My Dartmoor pony mare, who is 26 years old, has Cushing's. I think she was 23 when she was diagnosed. She's on pergolide right now, which helps a lot. Last year her coat was perfect. But this year, she just won't shed out her winter coat. Does anyone here have any advice on what else we could do to help her? We even have an acupuncturist/vet that comes out once a month to help her. Also, what are everyone else's experiences with Cushing's? How long do they last after being diagnosed? How do they die?
Cushing's Disease
- Thread starter ShadowCat
- Start date
A thick, sometimes curly, coat is one of the signs of Cushings. Because the coat isn't shed in summer it may be a good idea to clip as necessary and then rug up if the weather cools. You should also groom regularly to help keep the skin healthy.
You have to be aware that horses with Cushings are more prone to laminitis and that Pergolide may make chronic laminitis worse.
You will need to keep stress for your pony down to a minimum and try to stick to as regular routine as possible. They also advise that you cut out simple carbohydrates from the diet so a forage based diet would be ideal.
We had a horse with Cushings at my old yard, he's still going and was diagnosed about 6/7 years ago, he's in his late 20's now. He's not used as much in the school but still works quite happily.
Good luck. I've heard that people are using herbal treatments for Cushings but don't know the results. I'd be interested to hear about anyone's success with herbal treatments
You have to be aware that horses with Cushings are more prone to laminitis and that Pergolide may make chronic laminitis worse.
You will need to keep stress for your pony down to a minimum and try to stick to as regular routine as possible. They also advise that you cut out simple carbohydrates from the diet so a forage based diet would be ideal.
We had a horse with Cushings at my old yard, he's still going and was diagnosed about 6/7 years ago, he's in his late 20's now. He's not used as much in the school but still works quite happily.
Good luck. I've heard that people are using herbal treatments for Cushings but don't know the results. I'd be interested to hear about anyone's success with herbal treatments
Theres a little old pony on my yard with cushings. He is clipped as he gets way too hot. But hes really old now and lost weight and looks awful bless him. But hes much happier clipped!
I dont know about how long they last. As this horse had laminitus just before it, and an awful abcess now, along with being hellish old. But with that in mund its been a good year now!
I dont know about how long they last. As this horse had laminitus just before it, and an awful abcess now, along with being hellish old. But with that in mund its been a good year now!
I have a shetland with cushings. I had to clip him this spring as he was really uncomfortable as it got warmer.
I have him on hormonise , which is liquid chasteberry also sugar restricted diet. He is really well at the moment..
Two sites that are useful:
1. laminitisandcushings.com
2. equinecushings@yahoo.com[/email]
I have him on hormonise , which is liquid chasteberry also sugar restricted diet. He is really well at the moment..
Two sites that are useful:
1. laminitisandcushings.com
2. equinecushings@yahoo.com[/email]
Our old chap has cushings. He is now in his 30's and is retired, mostly because we got him for OH but he is very difficult to ride and being only 14hh not many kids can keep with him either 
He hasn't shed properly for about 3 years now, we opted to keep him drug free for as long as possible and we also (as much as possible) keep him on a low sugar and no alfalfa diet, all of which seems to help. We also try to keep him as calm and happy as possible and give him short courses of Echineacia as and when he is a bt low to try and make sure we keep on top of his lowered immunity.
Phoenix did start to shed a bit this spring (not sure if its linked but about the same time I started giving my mare 'Oestress' for her hormones and they do share their feeds a bit), all across his ribs and rump was going but his neck, legs and belly were still very think, so when it went suddenly warm he was sweating like mad. So he has been clipped again and he is looking very well at the moment. He also gets clipped in the winter as we have had lice problems as with so much coat it becomes difficult to keep him clean.
I think they say that eventually all cushing sufferers will get lami at some point, I think often a bad bout of this is when most people call it quitts
but when that will be no one knows. I have known some ponies go for years and others only for a very short time.
J x
He hasn't shed properly for about 3 years now, we opted to keep him drug free for as long as possible and we also (as much as possible) keep him on a low sugar and no alfalfa diet, all of which seems to help. We also try to keep him as calm and happy as possible and give him short courses of Echineacia as and when he is a bt low to try and make sure we keep on top of his lowered immunity.
Phoenix did start to shed a bit this spring (not sure if its linked but about the same time I started giving my mare 'Oestress' for her hormones and they do share their feeds a bit), all across his ribs and rump was going but his neck, legs and belly were still very think, so when it went suddenly warm he was sweating like mad. So he has been clipped again and he is looking very well at the moment. He also gets clipped in the winter as we have had lice problems as with so much coat it becomes difficult to keep him clean.
I think they say that eventually all cushing sufferers will get lami at some point, I think often a bad bout of this is when most people call it quitts
but when that will be no one knows. I have known some ponies go for years and others only for a very short time.J x
my pony got diagnosed with cushings 4 years ago along with fats around the liver and she was given a maximum of 6 months left to live 
, i have got her on perogolide tablets and she gets cush aid and hormonise which is a liquid supplement from equine health and herbal (they have a website which i will try and find) and she is doing absolutley great on them she has shed her coat and she has put weight on and 4 years on she is looking really well in herself 
and she has proved the vet wrong
, i have got her on perogolide tablets and she gets cush aid and hormonise which is a liquid supplement from equine health and herbal (they have a website which i will try and find) and she is doing absolutley great on them she has shed her coat and she has put weight on and 4 years on she is looking really well in herself and she has proved the vet wrong the address is www.equinehealthandherbal.co.uk you can buy the supplements from most horse feed shops and they cost £18.99 a bottle each but they are well worth it in my opinion
hope this is of some use
hope this is of some use
If you do use "Hormonise " it needs to be given continuously for cushings, not three weeks on & one week of as it is for hormonal problems in mares.
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