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HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Endocrine System » Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID): Equine Cushing's »
  Discussion on Pergoglide
Author Message
Member:
gwenyth

Posted on Sunday, May 2, 2010 - 5:34 pm:

Dr. O, you state in your discussions that you start a horse on pergoglide due to a low BCS and depression.

I have a 19 yo gelding that is IR - tested last year - and I have been following the management practices in your article to keep off the weight. Unfortunately, my gelding developed a mild case of laminitis about a month ago, no rotation, but he is still somewhat uncomfortable. I realize my mistake was not taking him off the spring grass earlier enough, and he was probably a BCS 6+ when it happened.

I have had him barefoot for 2 years, but his soles are still quite flat and it was suggested to me that the flat soles and stretched white line and now the laminitis are indicative of him needing a bigger "lifestyle change", in other words, he may have the beginnings of PPID. Last fall he struggled for 2 months with bruising and abscesses in both front feet.

His coat has shed out, but the "summer coat" is longer than normal, and he still has the really long hair on his legs.

I am not one to medicate unnecessarily, but the condition of his feet has me concerned. He is managing to get around, but my other horses' feet are all very good after going barefoot. His feet are still flat and I was told it was because the coffin bone had "sunk' in the hoof capsule, even though there was no rotation.

Do you have any experience with horses with flat soles improving on pergoglide? He is always uncomfortable on hard surfaces, and does have numerous "rings" on his hooves.

Is there any contraindication to using pergoglide in this horse? I do not think I would bother to have him tested. Last spring, his insulin was elevated, but his glucose was within the normal range.

Thanks for your advice.

Nancy
Member:
paul303

Posted on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 1:00 am:

Hi, Nancy, I can only tell you that the fall grass is what tipped my horse over the line. She had the hair coat, lethargy, increased drinking and urination...but I resisted the suggestion that she be tested for cushings.

Finally, that fall, she presented with very hot and sore feet. I had the vet right out, and, thank heaven, x-rays were ok. She ended up with many small abscesses that took a long time to treat. Once the crisis passed, we did the test at the proper time, and she was cushings.

My main regret is that I resisted the diagnosis and pergolide for so long. I didn't realize how her general health and condition had suffered. Once on the pergolide, the improvement was rapid. She's been on pergolide for about 5 years now. She's 30 years old now, and I've never had another problem with her feet. The hair coat is no longer the horror that it was, and her body tone and general well-being are great.

When pergolide is indicated, it's a wonderful drug.
Member:
gwenyth

Posted on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 8:30 am:

Lee, thanks for your story. I talked to my vet and we decided not to run a test, but to order the pergoglide and treat the symptoms as we saw them. We got 60 pills and will see if we get a response.

I think we ALL resist the notion that our horses have Cushing's - in my case, I did not want to admit that he was "old". But I have a 25 year old who has a wonderful coat and is sound as a dollar, and I want my 19 year old to be like him! So that is our hope!

Nancy
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 9:07 am:

Hello nancy,
No I have not had any experience with treating flat footed horses with pergolide so don't know what may happen. Though PPID is certaubkt possible in your 19 year old horse, it sounds more like he suffers from Equine Metabolic SynDrOme. If you feel the founder is not responding as it should and you have done all you can for EMS, a trial course of pergolide might be rational but this has to be determined by your veterinarian who can see a much more complete picture than me.
DrO
Member:
gwenyth

Posted on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 9:46 am:

Dr. O, thanks for your reply. I spoke with my veterinarian, and we decided that his summer coat is indeed too long and he is mildly depressed, signs of Cushing's. I have treated him for IR - EMS by reducing his diet & increasing exercise as HA suggests for the past year. We are going to try a 60 day trial of pergoglide at the amounts suggested in HA, to see if we get any response. She felt the Dex suppression test was not wise to do, since he has recently had laminitis.

When he had this laminitis episode, I tried putting him on Thyro-L, (which I have around for a TRULY hypothyroid horse), to see if I would get any response. It has only been for 3 weeks. Would this short of a time cause depression of the thyroid gland, and do I need to wean him off the thyro-L gradually for 4 weeks? Is this OK to do so while adding the pergoglide, or do I need to wean him off the Thyro-L before giving the pergoglide?
Member:
gwenyth

Posted on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 10:28 am:

Dr. O - I forgot to add - I gave him 1/2 t per day for about a week, then he was on 1t for about 1 1/2 to 2 weeks. He is 1400#, so this is a small amount, but I wasn't sure if that made a difference.

Thanks,

nancy
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, May 6, 2010 - 5:38 am:

After only three weeks of a small amount I think it can be discontinued abruptly.
DrO
Member:
gwenyth

Posted on Thursday, May 6, 2010 - 7:34 am:

Dr. O, thanks for your advice. While waiting for the pergoglide to arrive, I cut down the Thyro-L to 1/2t for 4 days, and will cut down to 1/4 t for a few days, then I will discontinue it.

I hope to start the pergoglide by this coming Monday.

Thank you,

Nancy
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