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  Discussion on Do CD Horses shed differently on pergolide
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Member:
scooter

Posted on Sunday, Apr 4, 2010 - 10:50 am:

Sam has not shed out completely for as long as I can remember, around 8 yrs. now. He started the pergolide last fall and at this time is on.75 mg

At first he didn't start shedding when the other 2 did, for the last couple weeks he has been shedding like crazy. He has always shed some, but is usually left with the thick undercoat and some long hair that I end up clipping.

Where he is shed out there is NO hair there.. he's down to skin.... Is this normal??? I believe he may be bald when done (beats clipping)!

He has many spots like this and his skin seems fine under there, nothing to make it fall out. It's like his thick winter under hair is missing or his summer coat..somethings missing!



Member:
rtrotter

Posted on Sunday, Apr 4, 2010 - 12:21 pm:

Diane,
It looks like Propecia. I think this is the disease in humans that makes them lose all their hair even their eyebrows. Not sure if that is applicable in horses tho. I have seen this before and usually it takes a couple of seasonal sheddings for the coat to come back to normal. In Sam's case and because of the pergolide, he might be in overdrive as far as the shedding. Just be careful because the skin may be hyper-sensitve to the sun and the bugs. In the bare spots, you may need sun block if he is going to be out for long periods of time this summer.

Rachelle
Member:
scooter

Posted on Sunday, Apr 4, 2010 - 2:23 pm:

I wonder if Cushings Disease makes them not have a "normal" summer coat. Even when I clipped him his coat wasn't a "normal" summer coat underneath, if I shaved off his thick winter coat and the remaining long hairs.. he was bald... no summer coat. He grows his long hair back in after shaving him. It takes all summer to grow back so usually I can get away with one clipping (thankfully)

HMMM with the addition of the pergolide maybe he will grow in a "normal" summer coat. Weird... maybe someday I'll own a "normal" horse!
Member:
scooter

Posted on Monday, Apr 5, 2010 - 7:53 pm:

Dr.O. I believe Sam is going to be bald! Is this normal for the first year on pergolide??? (somehow I have a feeling it isn't)

Yesterday when I brushed him he had his normal LONG hair on his chest.. He never sheds that out I end up clipping it.. it was hairless tonight and so is most of his face now.. plus many more spots. I was pulling his hair out tonight very easily and it's all bald... will he grow a summer coat???







Member:
scooter

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 6, 2010 - 4:24 pm:

YUP even balder today, called the vet and asked him if he had seen this on a CD horse before he said NO Why don't I find that surprising. I see no fine hair even starting to grow on the bald spots. Vet said maybe since he always grows a Long thick coat he has to grow the summer coat yet. He hasn't had a summer coat under his CD coat in years...hope he remembers how to grow one!!! One caveat, he is feeling wonderful and doing VERY well just bald.
Member:
pattyb

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 6, 2010 - 7:28 pm:

Shut the door and pull the blinds....I done had that problem too Diane.

Banner was on Pergolide for 6 years and I noticed that I had to be real careful how I brushed her the last 2 or 3 spring/summers or she would end up with those very same bald patches. I was able to alleviate the problem by using a soft slicker brush for dogs instead of a shedding blade....however, although that worked for me, I had plans to shave her rather than brush out her winter coat if that was what I needed to do. I lost her almost 2 years ago (at the age of 33), she never reached that point.

Good luck, I'm surprised I'm the only one that's been there..........
Member:
scooter

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 6, 2010 - 7:50 pm:

Thanks Patty, I'm not brushing him out it is literally falling out... I think this is going to be a whole body balding when done. Hopefully he will grow in a summer coat of sorts!

I am SOOOOOO HAPPY I may not have to clip him, I don't care if he's bald!... just weird

I thought maybe someone else with a cushings horse may have experienced this...Glad you did I don't feel quite so worried, If he grows in a summer coat I think I'll do cartwheels!!! That clipping takes me WEEKS and many riding hours!!!

