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Liz100
Silver Member
United Kingdom
370 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Nov 2015 : 06:44:03 AM
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Raf has just been diagnosed at the age of 9. It wasn't expected - thought he probably had a virus - but the vet did the PPID test as an afterthought because it was free in October.
He's on Prascend, had quite a bad reaction so he had to have a break and re-start on 1/4 tablet which he seems to be ok with, so will be increasing to half a tablet at the weekend.
At the moment I'm finding it hard to believe I will ever get my boy back. Does anyone have a PPID horse that is out and about doing endurance? Or any other sport for that matter. How do you manage them and do they have good days and bad days? If so, is it possible to plan ahead when entering comps etc, or do you just have to take each day as it comes?
The other thing that I didn't ask the vet and I will have to pluck up courage to ask him when he next comes is what is the prognosis for a horse diagnosed at a relatively young age? I understand the medication only addresses the symptoms so presumably the disease will continue to progress over time.
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East Yorkshire |
Edited by - Liz100 on 03 Feb 2016 3:48:08 PM
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2015 : 09:08:17 AM
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| Hi Liz, I have pm'd you |
  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
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Mrs DJ
Gold Member
632 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2015 : 09:56:59 AM
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Hi Liz
Have a look on the Phoenixhorse site.
It's a barefoot forum, but there's lots of info on PPID, and there is a section for support groups.
Worth a read.
I gather more and more horses are being diagnosed at an early age. |
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glo
Gold Member
England
1297 Posts |
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Goldenmane
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4964 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2015 : 6:05:15 PM
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Just looking through the internet it is Cushings, only looked briefly.
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Goldenmane
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4964 Posts |
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Liz100
Silver Member
United Kingdom
370 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2015 : 10:03:48 PM
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Thanks everyone. I had a look at the Phoenix horse forum (never even knew it existed) and there is some really interesting and useful stuff on there. The NADIS site is also very informative.
Sorry for calling it PPID instead of Cushings. I thought I was being old fashioned saying Cushings and I've only just got used to saying PPID instead. |
East Yorkshire |
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Ari
Platinum Member
1657 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2015 : 10:29:52 PM
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| If you search Cushings on this forum there is lots of first hand advice. My friends boy was diagnosed at 16, caught and treated very early as she noticed the slight change in him. He is 20 now well managed and doing great. Her posts are a while ago as "Impy", I will ask her to look at at your post. |
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glo
Gold Member
England
1297 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2015 : 8:38:25 PM
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My friends horse has symptoms of it, I ask if she was going to test, but said that they weren't, they clipped in the summer this year and there mare seemed happier, then when the coat grew back it was lovely.
She is old now I would say about 23/24 if not older. Still hacked out 2/3 time a week.
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cmj
Silver Member
France
383 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2015 : 06:38:08 AM
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Sorry you have had that bombshell. Mine had it, ok for a couple of years on Prascend but then it stopped working even at increased dose. He definitely could not have continued with endurance (34k rides). I just hacked him gently and if he felt like cantering, ok, if not that was fine. 1 hour was plenty. He got "fragile" if that makes sense. We had to let him go when the time was right :( It can cause some to go downhill very fast. My friend just lost her part-tb to it very soon after diagnosis despite 3 prascend daily. Some go on and on with few side effects.
From research I found oats to be a good food. No carrots/apples/molassed food. Cushings horses all seem to be affected differently and I really hope yours only has mild, manageable effects. |
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jillandlomond
Platinum Member
Scotland
3586 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2015 : 2:26:18 PM
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| Prascend is a prohibited substance in competitions run under rules unfortunately. I know of a couple of endurance horses who still go to rides, but stick to pleasure rides as they won't be drug tested. |
    
Borders, Scotland |
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Liz100
Silver Member
United Kingdom
370 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2015 : 8:43:42 PM
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Thank you for your honest replies. So sorry to hear about your horse cmj, and your friend's. It was my plan to start doing some competitive endurance rides this year but as things are I'd be over the moon if we can get back to pleasure rides.
Actually I am close to tears tonight. Raf went back on the higher dose (half a tablet) Prascend today and already he's like this. It breaks my heart to see him like this.
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East Yorkshire |
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Mrs DJ
Gold Member
632 Posts |
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cmj
Silver Member
France
383 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2015 : 9:14:36 PM
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| Oh Liz I'm so sorry for you. I understand what you are going through. When I got the results from the vet over the phone I was completely shocked, cried, was devastated to be honest as I loved my boy so much. It does get a bit easier to bear as your mind gets round it. Some horses do get depressed on Prascend I believe. Maybe Raf's body will adjust to the drug and he will perk up. I am praying for him. They really do all react so differently to this horrible disease. If Raf is like mine was, he will enjoy being babied and pampered even more when he feels low. |
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Liz100
Silver Member
United Kingdom
370 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2015 : 9:40:55 PM
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Thank you both. Mrs DJ - I have saved that site in my favourites - absolutely loads of information on there and all in one place.
cmj - yes Raf is enjoying being babied and cuddled, in fact that's all he wants (well, that and carrots) when I go over in the evenings. It's not at all like him, he should be tugging at his net and keeping an eye on me to make sure I perform my cleaning duties satisfactorily. He's normally such a proud boy. |
East Yorkshire |
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Mrs DJ
Gold Member
632 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2015 : 10:21:25 PM
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Don't despair just yet.
