Eagle isn't well

[barnbum]

Hmm..no experience with this, but we sure learn a lot when our horses are not 100%. The poop in the photo looks moist enough. I think he just needs lots of water consistently? Just wanted to say I know it's hard on you to worry and I hope Eagle is perfect soon! HUGS!

 

[LittleRibbie]

I understand...i do recall now...you did mention you his weight being up a bit.

hows he doing tonight...any more blood. what other things are going on...eatting and drinking O.K.? lathargic?

laying down more/less than usual?

gosh I hate this...my heart goes out to you!

 

[JMS Miniatures]

I was just recently introduced to this supplement just recently so I can comment on my behalf but others have had great success with it. It's called Karbo Combo and its suppose to really boost their immune system and helps horses with chronic problems. I realize your over seas but it may help your guy out.

Karbo Combo

 

[Marty]

Oh no not Eagle. I'm so sorry and hope he gets better soon!

 

[AnnaC]

Oh Renee, sorry I have only just seen this. Poor Eagle and poor you. Hope he's a bit better this morning (and your little dog too!)

Was the grass good quality down in the field? How much time went past from when you got him home? Just wondering if it might have been the sudden change in diet over 24 hours from green grass to feed and hay.

Not sure why Diane said restrict his grass intake (am interested Diane, can you explain

) because I would have said he should be offered as much grass as possible - gentle, green, moist, natural food for his system - alongside other wet 'gentle to digest' food. It does sound as though he has ruptured a small blood vessel in his rectum area through straining with the hard droppings - BUT this doesn't explain why his droppings were so hard and infrequent in the first place.

Sending you and Eagle ((((HUGS)))) Renee. Do keep us informed as to his progress.

 

[Riverrose28]

So sorry to hear Eagle is not well. You could give him some mineral oil by syringe until hte vet arrives to coat his system and help move things along. Hope he feels better soon.

 

[Eagle]

The vet isn't coming today he is coming next week cos he wants to test him for Cushings. He told me to keep an eye on him, give him grass and mash for dinner.

Please pray for my little guy.

 

[shorthorsemom]

praying for you here. if you suspect cushings don't wait long to begin treatment and get the vet out. A few years back my pony foundered as a complication of cushings. It is easlily treated with pergolide, I wish I knew then what I know now about cushings. I read about it quite a bit after I lost my pony to complications of the founder in addition to a major goof on dosing pain meds by the vet.

Some vets will just begin the pergolide and wait for the blood work to come in. Some vets recommend you skip the expensive blood test and just treat with pergolide right away. Treatment results from the pergolide often negate the need for the bloodwork.

Weird looking fat globs on the body can be an indicator of cushings... coat condition too... My boy had no symptoms and was not over weight, I ran the expensive test, the results came in after we lost the pony... I wish I had started treatment before the test results came back. Pergolide is not expensive and cushings isn't a death sentence. Founder is a bigger bummer. Best wishes and I hope Eagle starts to feel better real soon.

PS, my chubby boys get zero grass. 6 hours a day would be too much for my boys. They get turn out with muzzles, fine plain grass hay and a supplement along with remission. I don't know what your weather is like, but ours in hot cold hot cold right now and I am being very careful. I added probiotics to their supplement just as a precaution, can't hurt. You might try some probiotics. You can syringe some in.

 

[Lori W]

I have a Cushings / insulin resistant 17 year old part-Haflinger part-Welsh pony on Pergolide, too. He has the fat pockets and wooly coat that takes forever to shed, but his overall body condition is a 5; I can feel ribs and see them if the lights shines on him just right. We didn't do the test, but started him on Pergolide right away.

He's in a dry lot with 3 to 4 small feedings of grass hay per day, to better minic "grazing". We've struggled with laminitis with this boy, so I'm very careful about his feed, keeping the carbs as low as possible. He's also on a supplement called "Quiessence" (magnesium and chromium).

He's doing well - he's pretty spunky most of the time and often chases the minis (who are outside his pen) around the perimeter of his fence!

Prayers going out for your Eagle!

Edited to add: Our vet recommended going straight to Pergolide instead of testing first. Based on our pony's symptons, he was almost positive it was Cushings. Plus he felt the test would stress our pony too much and possibly bring on another bout of laminitis. We don't take any steps with his treatment without involving our vet!

 

[Eagle]

Can I ask you some questions about Cushings as you both have experience.

1) what are the expensive blood tests ?

my vet suggested taking blood at 17.00 and then giving cortisone and then testing at 17.00 the next day?

2) Could it be dangerous to give pergolide without testing if he doesn't have Cushings?

3) What is his future going to be like?

I paid a lot of money for this little guy and he is my herd stallion.

4) Is it hereditary?