Thanks
Member:
mrose

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 6, 2010 - 8:49 pm:

Hi Diane. I've been traveling and only on the Blackberry so it's been hard to post on HA. The little bay gelding we used to have who was Cushings, had chronic laminitis, once had severe Pupura Hemagraphica (sp?) - in other words my "hard luck case" - started shedding out like this one year. He did eventually grow in a normal looking coat and the weird shedding pattern was only on his neck and one shoulder. Our vet didn't have a clue about it either.
Member:
pattyb

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 6, 2010 - 9:10 pm:

[If he grows in a summer coat I think I'll do cartwheels!!! That clipping takes me WEEKS and many riding hours!!!]

Ahem, ummm.....think you might need a bigger clipper and/or sharper blades?

I think I would watch his coat carefully and maybe invest in a fly sheet if he doesn't get enough hair in before the summer sun hits.

Banner's excessive shedding was on her shoulders, chest, back and rump.....and on her belly line if I wasn't real careful under there....lots of Swat to keep the gnats off of her underside.
Member:
scooter

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 6, 2010 - 9:24 pm:

YES bigger clippers LOL. I just borrow the vets any more, he has the big heavy duty ones. Still takes forever because his coat is sooo thick., and I lack patience of course

Maybe this will be our shedding year....I'm so excited!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 7, 2010 - 12:43 pm:

Diane, Sam is probably just shedding the winter coat before the summer coat comes in. For more on this and differentiating it from other problems see Diseases of Horses » Skin Diseases, Wounds, and Swellings » Hair and Coat Problems / Itching / Irritated Skin » Overview of Hair Loss & Irritated Skin.
DrO
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Thursday, Apr 8, 2010 - 12:30 pm:

Let us know how this works out, Diane.

I hope that Sam sheds AND grows his summer coat.
Member:
scooter

Posted on Thursday, Apr 8, 2010 - 9:05 pm:

I believe Sam is going to "bald" all the way out from the looks of it. Tonight I noticed where he went bald first there is some hair growing.. quite amazingly I have forgot what color his summer coat is, he hasn't had one for so long. I was talking to my friend who is in the hospital and asked her if she remembered (she always loved Sam). She said he was kind of a burgundy color... she nailed what color is coming in!

Sam is also loosing his fat pads. He looks really good (even tho he is bald in spots) he went galloping up the hill with Hank today tails flagging... stopped and did the trumpet sound... and took of galloping again.... love it

Hard to believe he was at deaths door not long ago!! The pergolide is doing wonders for him even at the small dose of .75mg's
Member:
canter

Posted on Friday, Apr 9, 2010 - 7:05 am:

I think, Diane, that good old Sam was so embarrassed by last years clip job, that he's doing his best to prevent you from turning him into a poodle again this year!

Glad to hear that Sam is feeling so good (and that he won't be bald)!
Member:
scooter

Posted on Friday, Apr 9, 2010 - 7:18 am:

LOL Fran that could well be it was pretty bad, then I embarrassed him by posting them. Thanks for the giggle!!! I just hope this IS the summer coat and not his LONG hair coming back... definitely a different color than his cushings coat at this point so there is hope for the poor guy!

When I was talking to my friend last night she said whenever I sent her pics of Sam she couldn't believe the difference in what his coat used to be and how he had "changed" colors. I'm excited to see how this turns out.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Friday, Apr 9, 2010 - 7:40 am:

Delightful news about the new burgundy coat hopefully growing in!
Member:
scooter

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 13, 2010 - 5:28 pm:

Here is a pic of Sam's Shiny burgundy coat, while he isn't all the way shed out, he is going to be, what is left I can easily pull out.. I had forgotten what a pretty color he was, his Cushings coat is a drab orange color as you can see.

This is a weird observation I made when Sam was sick, his neck hairs felt really gooey, almost like there was serum or blood stuck to it under his neck..very hard to brush out. As time went on his whole coat got like that, it was the oddest thing. I thought maybe he had gotten into tree sap or something...that's how gooey it was. Of course there are no trees in my pasture. I think it had something to do with his shedding. I don't think that is what made him shed per se.. I think it was his coat changing. His neck was what shed first. I did comment on his "serumy" neck in his "sick thread".

