[Emzalss@2580]

I've posted this on general horse chat to but i guess i'd better post it here as well to see if any of you guys can help as well.
My fave pony at the riding stables cud have cushings disease and we found out before we were gonna clip him. I brought him out and we were looking at him and he was sweatin like mad coz his coats so thick and curly and then they said he might have cushings disease coz he has most of the symptoms, he gets laminitas, thick curly coat. So ther you have it which leaves me feeling worried coz i hardly know a hing about it, anyone wanna share knowledge, expierances, and don't wory to say about extremes. Thanks so much

[Emzalss@2580]

This is his coat, bad huh!

[ejforrest]

Classic Cushings disease
The hormonal imbalance in Cushings disease reults in climical signs including a long shaggy coat that doesnt shed out in the spring or summer, undue sweating, a heavy intake of water and resultant frequent urination, increased appetite, potbellied apperance, lethargy, loss of topline muscle, and laminitis. Some Cushings horses, but not all, also have insulin resistance.
Generally, Cushings disease afflicts older horses, but it has been know to strike those under 10 years of age. Regardless of the age of the horse, Cushings disease often renders a horse infertile. There has been no scientifically proven predispostion for the disease according to gender, but you hear about it often among Morgans and various pony breeds.
There are more problems associatied with Cushings disease that just clinical manifestatios listed earlier. Half of the horses with Cushings develop laminitis and their immune systems are suppressed, opening the door to a wide variety of pathogenic agents. A Cushings horse with laminitis can be well managed for years.
There are drugs available that have proven to be at least somewhat effective in modifying the inappropriate activity of the pituitary gland although there is no cure.
Metabolic Syndrome
Clinical signs of metabolic syndrome include obesity-associated laminitis and abnormal fat deposition. In addition, insulin resistance appears to be one of the criteria defining metabolic syndrome.
Much of what the Missouri researchers have learned has shed new scientific light on Cushings disease and metabolic syndrome, but their research also has raised questions. For example, is metabolic syndrome a cause of Cushings disease? And if so, could Cushings disease result from changes in the brain that impact the pituitary gland, rather than the developement of tumors?
Here are some suggestions on diet from Johnson, Messer, and Kellon for horses with metabloic syndrome.
*Hays fed to insulin-resistant horses should contain no more 10% sugar and starch combined. The only way to know for sure what hay contains is through laboratory analysis.
*It is not necessarily a good thing to restrict the intake of hay. When good grass hay is being fed, it should be at the rate of about 15-20 pounds per day for a 1,000 pound horse. Horses which spend a lot of time in stalls would be fed at the lower end of the scale, while those that get turned out in a herd situation would be the upper end.
*Grain and fruit treats of any kinds should not be fed. That includes everything from oats to apples.
*While horses suffering from metabolic syndrome usually do well on a hay only diet, beet pulp is an excellent addition to the diet because it is actually more digestible than hay and has a caloric value that is roughtly equivalent to plain oats.
*The proper intake of mineral is highly important. The intake of each individual mineral should be set at a minimum of 150% of current National Research Council(NRC) minimums. This extra intake of minerals is needed to help combat the problem rather than just maintain a proper balance.
*Long term diets that are high in fat can worsen insulin resistance in some breeds and ponys.
*Adequate-but not excessive-protein is advisable. Grass hays containing 7.5% protein consumded at the rate of 2% of body weight per day will meet crude protein requirements.
*Free-choice access to grass should be avoided to cut down on the possiblity of ingesting to much sugar.
For more information go to:
OBESITY & CUSHING'S DISEASE
www.thehorse.com

[Emzalss@2580]

Thanks for your help! i'm worried now

[Huntseat123]

well this little mare at our barn was jsut put down because of cushings disease (not to scare you) she was an angel. she was volts only freind at the barn so i took her out when i took volt out and i groomed her, even though it didnt make much of a difference. She was getting picked on by the other horses and she was suffering too much so they put her down.



Candygirl (jane) sent me this thing on cushings, i'll send it to you. just kidding i just checked and i dont have it, sorry

[Huntseat123]

Oh i just looked at the picture of his coat, Fleets was 10X's worse. so hes not as serisou as fleet was

[Emzalss@2580]

It's ok, now i have heard of two horses that have been put down becuase of it and the worst thing is i can't do a da.m.n thing about it.

[Huntseat123]

well the best advice i can do is give him a lto of love and attention and let him live his live well

[MissBandit]

Please read this thread that I recently created on Cushing's Disease.

Info on Cushing's Disease

[Emzalss@2580]

Thanks, so it's lookin pretty grave? Dang