Should you clip a horse with Cushings?

What if my horse has Cushing's Disease? Horses with Cushing's disease often struggle to shed their winter coats, so their coats are thicker all year round, which can become uncomfortable for them. Because of this, you should clip them regularly.

When should I clip my Cushings horse?

Clipping a horse suffering from Cushing's disease, even with a partial clip, allows a horse to regulate their body temperature more effectively in the summer and winter months. Additionally, during winter months, you may perform a trace clip on a horse to better diffuse heat while working.

How do you body clip a horse with Cushings?

To successfully clip a horse with cushings they need to be firstly nice and clean ! Clippers that can handle the thickness of coat I use lister heavy duty clippers with a course blade which will leave 2.5mm of coat If needed I then go over the clip with finer blades.

Can you ride a horse that has Cushing's disease?

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.

What to do with a horse with Cushing's?

Treatment of Cushing's Disease in Horses

The first-line treatment for Cushing's disease is an FDA-approved tablet called Prascend (pergolide). Some horses may need to be started on Prascend gradually as it can cause a decrease appetite.

Cherry Lane (Cushings Clip) *Pippa*

Can a horse with Cushing's eat 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.

How long can 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.

Can you take a horse off Prascend?

Currently the USEF rule states that horses must be pulled off of Prascend 24 hours prior to competition. This does not benefit the horse as he or she can experience increased ACTH levels and thus increased levels of the body's own steroid production during that time.

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.

What happens if you don't treat Cushing's 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.

Should you clip your horse in winter?

Your horse can usually be clipped for the first time each year during October. The winter coat continues to grow, but usually not as thickly as the original unclipped coat. One or two additional clips may be necessary during the winter, but the coat should not be clipped after early to mid-January.

How long does it take to full body clip a horse?

A full body clip can take anywhere from one-and-a-half to four hours, depending on the mood of the horse and the experience of the person clipping.

Can you clip a horse in March?

YES! Absolutely! Clipping horses doesn't just have to be kept for the winter months. Some types of horses and ponies can seriously benefit from being clipped all year round, particularly if they tend to grow thick heavy coats in the winter.

What to do after clipping a horse?

Wipe the surfaces down with a clean cloth. Then oil the clippers and blades and place both neatly back in their case. Store them in a dry place so that they don't rust. In the days following the clip, it's important to keep the coat and skin well-conditioned.

How does a horse develop Cushing's disease?

Causes. The underlying cause of PPID is loss of inhibition of the pars intermedia region of the pituitary gland. As a result, the gland becomes enlarged and there is a marked increase in the production of certain hormones.

How quickly does Prascend work?

Clinical improvement is usually expected within 6-12 weeks of starting Prascend treatment, however the length of time between initiation of treatment to being able to see a response can vary from one horse or pony to another.

Are Oats good for horses with Cushings?

Even though oats are the grain lowest in sugar and starch, at around 45 to 50% starch they are still far too high in starch for horses on a low sugar and starch diet, eg insulin resistant horses, horses prone to laminitis, those with disorders like Cushings or PSSM etc, as well as many horses who are prone to ulcers, ...

Can Cushing horses have beet pulp?

Triple Crown Senior (http://www.triplecrownfeed.com/products/feeds/senior-horse-feed- formula-seniorhorsefeed) is a beet pulp-based, textured feed recommended for Cushing's horses that have a hard time maintaining weight and need a little extra fat, without the extra carbohydrates.

How long can horses be on PRASCEND?

24-month stability at labeled storage conditions which allows for consistent, reliable dosing. PRASCEND is for use in horses only.

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.

Can PRASCEND be given 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 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 Cushings in horses be treated naturally?

Good hoof-care combined with nutritional management and the application of other modalities, including acupuncture and Chinese and Western herbs, can complete the healing process. The successful treatment of equine Cushing's syndrome is one of the best examples of treating a disease using the holistic approach.

Do all Cushings horses get 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.

Is February too late to clip my horse?

Owners that show often leave their last clip to February, just before the season starts. However, other show horses are clipped all year round. Some people simply feel that there is no such thing as a last date to clip. You can clip all year round with no problem!