Hey Sue D,

Welcome to the list.    I have read your Case History on Wiz but I did not find your xrays.

 

As you have probably read the list philosophy is DDT/E.   These need to be done  at the same time to   get optimal results.   I can tell you that you are on the right track but now you need that extra boot to get his DIET right!

 

Diagnosis of Cushings and treating with Prascend.  This lab was before the seasonal rise.  You did not do follow up bloodwork to make sure you were in giving the correct dose.  We are now on the down hill side of the rise.  It ends around the end of December but its different for each horse.  I would want to know if he needs to be on Prascend year round so redoing your lab work in December would tell you.  We aim for the ACTH number to be in the middle of ‘normal’.  

 

Since he is an Arabian,  I would also test his Insulin/Glucose/Leptin at Cornell.    Cushings is treated with medication.  IR is managed by DIET.   You have lots of room to change his diet to  low sugar/starch balanced minerals.    His tripping could be from subclinical laminitis or incorrect trim.        Start by soaking/draining his hay.  If this is too difficult you could feed ODTB   cubes  100% or as part of the soaked hay meal.   You can also call different hay exchanges to see where low sugar/starch hay is available.   I know of one barn  that carries it in NC.    You could also find hay that is safe,  store it at your home (pallets/tarps)  and take what you need already bagged in hay nets to the barn for the barn staff to feed.   Your supplements could be sent in baggies.    or change barns where IR is a normal routine.  

In the meantime,  you could pull him off pasture,  feed him soaked/drained hay and add the Temporary Emergency minerals of Vitamin E,  loose iodized table salt,  magnesium and freshly ground flax seed.  This recipe is in the Start Here file and at ecirhorse.org

 

Wiz will need at least 4 small meals a day.  Do NOT fast him for the IR bloodwork. Feed him soaked /drained    grass hay the night before and the day of the test.

 

What you should stop feeding right now until you have a DIAGNOSIS that he is NOT IR is the Rice Bran Oil and treats.   You  should  see a great improvement in removing the sugars from his diet.   The list recommends 10% and below s/s a day for IR.    Oil worsens IR.    Some herbs contain minerals that block the absorption of others.   You need  a hay analysis  so you know exactly what you are feeding Wiz.   The Himalayan salt block has iron and dirt in it.  I would stop that today.  Go to Walmart and pickup all the ER minerals you need.  A round box of salt costs < 50cents.   Start slowly but a full grown horse needs 2 rounded TBS a day of salt!  to balance the potassium in the hay.  Horses have smooth tongues so licking a white salt block is more for their amusement   the loose iodized salt is what they need to start balancing minerals.   When you add Selenium you may see another big change in him because  Iodine and Selenium can jump start a sluggish thryroid.   While you’re at Walmart,  go the sports department and buy a fish hanging scale.  You will need to know how much hay you are feeding a day.   Weigh the hay dry, in hay nets,  then soak/drain them.   Soaking for one hour in cold water reduces sugar up to 30%.   Don’t go over one hour or you have to change the water.

 

The carrier for your minerals can be rinsed/soaked/rinsed plain shredded beet pulp,  ODTB crumbs,  or  NUZU  Stabil 1 feed.   These two are tasty, safe and low s/s.  The cubes are a complete meal so if hay becomes scarce you can feed this alone.

 

TRIM is a big part of horse soundness.   We find many farrier leave the toes too long and the heels too high.   Please send a link to your photos  and xrays.   Taking pictures of his feet will really help the hoof gurus in their comments.  

 

EXERCISE can be handwalking only **IF** the horse is willing. Never force a laminitic horse to move.  A horse with any Coffin Bone rotation or laminitis should NOT BE RIDDEN.    If WIZ has thin soles,  he should be in boots and pads or the EquiCasts.  He can

become a sinker.    That  can take years to fix.   We generally see a horse needing one year to grow a new tightly attached cb to the laminae/hoofwall.   Some horses take longer.

 

Please start a journal on Wiz.  Daily changes that seem insignificant can be important!  Start a photo log on him too. 

 

Your questions:   I would not feed any Aqua Aid, or horse quenchers.  Just feed him loose iodized table salt.   Start at 1 tsp.    Less is more.

 

Here are some links you will need.  

 

 

 

 

Sue,  this all sound greek and crazy  in the beginning.  We didn’t get her by not having success stories!   IF you are feeling overwhelmed you are normal!   We did too!   ITs part of the learning curve.   You will find help in NC.   We have members all over the world that are willing to help you.   Just take a deep breath,  eat some dark chocolate and have a glass of wine ~ then get started!    Ask questions.

 

 

Mandy in VA

EC Primary Response

OCT 2003