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  Discussion on Cushings? Could it be lighting?
Author Message
Member:
Mara1

Posted on Monday, Jul 17, 2006 - 5:42 am:

Dr. O:

I've posted today on the stifle site as well. But we have another issue, alas. My poor mare seems to be developing metabolic/endocrine issues, I suspect as a result of being overfed at times while she was on stall rest. She's an Arabian and an easy keeper. I never give her grain, as she has tied up, and until she was hurt, she was lean and very fit--she could smoke up and down 15 miles of mountain trails and do arena work besides.
(She gets alfalfa pellets and 2 OZ oil with omega 3 and 6, timothy hay, and lots of vitamins and minerals.)

She came from Souther Cal to Oregon and had a light winter coat for three years--no need to clip. Raging hormones every spring. Then she had her accident and had to be on stall rest and hand walking, which we did religiosly twice daily around a 60 acre property. I noticed that her winter coat the first year in the stall was heavier, and her heat cycles petered out. Her stall is at the end of a small barn and she has a view out side with morning sun. She shed out slowly and late that spring--it was summer, really. The next fall, her winter coat was positively luxurious and thick, longer than ever. I'd taken her to Washington State University and thought maybe it was the northern latitude, but then I thought that she didn't bloom like that coming from S Cal to Oregon. Their barn was warmed and she was not blanketed while there, but the lights were dimmed early. Brought her home in November very furry. New trainer in our little barn who left the lights on until 10:00 each night to keep her show horses from growing hair. No effect on my mare's coat at all--I kept her blanketed with a heavy blanket. I body clipped her at the end of February in anticipation of riding her. She was cold even with her blankets, and grew some coat back. The trainer and the lights went away about that time. This coat NEVER shed out, and we had to clip her again at the end of June--90 degree weather.

Also, the mare was over fed by the boarding stable while on stall rest. It snuck up on me, until I was, Oh my goodness, my horse is FAT! Getting the weight off was not easy. This happened twice. Philosophical differences, I guess, to be diplomatic. Not everyone understands how to manage Arabians, or that fat is not healthy, and I was too trusting. Her weight is right, now. But I suspect she had metabolic synDrOme--no cresty neck, but fat pads over her tail, behind her shoulder blades, and a fat belly. Her vet and I plan to test for insulin resistance and triglycerides, also endogenous acth--I don't want to risk the dex stim test. My intent is to be very proactive and avoid any whiff of laminitis, having lost my old mare to laminitis last year and helped a friend the year before with a lovely mare who died of the same at a young age--both Arabians.

Have you ever heard of a horse not shedding out or having heat cycles due to changes in lighting,or is it always cushings? What are your thoughts about obesity leading to insulin resistance leading to cushings? Other than the increased fur and lack of estrus, she seems fairly symptom free. She's lost all her topline muscles and is very unfit; she has a haybelly, but she's been resting for two years. She's not polydypsic, but is drinking a normal amount, whereas before, she didn't drink enough in cold or hot weather. She's very high energy--ammusingly busy, like a Jack Russell terrier, but sweet and safe to handle--I give her a little ace to ride.

Do you have any suggestions?

Thank you so much,
Mara
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 18, 2006 - 7:05 am:

Mara,
Yes changing the time a horse is exposed to light can effect shedding. The switching from winter coat to summer coat and vice versa are daylight length controlled.

Concerning your questions about Cushings and Metabolic SynDrOme, it really is bit of a word game: how do you want to define what Cushings is in a horse. So study the articles in the Endocrine Disorders section (see the navigation bar above)on these two diseases and you should get a good idea of how these diseases are different, how to diagnose them, and then how to manage your horse once you have a diagnosis.
DrO
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