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  Discussion on IR, EMS, Cushings Disease
Author Message
Member:
gwenyth

Posted on Monday, Nov 16, 2009 - 4:31 pm:

Dr . O.

Last spring I read Horse Advice's information on Hypothyroidism, IR, and Obesity. I followed the HA management protocol for my obese gelding; exercise and no concentrates, and reduced his Thyro-L from 1 T/day to none. He lost 100# or so, and was doing well until he bruised a foot in August and I could not exercise him for about 60 days (Horse Advice article said that sometimes bruises could last that long) He gained back a lot of weight, plus now he has a heavy winter coat, which makes him look worse. However, the feet are better and I can ride him/exercise him again daily.

I had a new trimmer this week who felt that he was "definitely Cushing's" due to the haircoat. But he is fat, and the Horse Advice articles indicate that Cushing's horses are thin and often don't/can't eat enough. The trimmer also said that "the sooner you start these horses on the Pergoglide, the better they do".

So - my question - is Cushing's like Hypothyroidism - everyone thinks that fat horses have "it" while it is really an obesity management problem? She did say that his feet had some laminar separation, but no founder rings. She blames Cushing's for the laminar separation,. He does have a curly coat when it gets wet.
Member:
scooter

Posted on Monday, Nov 16, 2009 - 5:06 pm:

Nancy how old is he? Does he have any other signs of cushings...peeing/drinking a lot, does he shed his winter coat, muscle wasting? Cushings horses can be IR also, my gelding is and he tends towards the fat side if I am not careful, but he also has many of the other symptoms of cushings.

Horses can have laminar separation for many, many reasons.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Nov 16, 2009 - 7:20 pm:

Hello nancy,
You do have a wrong concept of what the article says about Cushing's: that they are all thin horses. In contrast to EMS many of the changes with Cushing's make for a horse that is increasingly difficult to maintain weight. These include hormonal changes which tend to cause muscle wasting, decreased resistance to parasites, and tooth problems. But if you start with a easy keeping horse with early/mild Cushing's, good teeth, good nutrition, and excellent parasite care, these horses may experience very little change. The problems do tend to be progressive and more noticeable over time but rate of progression very variable. Certainly one of the clearest indications for pergolide is when you have that difficult eater with a depressed appetite.

As to what people think, that is always a difficult thing to opine on. But with Cushing's there is a tendency to a unusual pattern of fat deposition but this is described in the article.

Curly when wet does not really say much to me and neither does laminar separation without a history of founder.
DrO
Member:
gwenyth

Posted on Monday, Nov 16, 2009 - 9:17 pm:

To answer Diane - he will be 19 next spring, he does not drink excessively, though more than the other horses. I have no idea about urination, as he will not urinate in a stall but will always do so outside. He is turned out all the time. He sheds his winter coat, but in 2 stages - March and then again in June to a shorter coat. Not much muscle wasting - But his winter coat IS thicker than when he was 12-14.

For Dr. O - he does have a fat deposit on his tail head, and a large neck, but his neck has always been pretty big throughout his life. (he was not gelded until he was 5) I had his feet X-rayed (2008) with no evidence of founder.
He has good teeth, his fecal count is always negative, and he lives in a closed herd at my house with infrequent outside activities. He is always current on vaccinations and foot care. He still likes hot weather better than cold.

He is still able to eat grass and hay, though no grain/treats etc. But if heavy horses can be Cushingoid, I will continue to monitor his health and obviously get him to lose the weight he gained in the last 2 months.

Thanks for your advice.
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