I then decided maybe it was what Dr.O's article meant by a greasy coat, but it didn't feel greasy it felt gooey, like when you get blood in your hair and it dries. Sam has never had a "greasy" coat.

Just strange(of course) has anyone else experienced that????

Pretty summer coat (I hope)



Still bald under his neck...even tho that was the first to shed

Member:
vickiann

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 13, 2010 - 6:46 pm:

Diane,

I recall that a friend of mine had an old palomino with (untreated) cushings who had such a gooey coat. She called him "nabby and nasty," whatever that means.

He was a great horse.

She always had to give him a thorough bath before she could clip him.

He also had really messy eyes.

She always had to clip him because he would not shed out.
Member:
scooter

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 13, 2010 - 7:02 pm:

Sams has had the goopy crusty eyes for as long as I can remember...even in the winter...they are gone I think HMMM...I'll have to look tonight.

Sam never had the goopy coat until this year, it showed up under his neck (where it is still bald) when he was sick. After a few weeks all his hair turned goopy. I was going to ask Dr.O. about it, but really didn't know how to describe it. Not greasy, it reminded me exactly of dried serum, sticky like tree sap...was very strange. I did make a reference to it in his sick thread.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 13, 2010 - 7:30 pm:

It is strange, but good to note this. Perhaps over time more answers will be found about such conditions and the aging process in our horses.
Member:
scooter

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 14, 2010 - 8:18 am:

His goopy eyes are gone. (for now anyway) his fat pads are greatly reduced. Good thing he shed, we are suppose to be in the 80's today. I usually don't have to clip him until the end of May. He will be so much more comfortable, I hope he hurry's up and grows some hair on the bald spots, the bugs are coming out in hoards!!
Member:
stek

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 14, 2010 - 11:34 am:

Diane I love Sam's new color! He's like a whole new horse =)
Member:
gwenyth

Posted on Sunday, May 2, 2010 - 5:02 pm:

Diane, I'm thinking about asking my vet about putting my gelding on pergoglide. Did you do any testing beforehand, or did you start him on it due to his long hair coat?

Have you been happy with the results - can you tell a difference besides the"new coat"?

Thanks,

Nancy
Member:
scooter

Posted on Sunday, May 2, 2010 - 7:42 pm:

Nancy I did no testing, he was a quite obvious case, I had been managing pretty good without the pergolide, but in retrospect I wish I would have started him on it earlier...Sam is quite IR also.

This fall he didn't seem himself was peeing and drinking more than normal, has had that long coat and hasn't shed completely for about 8 years.

YES he has improved remarkably on the pergolide, figuring his dose was the hardest part. His fatty pads have reduced, he really looks good (comparatively speaking) nobody even reconizes him he has changed so much.. not kidding!

Here is the post from when I started him on it..if you haven't seen it.

https://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/4/349425.html
Member:
gwenyth

Posted on Sunday, May 2, 2010 - 9:04 pm:

Diane, I think my fellow is like this. Thanks for giving me your take on the matter. Mine is IR but at last test his glucose was still in the normal range

Do you give pills, powder, or suspension?

I asked Dr.O for his opinion, too. But I am really getting worries about his feet, and I am hoping that this improves them. It's kind of my last hope!

How old was yours when you started it?
Member:
scooter

Posted on Sunday, May 2, 2010 - 9:43 pm:

Sams glucose is normal also...his insulin was quite high, but when he was tested for it it wasn't the optimal time, tho I'm sure it was quite high anyway..Dr.O. and Jo Ann explained that is compensated IR(normal glucose, high insulin)...you'll have to figure that one out yourself cuz' I'm still not quite sure what that means yet myself

He had the rings in his hooves and seemed to be in in a constant state of MILD chronic laminitis. The pergolide has helped with that, but I do still watch his diet very carefully and treat him as IR because he is!! He lost his fatty pads for the most part (he had them REALLY bad) I can see a hint of ribs now and he looks and seems to feel good.

