Does Prascend stop laminitis?

Several studies report improvement in the clinical signs of laminitis during treatment with pergolide. However, such improvements cannot be attributed to pergolide rather than other interventions such as farriery, rest or analgesia.

Does Cushing's cause laminitis?

Recurrent and often unexplained bouts of laminitis along with an abnormal hair coat are two of the most common clinical signs of a horse with Cushing's.

What does Prascend do for Cushings horses?

What is Prascend? Prascend is a medicine licensed to treat the clinical signs associated with Equine Cushing's disease in horses. It contains the active ingredient pergolide. Prascend works by mimicking the action of dopamine and therefore regulating the production of hormones from the pituitary gland.

How long does it take for Prascend to work in horses?

How long until I see an improvement with my horse after beginning treatment with PRASCEND? Depending on the specific clinical sign, improvement may be observed beginning within 30 days and continue through 6 months of initial treatment.

Does Equine Cushings cause laminitis?

Equine Cushing's cases always develop laminitis if they live long enough. They may become immunosuppressed and subject to a variety of parasitic or infectious agents such as helminthiasis or pneumonia. Many cases show muscle loss and become polydipsic and polyphagic; they may be diabetic.

How To Prevent

What do Prascend tablets do?

Prascend Tablets are commonly used in the treatment of Equine Cushing's Disease, now known as Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID). Previously thought an older horse disease, PPID is now frequently diagnosed in horses as young as five when excess cortisol is present in the body.

Does Cushing's cause lameness?

The lamellae suspends and supports the pedal bone within the hoof capsule. When these lamellae are disrupted, the pedal bone sinks and rotates which then causes lameness. Cushings causes a break down in the lamellae proteins and reduces lamellae blood flow. This is why horses with Cushings are predisposed to laminitis.

Can you PRASCEND every other day?

Giving 0.5 mg every other day - the datasheet states that Prascend should be given once daily. As the average half life of pergolide has been found to be around 6 hours in horses (Abra Wright Pharmacokinetics of pergolide in normal mares, MSc thesis 2009), extending the time between doses seems counter-intuitive.

Does PRASCEND have to be given at the same time every day?

Does it matter what time of day I give Prascend/pergolide? A. No. There is currently no recommendation for giving Prascend/pergolide at any particular time of day - this was confirmed by Dr Marian Little in The Horse.com's Ask the Vet Live Managing Horses with PPID in February 2014 - see notes.

Can you overdose a horse on PRASCEND?

Highlights. Pergolide overdose in horses is rare. Side effects of pergolide overdose in horses are related to dopaminergic central nervous effects. Paraffin oil and activated charcoal via a nasogastric tube might prevent systemic absorption of pergolide if overdosed.

How quickly does pergolide work?

Pergolide does not accumulate in the horse's body, and steady levels of pergolide are realized within three days of starting treatment; Pergolide is cleared from the system quickly, with a half-life less than 12 hours; and.

How much PRASCEND should I give my horse?

PRASCEND is contraindicated in horses with hypersensitivity to pergolide mesylate or other ergot derivatives. Preserved and protected in foil blister packs, the single-scored tablets make it simple to adjust dosage. Administer orally at a starting dose of 2 mcg/kg once daily.

How do I get my horse to eat PRASCEND?

What is the best hay to feed a horse with Cushing's?

Alfalfa averages 10-15% NSC, and oat hay is very high, averaging 22%. Alfalfa can be a good option for a horse with Cushings if they are a hard time holding their weight because it is more calorie-dense than grass hay.

How long do horses live with Cushing's disease?

Well-managed horses should live about five to seven years or more past diagnosis. In severely affected horses, however, laminitis and recurrent infections are time-consuming and expensive to manage and can shorten the horse's anticipated life expectancy dramatically.

What happens if you don't treat Cushings in horses?

If a horse has untreated Cushing's Disease, it is more likely to develop laminitis and the laminitis will be more difficult to control. If an equine has any of the clinical signs suggestive of Cushing's, a blood sample can be taken to check ACTH levels in the blood.

Does Prascend cause sweating?

Increased or decreased sweating may occur.

Does Prascend cause loss of appetite?

Treatment with PRASCEND may cause loss of appetite. Most cases are mild. If severe, a temporary dose reduction may be necessary. Weight loss, lack of energy, and behavioral changes also may be observed.

Can Prascend cause colic?

Prascend® is well tolerated in horses. Potential adverse reactions in horses include inappetence, transient anorexia and lethargy, mild central nervous system signs (e.g. mild depression, mild ataxia and mild hyperexcitability), diarrhoea and colic. These signs are usually mild and transient in nature.

Is Prascend poisonous to dogs?

Keep PRASCEND in a secure location out of reach of dogs, cats, and other animals to prevent accidental ingestion or overdose. Dogs have eaten PRASCEND tablets that were placed in food intended for horses or dropped during administration of the tablets to the horses.

What is a normal ACTH level in horses?

Samples taken during this time period may have up to 3 times reference levels of ACTH in normal horses." Their normal cut-off is 35 pg/ml (outside of the seasonal rise), therefore up to 3 times this might mean an ACTH of up to 105 pg/ml might be considered negative for PPID between August and October.

Can you still ride a horse with Cushings?

What should be the cut-off sign not to ride him? You should first consult with your veterinarian before beginning an exercise or riding program. However, generally speaking, horses with Cushing's can be ridden like any other horse, particularly if the Cushing's syndrome is well controlled with medication.

Does Cushing's shorten a horse's life?

Cushing's disease is not a death sentence. Despite the fact that there is no cure, there are several management practices that can keep an affected horse in use and in good health for many years following diagnosis.

Can horses with Cushings have grass?

Pasture grasses can have a high NSC content, especially during the spring and fall seasons, and the risk of colic and laminitis is greater when horses are on pasture. Since laminitis and founder are more common in horses with Cushing's disease, pasture grazing should be severely limited or totally avoided.