One other thing to consider -- Cushings quite often make a horse very
lethargic. Once you begin treating it and fix some of the inbalance,
the horse may very well become much more reactive, observant, 'awake'
and active... So it may very well be a quite GOOD sign that he's more
reactive than in the last several years before the Cushings was
diagnosed. Often the disease and some of its effects have been
present for several years before the symptoms are severe enough to be
noted. I know my girl had basically quit playing with the other
horses, quit coming (generally) when called, would walk up from
pasture (note, WALK) when everyone else galloped in... and yet was
fine when being ridden -- I just assumed that she was getting
naturally older and more sedate (hey she was late teens, early
twenties, right?!). Put her on thyroid L and PRESTO, she's coming
when called, galloping in with the others, playing when they went
bombing around.... I've had her for the most part since she was a
year and a half old, and all of a sudden it was like she was 10 or 15
years younger with the thyroid L. Yet both myself and the vets DID
NOT think she was lethargic before treatment -- it was only the
drastic improvement that made it so obvious, and knowing intimately
how she'd behaved when she was younger. So you may want to keep that
in mind, is your horse being 'more reactive and under more stress' or
is he perking up and becoming more normal with treatment?

food for thought anyhow!

Robin
Desert Springs Sport Horses
http://www.Sportshorses.homestead.com
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