First I tried the suspension, but I don't like how that looses it's potency so quickly, then tried the pergolide treats he HATED them, he is now on the powder and eats that with no problems on his soaked alfalfa pellets, lot of people give the pills too I think... if you read through that link I posted above there are a lot of people that list where it is cheapest and what they give.
Member:
gwenyth

Posted on Monday, May 3, 2010 - 9:25 am:

Diane, thanks for your advice!

Nancy
Member:
scooter

Posted on Monday, May 3, 2010 - 4:43 pm:

Not my advice Nancy, just my experience with Sam. I think maybe my old mare is pulling the laminitis thing too... I hope the pergolide helps her like it did Sam, it sure brightened her personality.
Member:
gwenyth

Posted on Monday, May 3, 2010 - 6:27 pm:

Well, frankly, I think "experience" is what really matters - all these websites talk about testing this and testing that, while they forget each horse is an individual. But thanks for sharing your experiences - it was a real motivator for me to see what was REALLY going on in front of my eyes.

I ordered the pills and will get them tomorrow, and we'll see how he does. He is a big guy (1400#) so we're starting him on 1.5mg pills (I think that's the correct measurement)

What really made a difference was to see these pictures of Sam, and it made me remember my REAL oldtimer that I had on Cypto about 10 years ago. It reminded me that old horses don't have to look so "old" if they are given the correct meds when management can no longer do the trick. Thanks!!
Member:
scooter

Posted on Monday, May 3, 2010 - 7:13 pm:

The changes in Sam are quite amazing I have been meaning to post a pic of my shiny Sam, he even has dapples He still has a little hair on his butt and legs to shed, but it is coming out.

First pic is last year the end of April, that is all he shed.. the hair under the long orangeish hair is very thick and lont too. His stance is much more comfortable (tho his hooves are still a mess) and he is gaining some muscle tone. Pergolide has worked remarkably well for him.

Member:
scooter

Posted on Monday, May 3, 2010 - 7:23 pm:

A little bigger pic from this year... it doesn't even look like him!



Member:
gwenyth

Posted on Monday, May 3, 2010 - 7:35 pm:

Very cool.

My guy is not as bad as your "before" pix, but he certainly is not as good as the "after" pix.
Member:
scooter

Posted on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 6:33 am:

I hope it works for you Nancy, let us know how it goes. Do remember to still treat him as IR even if he does show improvement. I had been letting my horses out for an hour on this lush stuff and that even seems to be too much for the IR boys and Flash too I guess. I started detecting some good DP's on Hank and his neck is growing, Sam started walking a little slower on hard ground, so they are not going out anymore... too bad I am about out of hay... don't quite know what to do about that, I can not find any anywhere!!! I was low to begin with, and now with the addition of Bonesy I have about a weeks worth left. I sure wish my horses were normal and could eat grass all day, or at least for a few hours, sure would make life a lot easier!!! They are telling me they can't tho
Member:
gwenyth

Posted on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 7:41 am:

Diane, check out this website for information about Magnesium and pergoglide.https://www.equinemedsurg.com/ir4.html

The guidelines mirror Dr. O's, and it gives scientific data (as Dr. O does) to back up their conclusions.

Unlike Dr. O, they ARE selling magnesium, but I was impressed that their discussion was like his. And talked about how to get your IR and Cushing's horses back on grass......

If you don't have your horses on Magnesium, it might be lacking in their diet, and worth a shot.

Nancy
Member:
scooter

Posted on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 8:03 am:

Nancy, I have tried MG. I have tried everything believe me!! They just have to stay off grass when it is lush period. Not that I like it, it is just the way it is if I don't want to deal with founder and I don't! Once summer hits that will be different, but for now they are telling me it is disagreeing with them.

