rock is just getting older and keeps adding to his list of ailments. I don't want him to suffer. Ugh. I need to think on this awhile I guess.  |
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Post by Unbound on Oct 23, 2008 13:11:43 GMT -5
Cushings is manageable, but it is expensive, I think, to treat. Go to pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/EquineCushings/You won't find a more knowledgeable group of people than at that site, IMO. Good luck with your decisions. You will know in your heart when it is time. |
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Post by Smay on Oct 24, 2008 7:42:41 GMT -5
Well, without a test or much of a consult, I'd be hesitant to euth a horse because he "might" have Cushings.... What is his age, breed and size? Just out of curiousity... becaues certain "types" are much more prone to really HAVING Cushings. I lost my Arab to complications of it this past spring. The most common "ending" for a Cushings horse is for their feet to go bad. Mine was getting Pergolide, but I believe we put him on it too late...my vet was very hesitant to diagnose him. ANYWAY, don't write off treatment due to the expense just yet... Pergolide doesn't have to be expensive... you can get it through compounding pharmacies online for about $30 a month for the 1 mg/ml dose... some horses do extremely well on it and improve greatly. Especially if Rock doesn't have bad feet ( laminitis, abscessing, stretched white line, thrush or white line disease) yet. Many vets WILL prescribe it without tests just from the horse's observed symptoms such as you describe.
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Post by kelly on Oct 24, 2008 12:15:47 GMT -5
I'm not sure how I can test to be sure when I'm told it will likely result in a false positive this time of year. I'm sure my vet would allow some trial and error in medicating, but she said it's around $60-$120/month depending on how much they need. My last paycheck was in July. I am living on savings, hubby's income and my part-time job until this rotten economy improves. I don't have the disposable income to experiment without really knowing if we're on the right track. My hope was to get a definitive diagnosis and treat. How quickly are results seen once they're on the pergolide?
In the meantime, Rock looks like crap. He is a 16 year old OTTB with a long history of issues - colic surgery for a gas colic (long, difficult recovery - 9 days in the hospital), 10 day hospital stay for an impaction colic, multiple small gas colics over the years, scoliosis, a bout with neuro rhino, needs bute to comfortably hold his hind legs up for trims and had bouts of very sore feet off and on this summer. I'm honestly surprised he's still with us.
I hope I don't come across as snarky - I do appreciate everyone's advice. I'm frustrated that for the first time ever, finances are dictating my choices. I've always given my animals whatever they need no matter the cost. I don't want him to suffer. I just don't know what to do. When I do think about euth, I feel sick.
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Post by Smay on Oct 24, 2008 14:12:25 GMT -5
Yah, that's too bad.... he sounds like he has a host of other problems that may be making his life miserable, and the sore feet could even be one more indicator of Cushings because MEGA things can go wrong inside their feet due to the disease, and not ONLY laminitis, but all kinds of other things. Mine got septic pedal osteitis. And it was bad.
What I'm saying above though, is that many vets will prescribe Pergolide WITHOUT any lab testing of the horse... they diagnose Cushings from a visual symptom, USUALLY the non-shedding, curly, long or rough hair coat. Sometimes increased water consumption, heat intolerance, low grade infections, running eyes, lumpy fat deposits, skin problems.... a HOST of other symptoms appear. And yes, the Pergolide costs whatever your VET wants to charge you, unfortunately. I know for a fact that my vet marked the stuff up at least 100%. In order to maintain a civil working relationship with her I paid it. But if you are able to get her to write the prescription, you CAN get it online through a compounding pharmacy such as Pet Health Pharmacy ( dot com) for MUCH MUCH LESS. The common starting dose is the 1 mg in 1 ml of suspension. You squirt this tiny syringe of oil into their mouth and they usually love it because it's flavored! It does work fast to help with their symptoms.... my arab grew in a very pretty coat this spring after starting the drug in Dec. and had already seemed perkier, less thirsty, less sweaty, and with better appetite. But his feet were already very damaged inside. He abscessed horribly and rotated 30 degrees. His tendon started to contract due to his non-weight bearing in that foot. His opposing foot also became laminitic. It was just horrible and I refused further surgery and we put him down. It was all about the pain for him. So I'd say if your horse is in pain, do what's right.
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