Thanks in advance

Renee

 

[drmatthewtaylor]

I wouldn't pretend to know prices in Italy, but $17 seems low. I would charge about $135 total for cortisol tests plus farm calls (I prefer to do them in the clinic) plus expenses which would come to about $250 for the whole bill. I had to look all of those prices up, sometimes we Vets are far more concerned about the patient and client rather than the bill, so when somebody asks us 'how much?', we miss the estimate.

I never understand why we wouldn't do tests. There are more things than just Cushing's Disease that could be the problem or maybe he has no problem. No medicine works 100% of the time, so if the patient doesn't improve does that mean we had the wrong diagnosis or the wrong dose (for this individual) or is the mendicine just failing to help and we either need to add on another drug or stop this one and start a new?

If he gets better on the drug does that mean that it was because of the drug? We aren't talking about a 2 week course of antibiotics or one shot of Banamine, but rather a lifetime of Pergolide. Do we want to do that not 'knowing' what the results of a test may be, even if Pergolide doesn't have many side effects.

Now, I do understand testing, having a negative and still staring Pergolide, but that's a judgement that would be made by you and your Vet based on many different factors.

Cushing's isn't hereditary per se, but it does occur more often in minis and ponies than it does in bigger horses.

If you paid a lot of money for him and he is obviously of great value to you, then do what your Vet says.

Dr Taylor

 

[Ashley]

We have had two horses with it. Both have since passed on. One gelding around the age of 12 and a mare around the age of 18 or so. The gelding had some time after being diagnosed. The mare was gone within 2 months of the actual obvious onset of the issue.

Pregnancy makes cushings worse (the mare was pregnant at the time it showed up). She was found one day down and literally not there mentally and was let go. The gelding started out with the weird coat and constant founder. Eventually he lost all body weight, muscle and his mind. He would freak out at the little things such as dropping hay out for him. HE was a show horse what was essentially bomb proof.

 

[Eagle]

Thanks Dr Taylor, I don't think I was very clear in my previous post. What I meant was I asked my vet if there is a test for Cushings and he said he could take blood at 17.00pm and then give him cortisone and take blood again the following day at the same time. By this he should be able to say if Eagle is suffering from Cushings. He did say to ring back this evening as he wanted to do some research first. I have no experience with this so I am a little lost. I have great vets here but they are our show jumpers vets so usually deal with muscle problems etc and they don't have any experience with minis other than mine.

I have been trying to find out what is wrong with him for a long time now and I won't stop until I find out. it breaks my heart to see him unhappy. He is very valuable to me just the same as all my animals are and it has nothing to do with how much I paid fro him. I was just wondering if I will need to replace my herd stallion but I know it is way to early to know I was just thinking aloud. I apologise.

Kind regards

Renee

 

[bannerminis]

Oh Renee so sorry to hear about poor Eagle. I really hope you get to the bottom of this mystery and hope that Eagle is able to make a full recovery.

I hate worrying about the unknown but fingers crossed between yourself and your vet you can get Eagle sorted.

I have everything crossed for you both.

 

[LittleRibbie]

Just checking in Renee it see how little Eagle is doing. I know you'll keep us posted,Thanks

 

[Eagle]

I have just been down to check him and give him some fresh water and he has done a poop

which seems lighter in colour and slightly less compact.

The vet has instructed me to take blood on Monday evening and then give him 1.5ml of Dexadreson, I then have to draw blood on Tuesday morning at 10.00am and take both samples to the lab.

Please keep the prayers coming for my little guy.

thanks Renee &b Eagle

 

[LittleRibbie]

Thanks Renee for the update.

 

[MeganH]

Prayers for your Eagle.

Thanks for the update, Renee.

 

[barnbum]

Good luck! I'll be checking in to see what you find out.

 

[JAX]

Hmmm I tried to post this last night but it is not showing up! I will try again

BTW I am obviously not a vet but Dexadreson sure sounds an awful lot like Dexamethazone to me...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JUST MY OPINION

Those of you who have horses that you or your vet suspect has some type of metabolic problem -- If your vet wants to run a dexamethazone test on your horse... please be aware that there is a possibility that it can push your horse over the edge towards lamanitis or into full blown founder. It does not happen often but why would you do this test when there are other tests available? We were told by our vet that the Dex test was the only way to test. Because of this site http://www.ecirhorse.com/ we knew better and asked her to look into the ACTH test which is a single blood draw test and does not put your horse at risk. I am a member of the ECIR group but do not profit in ANY way by giving out this link or singing their praises. My horses do profit everyday though by what I have learned on this site. Should you decide to become a member of the group there is no charge just lots of useful information. There are also wonderful people known as the "hoof gurus" who do wonders for the feet problems these horses sometimes have, they are extremely helpful. The link to the group is on the lower right side of the page.

OK Ive said my two cents worth and I will get off my

and will try to find my flame suit

hmmmm I guess this one will have to do.

BTW: Good Luck no matter what you and your vet decide! Either way its a very informative site and group

Oh Yeah there is also another test but I cannot remember the name for that one!!