I didn't let them out at all yesterday... my gut told me so. Hanks DP's are gone after being quite elevated(KA BOOM) for about a week with turnout, his neck was growing daily, and he has slowed down walking on hard ground... Sam too. NOW I have Bonesy...who is not IR he hasn't changed at all... tells me something.

I don't think it is the grass per se. Hank and Sam both went up one BCS with just that small amount of turnout.. they are pushing 7's time to change that... I have spent way too much time fixing Hanks hooves for him to backslide. When he was slowing on hard ground I actually started considering putting shoes on him again...sigh. It's not his feet it's his diet!!!!!! What a struggle sometimes!
Member:
scooter

Posted on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 8:15 am:

P.S. I was also scared Rachelle, Angie, and all the people that helped with Hanks hooves would come to Il. and choke me if I put shoes on him or let him founder again...with good reason!!!!
Member:
gwenyth

Posted on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 8:26 am:

Diane, you need to do what your gut tells you to do.

My muzzling of my horses has really helped - I think they have all lost at least 50# in the last 3 weeks. They hate the muzzles, but it really does get them moving! And I know for their feet, that is the issue.

Nancy
Member:
gwenyth

Posted on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 10:19 am:

Diane, do you use small mesh hay nets? If you don't you might want to consider them. Hay lasts longer, horses don't "fast" and then get an insulin surge in am. I was skeptical, but now I see the value.

If you are already using them, ignore me!

nancy
Member:
stek

Posted on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 10:55 am:

Diane just wanted to say Sam looks great!!!
Member:
scooter

Posted on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 5:31 pm:

Thanks Shannon, he really looks awesome, the pics really didn't do him justice, and he is moving well. Once things settle down here a bit, and the weather straightens out (we have gale force winds daily) I am going to try to find the time to ride him and bring him back slowly, he was so pathetic last year I didn't even want to ride him. (plus his clip job was rather embarrassing)

I wish I could talk hubby into letting me be a stay at home horse mom! He says that doesn't pay the bills for some reason.
Member:
scooter

Posted on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 6:34 pm:

Nancy, mine actually do move around a lot. Probably more then when they are in the pasture with their heads buried..

I think I am going to try the move the fence a couple foot a day thing until it is less lush, if that doesn't work and I think it will, it will be drylot with nothing. I have to get Hank back in exercise, just a crazy time of year with farm things, and I HATE riding in 40mph winds. I have been lunging him a bit and running him around the dry lot. He is still moving well, so that's good Hard ground isn't slowing him or Sam down as much either, so hopefully we are on the upside.
Member:
rtrotter

Posted on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 7:52 pm:

Everyone:

I get an email newsletter from thehorse.com. This week there was an article related to a study that was done on the amount of fructans in grass and the effects those fructans had on horses.

One point of the study was that body condition was one of the more significant reasons why horses wound up with problems on spring grass, it wasn't the level of fructans. The lower the BCS the less likely that the horse would have problems. High BCS could almost guarantee a problem.

The other point was that that the problems caused by the lush grass were more likely a long term problem (over many years)rather than an acute problem although the acute symptoms could come on suddenly after many years of having no symptoms( or under the radar symptoms).

I thought it was interesting.

Rachelle
Member:
scooter

Posted on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 9:16 pm:

Gotta agree with that Rachelle, the problem being keeping them in good BCS when on grass. My fatties blow up if they are left on it more than a couple hours (when it is in the lush stage) Exercise and BCS is a very big piece of the puzzle for those prone to grass founder.
Member:
gwenyth

Posted on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 - 9:07 am:

Yes, I agree! Maybe I ought to buy a hot walker lol!

Nancy
Member:
scooter

Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2010 - 8:28 am:

Well Sams pretty summer coat is getting long It is staying the same color but it is longer than a "normal" summer coat, not enough that I have to clip him...yet anyway. Will he keep growing the long hair, or is this a weird summer coat for his first spring on pergolide??

