PPID/Cushings Help Please!

[Lisa Ripley]

I could use some help working through the issues with my pony Boo. He was diagnosed a little over a year ago with Cushings. We put him on 1/2 tab of Prascend daily. His ACTH came back down to normal, but then his insulin went up a bit. He is only getting grass hay and water in a dry lot. I had updated blood work done last month and his insulin was 5 times the normal limit. Normal is up to 40 and his was 196, but his blood sugars were normal. So we tried adding Metformin along with the Prascend. I am not happy with how he looks. He just doesn't seem to feel good. I don't know what to do. He is only 9 years old and only pasture sound because he was kicked by a horse when he was a baby. If I can't get this under control, I am going to have to put him down. Has anyone else every put a pony on Metformin? How did your pony react? Any other suggestions for improving insulin resistance? Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Abby P]

Have you had your hay tested for sugar? That would be my next step. If you can't test or obtain low-sugar hay, then soak it for one hour (fully submerged in plenty of water), that removes some sugar. Be sure to dump the soaking water somewhere that he can't get to it. Soaking may not be enough if the hay is very high in sugar, though. I see you're in the south - you might be able to obtain teff hay which is pretty low in sugar across the board.

 

[LostandFound]

I'm not sure about Metformin but I know other people have had luck with thyroid meds or supplements along with the Prascend. You will probably get a lot more info on here from people with experience soaking hay, or testing it, it's unfortunately common in minis. He may need a balancer or some supplements. Or maybe a different hay. If he's sound enough for walks, get him walking. I hope you get it figured out, it's scary when we can't help them.