Cushing's disease

[artemis]

Please anyone any experience of this disease. I am waiting for results of blood test, but the vet thinks he has it!

Symptoms at the moment are not very well defined. Long coat, but not curly. Patchy sweating, and looks depressed! Symptoms of laminitis just before Christmas.

I know that there are drug treatments, but the side effects are very severe.

[Lgd]

Unfortunately yes. Two ponies at my old yard (mother and son) had it. Both suffered with the laminitis side very badly. The younger one has now settled on Founderguard with the laminitis problems and seems to be doing quite well generally - he was only 11 or 12 when he first had symptoms which is very early and carries a poorer prognosis. His mum developed symptoms after him but unfortunately she did very poorly and foundered this autumn aged 19 years.
Having said that we did have a pony with Cushings of the typical late onset type and she eventually died in her early 30's having worked quite happily into her late 20's and never had any problems with laminitis.
Hormonise (usually used for stroppy mares) does help tremendously. Other conventional drug treatments that can be used are cyproheptadine and aminoglutethimide.

[artemis]

Thanks for your reply. The pony is already on founderguard, because he was previously laminitic. I read about the use of hormonise on Robert Eustace's website, do you know the dosage? I am familiar with it as I use it for my mare during her first two or three seasons.

About 10 years ago I had an elderly horse with cushings, he never got laminitis, but got diabetes.

[Anja & clyde]

My first Pony had cushings
I did a thread on it a long time ago here is some of the replys i got:

1)syndrome characterised by growth of long curly coat, increased water intake and urination, disposition towards laminitis, etc.

Caused by cyst or growth causing pressure on pituitary gland (is that right - at base of brain?)

Management only - no cure - by drugs, often expensive, and limited efficacy.

2)
Cushing's disease is a disease of older animals (usualluy though for every rule there are always exceptions). Simply speaking it is an overproduction of steroid hormones by the adrenal glands, hence it's technical term: hyperadrenocorticism.

The reason why this happens may be realted to problems in the glands themselves, or in the pituitary gland, which is part of the brain, and which releases hormones that control the adrenal gland. In horses it's most commonly a pituitary problem.

The excess corticosteroid produced has several effects including:

1. it makes the hair grow much longer and thicker (called hypertrichosis)

2. It suppresses the immune system so the horse is more susceptible to infection.

3. it delays the healing process, so any injuries take longer to heal.

4. The skin quality is poor so skin infections are likely

5. poor immunity and poor skin quality mean that parasites such as lice and mites tend to become a problem if not carefully monitored.

6. horses are more prone to laminitis (very complicated reasons why).

7. metabolism goes haywire, so horses often lose weight, but...

8. fluid accumulates in the abdomen so horses are pot-bellied, this is made to look worse by weakening of the abdominal muscles!

9. the increased cortisol is a hormone which also has some effects on behaviour so the horse may be slightly depressed, and may seem less aware of it's surroundings (people often say it's less responsive).

In dogs this is morecomonly associated with problems of the adrenal glands, so medical treatment is possible. In horses there is nothing that can specifically be done, other than to be aware of it, and keep an eye out for any signs of laminitis, or infections of any sort (including eye problems) and careful management of any wounds.

Typically the affected animal is a round (pot bellied) hairy pony which gets regular bouts of laminitis. The disease does eventually get worse, but affected ponies can go on for years with it.
hope some of this helps!
Anja

[artemis]

Thanks Anja

Unfortunatly the test result was positive.

I have been reading about the use of "hormonise", with cushings, has anyone any experience please?

[Lgd]

Sorry no personal experience with the Hormonise, but try a search on google wit Hormonise and Cushings, should give you some decent info. Worth a try as it is cheaper than the other treatments.

[Jane.A]

A firend of mine has one horse with Cushings which is on Pergolide, a very expensive drug and also on thyroid tablets but he ahs had the disease since he was 11 and costs them £300 per month on drugs alone. They had an older horse who developed the disease and I recommended they try a homeopathic remedy which they got thru' one of the top homeopathic vets, it was something 'roboticus'. will find out for you, it was very effective for her and was a fraction of the cost.