Post by Admin on Aug 4, 2005 14:02:22 GMT 1
Subject : What is Cushings?
From : Chenoa
Date : 09.08.04 8:59:00 PM
Can anyone tell me what is Cushings and what are the symptoms?
I have an old pony, he is 24 and we have had him since he was six months old. He does not seem to have lost his winter coat fully and someone said in passing that maybe it,s the start of Cushings.
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From :
Date : 09.08.04 9:02:00 PM
sounds like it
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : Nicola
Date : 09.08.04 9:14:00 PM
Cushings is a tumour in the pituatry gland, the symptoms are a very woolly and often curley coat all year and excessive thirst. Horses with cushings are prone to lamintus. If you are worried the vet can do a simple test to find out. Although there can be many reasons why a horse still has a bit of coat, if you are at all worried i would speak o your vet who can put your mind at rest.
Nicola
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : JackieJATaylor
Date : 10.08.04 1:40:00 AM
True Cushing's is indeed caused by a tumour of the pituitary in horses - there'll be loads of info if you do a google search under Equine Cushing's disease.
If he is not shedding properly, it is highly likely he has it at that age, and he should be blood tested. There is a good drug treatment, and a cheaper herbal option which works well for many.
It does need treating as untreated in can lead to laminitis, diabetes, muscle loss, impaired immunity etc.
Jackie
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : Chenoa
Date : 10.08.04 2:24:00 AM
Well I had a good read up on it, and he hasn,t got any of the other symptoms. So I hope I have caught it nice and early. Will get the vet to test him as you suggested.
He,s not exactly wooly, but not his sleek smooth self. And now I come to think of it, a bit crinkly around the rump. I hope thats not the start of muscle wastage.
Thanks everyone. I,ll keep you posted.
Chenoa
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : Ruth
Date : 05.12.04 10:45:00 AM
Chenoa, how is your boy doing?
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : jenny
Date : 09.12.04 4:59:00 AM
Searching other threads I've come across several saying that Cushings is caused by being overweight. Is this true? Or have people been assuming it to be so because of the laminitis side of it?
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : Val (toons&co)
Date : 09.12.04 8:51:00 AM
Jenny, I think that it's a bit like people and diabetese really. Obesity in humans leads to metabollic disorders like diabetese. Obese horses are not an exception and they also get metabollic imabalances like EMS (also called periferal cushings). It isn't True Cushings as there isn't a tumour but symptoms are pretty similar. Now whether it's the imbalance that causes the obesity or the obesity that causes the imbalance is still not clear to me.
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : Petra
Date : 09.12.04 12:55:00 AM
I have a 24 yr old Connie X, 14hh who had Laminitis this spring.
She is clipped out but has woolly legs.
When you say excessive thirst with Cushings, what would you expect her to drink overnight?
She usually drinks a bucket and a half,obviously leaving half a bucket.
She is in good health and as fit as a fiddle.
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From :
Date : 09.12.04 1:17:00 PM
my pony has cushings with symptoms of excessive thirst and urination.he drinks three to four buckets overnight (12 hours.)is bedded on shavings having to remove 2 barrows of wet out a day . compared to his half a barrow of wet and 1 bucket before having cushings. still trying to get results been on periactin but no change. am now considering trying pergolide . he also has the wooly coat and muscle loss. but otherwise bright and healthy. he to is 24.
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : Jackie
Date : 09.12.04 8:01:00 PM
"Now whether it's the imbalance that causes the obesity or the obesity that causes the imbalance is still not clear to me."
I believe both can occur. Also, metabolic conditions like EMS do seem to lead to Cushing's eventually.
Jackie
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : jenny
Date : 10.12.04 4:59:00 AM
Val, that was interesting, thank you. I can also relate it to myself. I am elderly and overweight (and struggling to stop putting more on) though I don't have diabetes (yet). My OH has recently been diagnosed with it though he was only a bit overweight. Maybe men are more susceptible than women (like Cushings hits more geldings than mares.
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : jenny
Date : 10.12.04 8:44:00 AM
Jackie, thanks again. You've been a tremendous help and comfort in our journey of discovery re Cushings.
Blackie is on his fourth day of Pergolide and the night sweats seem to have stopped. Although he was drinking more water than he is now, I wouldn't have described his thirst as abnormal(three normal size buckets per day at most). He is still lame though not as bad as he was and much happier of himself. His friend Erik is eleven years old and chubby, hence my concern with weight. He doesn't get loads to eat but I've swopped from haylage to hay + hi fi lite to be on the safe side.
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : Jackie
Date : 10.12.04 7:53:00 PM
Four days is very fast - well done!
Jackie
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : Ruth
Date : 12.12.04 2:05:00 PM
Blackie went into the paddock today! It's only a short walk from his stable and he's walking much better ( touch wood ), he rolled and rolled!! He's been stuck in his stable for two weeks and he's been ever so good, I never thought Blackie would tolerate box rest but I suppose they know what's good for them. We kept an eye on him to make sure he didn't do anything silly but he was sensible, it was great to see him looking bright and happy again!