My girl has had endless problems since we moved yards about 18 months ago,some of them quite serious. But she seems to keep bouncing back, just when I'm at the end of my tether - and she's 19 in March.
Very tough cookies these Arabs of ours.
Everything crossed for Raf and you. Chin up girl - it ain't over till the fat lady sings. He'll probably surprise you with his resilience. |
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Misshana
Silver Member
England
449 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2015 : 07:47:51 AM
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| My friends horse has ems and was on metformin for couple years. Then got diagnosed cushings as well. Vet immediately stopped metformin and gave 1 prescend daily. Horse became so depressed, wouldn't eat etc. So owner reduced prescend to half daily and gave him metformin as well and he slowly picked up again. He has now gone back up to 1 daily and so far still eating ok. Has he been tested for ems? So sorry for you it's a horrible condition. My boy was borderline for 3 years with no meds and no real increase in levels but he wasn't in work due to tendon problems. Just lost him to colic aged 22 |
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Liz100
Silver Member
United Kingdom
370 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2015 : 08:23:09 AM
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Thank you so much ladies. Mrs DJ you have almost brought me to tears again this morning! I wish your girl all the best, hope she is ok now.
I've just ordered the supplement APF which apparently is 100% proved to counteract the side effects of Prascend, so keeping my fingers crossed.
Misshana - the vet said no to EMS, I think because Raf has lost weight rather than gaining it, despite having a huge appetite, and he's never had laminitis. So sorry about your boy, I read your thread, so sad.
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East Yorkshire |
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2015 : 10:57:54 AM
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| Interesting thread.... I have two Arabs with Cushings. |
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Liz100
Silver Member
United Kingdom
370 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2015 : 06:26:42 AM
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| Hi Judith. How are yours? Do you have them on Prascend? |
East Yorkshire |
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2015 : 11:20:17 AM
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Sly (22) is on Prascend, 2 tabs daily, keeps him well, has been difficult to get/keep weight on him. Adding micronised linseed to his daily feeds seems to have helped this year :) He is more or less retired, I climb on him bareback occ for a potter round the farm.
Jet (23) isn't on any treatment now, we have used Prascend & will again if he needs it, but it makes him rather depressed. He is getting progressivly ga-ga bless him, but well in himself. He is retired, became too unpredictable to ride! |
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Ziadomira
Platinum Member
England
1635 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2015 : 3:42:25 PM
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| We have one on Prascend. One tablet a day. Initially we thought she was thin due to her teeth but when the equine dentist came she advised to check for Cushings. She has not looked back and is now ell covered. She is 25 and after they were in for a few days recently because of the weather she went across the field at a gallop, could not wait to be let go. Very happy at the moment so if you can stabilise your boy then there is not reason why he does not have a happy life. Izzy was diagnosed about three years ago. |
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Liz100
Silver Member
United Kingdom
370 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2015 : 06:31:35 AM
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Thank you both, it's nice to hear happy stories. I hope Raf can be the same, only time will tell I suppose.
My mother is going progressively gaga at the moment, so I'm loving the idea of a horse being the same! |
East Yorkshire |
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2015 : 06:53:04 AM
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| One of our old boys was on homeopathic remedies for cushibgs.... We lost him lady year at 37. |
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Ziadomira
Platinum Member
England
1635 Posts |
Posted - 26 Nov 2015 : 3:17:25 PM
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| Spoke to someone this morning whose 18 year old gelding (not Arab) was diagnosed with Cushings earlier this year. When started on Prascend he was not very well but after a few weeks he got used to it and is now much better and has put on a lot of weight. |
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Liz100
Silver Member
United Kingdom
370 Posts |
Posted - 28 Nov 2015 : 6:02:13 PM
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Thanks debs and Ziadomira. I'm going to persevere with the Prascend for now because it does sound as though it will take several weeks before I know whether or not it's effective. If it doesn't work out then I'll be looking at alternatives.
I started him on APF this week, which is supposed to counteract the negative effects of the Prascend and he is thankfully much brighter in himself. I rode today (ride every weekend to 'test' how he's feeling) and he certainly isn't back to himself yet, but I suppose it's early days. |
East Yorkshire |
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Topic |
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PPID Anyone? - UPDATE