He's doing VERY well otherwise
Member:
scooter

Posted on Saturday, Jun 12, 2010 - 6:11 pm:

Guess what I am doing this weekend.. Clipping Sam

Dr.O. does this suggest I need to up his pergolide? Right now he is getting about.75 mg.s His "other symptoms" seem to be under control for the most part.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jun 13, 2010 - 8:56 am:

Diane, we deal with this in the article under the pergolide and prognosis headings.
DrO
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Sunday, Jun 13, 2010 - 12:12 pm:

Diane,

Perry's summer coat came in longer than it normally is after his laminitis bout.

My Vet said not to worry about it and that nutrition can be a big factor in this regard.

It seems to me that I have read somewhere too that the presence of worms can cause a longer coat.

Now that it is much, much hotter here Perry's strange, longer summer coat is beginning to fall out and taking on a more normal appearance. But perhaps his coat is also changing because he is again turned out with greater access to more of the grass. He has upped his intake and I fear that he is gaining weight too. Also, I finally dared to worm him 12 days ago with Zimecterin Gold.

It seems that a variety of factors can influence the length of the horses' coat.
Member:
scooter

Posted on Sunday, Jun 13, 2010 - 1:39 pm:

Thanks Vicki unfortunately this long coat is more the"normal" for Sam the last 8 or so years. It isn't as bad as most years, but bad enough he gets very uncomfortable in the heat, so the clipping has begun. He is on a regular deworming schedule, and on grass.

Dr.O. I did read the article, the reason I asked is my vet said to up his pergolide since he was getting hairy again. Guess I will leave it where it is since his other symptoms are under control.
Member:
gwenyth

Posted on Sunday, Jun 13, 2010 - 5:03 pm:

Wanted to give an update on my horse - the pergoglide has helped him and I think his BCS is about 4.5. His ribs are visible and, except for his butt, has no visible fat on his body. He is in a 1 acre paddock that has some grass, and I feed them hay, too. Right now my major problem with him is his frogs are in bad shape (I assume from the Cushing's and reduced immune function) but I have started giving him extra Cu and Zn in his diet, as I have been told that sometimes Cushing's horses have an above normal Iron level. I am treating the frogs (HA advice, naturally) but I just can't trim his heels down to the sole plane - it's just too hard on him. But he is sound in boots and I am lunging him 30 minutes a day. I hope to be able to put him out for 4-5 hours overnight on grass as soon as it stops raining so much!

His coat shed out in April, but was still longish, now it is starting to shed again. I also notice that the heat doesn't affect him nearly as much as it did last summer. He is also drinking less water and urinating less. I wish he were sounder, but I think as soon as the frogs regenerate, he'll feel better.
Member:
scooter

Posted on Sunday, Jun 13, 2010 - 5:26 pm:

Nancy Thanks for the update, Sam has had some nasty thrush too...really bad! I don't know if it is from this deluge of water or what for sure, but he does seem way more prone to it then my other horses. When the farrier was here he trimmed most of it away and boy did it reek Even the farrier said he is used to the horse feet smell, but that was enough to make him sick! So I have been putting thrushbuster on a couple times a week and have seen great improvement his frogs haven't looked this healthy in a long time, his hooves are a wrinkled mess from his founder this winter, but he is sound. The farrier actually did a very good job on him this time, don't think I could have straightened him out myself. I wish it would quit raining!!! Sam is out 24/7 now and things are going well other than the long hairs return....knock wood.
Member:
gwenyth

Posted on Sunday, Jun 13, 2010 - 5:32 pm:

Diane, do you mean he is out on grass 24/7? That would be marvelous!
Member:
scooter

Posted on Sunday, Jun 13, 2010 - 6:05 pm:

YES 24/7 grass Hank too I firmly believe this is because I got rid of the clover. Usually WAY before now both boys are locked in a dry pen being starved because of laminitis... year after year it went on spring and fall. It is one of the most amazing things that has happened. Knock wood again!
Member:
scooter

Posted on Monday, Aug 2, 2010 - 5:10 pm:

Sam is again going bald Not a hair to be found on his chest and all the rest of it is shedding like it is spring. Coming in on some of the older bald spots is that pretty summer coat AGAIN...what's up with this balding horse??? I wonder if whenever he sheds a seasons coat he is going to be bald? They are shedding their sumer coats and the winter hair is slowly starting.