I'd like to thank all of you for your help and advice!!
From : Chenoa
Date : 09.08.04 8:59:00 PM
Can anyone tell me what is Cushings and what are the symptoms?
I have an old pony, he is 24 and we have had him since he was six months old. He does not seem to have lost his winter coat fully and someone said in passing that maybe it,s the start of Cushings.
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From :
Date : 09.08.04 9:02:00 PM
sounds like it
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : Nicola
Date : 09.08.04 9:14:00 PM
Cushings is a tumour in the pituatry gland, the symptoms are a very woolly and often curley coat all year and excessive thirst. Horses with cushings are prone to lamintus. If you are worried the vet can do a simple test to find out. Although there can be many reasons why a horse still has a bit of coat, if you are at all worried i would speak o your vet who can put your mind at rest.
Nicola
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : JackieJATaylor
Date : 10.08.04 1:40:00 AM
True Cushing's is indeed caused by a tumour of the pituitary in horses - there'll be loads of info if you do a google search under Equine Cushing's disease.
If he is not shedding properly, it is highly likely he has it at that age, and he should be blood tested. There is a good drug treatment, and a cheaper herbal option which works well for many.
It does need treating as untreated in can lead to laminitis, diabetes, muscle loss, impaired immunity etc.
Jackie
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : Chenoa
Date : 10.08.04 2:24:00 AM
Well I had a good read up on it, and he hasn,t got any of the other symptoms. So I hope I have caught it nice and early. Will get the vet to test him as you suggested.
He,s not exactly wooly, but not his sleek smooth self. And now I come to think of it, a bit crinkly around the rump. I hope thats not the start of muscle wastage.
Thanks everyone. I,ll keep you posted.
Chenoa
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : Ruth
Date : 05.12.04 10:45:00 AM
Chenoa, how is your boy doing?
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : jenny
Date : 09.12.04 4:59:00 AM
Searching other threads I've come across several saying that Cushings is caused by being overweight. Is this true? Or have people been assuming it to be so because of the laminitis side of it?
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : Val (toons&co)
Date : 09.12.04 8:51:00 AM
Jenny, I think that it's a bit like people and diabetese really. Obesity in humans leads to metabollic disorders like diabetese. Obese horses are not an exception and they also get metabollic imabalances like EMS (also called periferal cushings). It isn't True Cushings as there isn't a tumour but symptoms are pretty similar. Now whether it's the imbalance that causes the obesity or the obesity that causes the imbalance is still not clear to me.
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : Petra
Date : 09.12.04 12:55:00 AM
I have a 24 yr old Connie X, 14hh who had Laminitis this spring.
She is clipped out but has woolly legs.
When you say excessive thirst with Cushings, what would you expect her to drink overnight?
She usually drinks a bucket and a half,obviously leaving half a bucket.
She is in good health and as fit as a fiddle.
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From :
Date : 09.12.04 1:17:00 PM
my pony has cushings with symptoms of excessive thirst and urination.he drinks three to four buckets overnight (12 hours.)is bedded on shavings having to remove 2 barrows of wet out a day . compared to his half a barrow of wet and 1 bucket before having cushings. still trying to get results been on periactin but no change. am now considering trying pergolide . he also has the wooly coat and muscle loss. but otherwise bright and healthy. he to is 24.
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : Jackie
Date : 09.12.04 8:01:00 PM
"Now whether it's the imbalance that causes the obesity or the obesity that causes the imbalance is still not clear to me."
I believe both can occur. Also, metabolic conditions like EMS do seem to lead to Cushing's eventually.
Jackie
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : jenny
Date : 10.12.04 4:59:00 AM
Val, that was interesting, thank you. I can also relate it to myself. I am elderly and overweight (and struggling to stop putting more on) though I don't have diabetes (yet). My OH has recently been diagnosed with it though he was only a bit overweight. Maybe men are more susceptible than women (like Cushings hits more geldings than mares.
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : jenny
Date : 10.12.04 8:44:00 AM
Jackie, thanks again. You've been a tremendous help and comfort in our journey of discovery re Cushings.
Blackie is on his fourth day of Pergolide and the night sweats seem to have stopped. Although he was drinking more water than he is now, I wouldn't have described his thirst as abnormal(three normal size buckets per day at most). He is still lame though not as bad as he was and much happier of himself. His friend Erik is eleven years old and chubby, hence my concern with weight. He doesn't get loads to eat but I've swopped from haylage to hay + hi fi lite to be on the safe side.
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : Jackie
Date : 10.12.04 7:53:00 PM
Four days is very fast - well done!
Jackie
Subject : re:- What is Cushings?
From : Ruth
Date : 12.12.04 2:05:00 PM
Blackie went into the paddock today! It's only a short walk from his stable and he's walking much better ( touch wood ), he rolled and rolled!! He's been stuck in his stable for two weeks and he's been ever so good, I never thought Blackie would tolerate box rest but I suppose they know what's good for them. We kept an eye on him to make sure he didn't do anything silly but he was sensible, it was great to see him looking bright and happy again!
I'd like to thank all of you for your help and advice!!