I did end up clipping Sam because he grew his winter coat back after shedding (going bald) this spring... it actually got quite thick and I wasn't able to do a good clip job with my wimpy clippers... He is doing great otherwise...just bald again... Dr.O. have you ever seen this pattern on a cushings horse??
Member:
gwenyth

Posted on Monday, Aug 2, 2010 - 8:47 pm:

Diane, my horse is shedding big time as well! Kind of seems "bald" but there is very short hair there, the old hair coming out in clumps.

nancy
Member:
scooter

Posted on Monday, Aug 2, 2010 - 11:29 pm:

Interesting Nancy, I can pull Sam's out by the fistfuls, he is completely bald tho, his hair does grow into the bald spots about a week later. I bathed him tonight and tried to remove as much as I could...he has been so hot, this very hot and humid summer. I even roached his mane (he really is quite a sight!)

I hope this evens out next year.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 3, 2010 - 7:36 pm:

It sounds like Sam is loosing his summer coat early Diane.
DrO
Member:
scooter

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 4, 2010 - 1:34 pm:

Dr.O. it is not a summer coat he is shedding it is long thick cushings hair...he's shedding again down to bald like he did last spring, but after going bald this spring he grew his cushings coat back again in about a month. He is doing the same thing again.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 4, 2010 - 6:20 pm:

Then call it his summer Cushings coat if you prefer. But the days are getting shorter and this is the primary factor that causes loss of the summer coat and your horse is doing it early.
DrO
Member:
scooter

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 4, 2010 - 6:59 pm:

HMMMM but cushings horses don't shed/go bald normally with the seasons do they??? He is growing what appears to be his summer coat again I will take a pic before he goes completely bald so you can see what I mean. I think his brain is still confused.
Member:
scooter

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 4, 2010 - 9:51 pm:

Here's pics of Sam's 2nd balding process.

Remember I shaved him awhile ago and it grew back as fast as I clipped it off!!! Poor guy was very HOT in this miserable heat and humidity we have been having so I roached his thick mane off..that helped. Then about 2 weeks ago he started going bald again his whole belly first...he has grown in some hair in his bald spots, while I am NOT worried about this..is this typical of a cushings horse???

Full body shot



Hairy/balding neck



Bald under neck and chest

Member:
gwenyth

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 4, 2010 - 10:08 pm:

Diane, my horse looks pretty much like this - and he did last year as well, when he was not on pergoglide. He started doing this in late May/early June. He's "double shed" for 4 years now, I think.

I don't know what causes it, but at least my guy is happy to be shedding at 110o, poor thing!

Nancy
Member:
scooter

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 4, 2010 - 10:36 pm:

Well that's good to know The difference being Sam is on pergolide when this double shedding started....before he started the pergolide he didn't hardly shed at all no matter the season, so I suppose an educated guess would be he is shedding/going bald due to being on pergolide, I hope this straightens out next year...he has had a VERY hot sweaty summer even with clipping him in June, he was bound and determined to grow that winter coat back, and he did to my dismay, hopefully he isn't so confused he grows his summer coat for winter
Member:
paul303

Posted on Sunday, Aug 8, 2010 - 12:48 am:

My 30yr.old Cushings mare exhibited weird shedding for her first 3 years on pergolide. It was a weird, patchy sort of shedding......but I was just so grateful for any shedding at all. The last 2 years, it's gotten fairly close to normal, except for some quite long spots down the underside of her neck ( and head ), and down the back of her legs. At times, when she's shedding out an old winter coat, or, like now, her summer coat, I find a few really bald areas ( like the inside of her gaskins in the spring....along with her forehead and some ventral areas). But those areas DO grown in eventually.

My mare was started at .5mg. Now, over 3yrs time, she's been raised to 2mg.- where she's been for the past 2 years. You may have to juggle your dose from time to time.
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