so she's coming out on Monday, but early in the afternoon.

Since this isn't a morning draw, what do I do about food?

Hi Katie -

Great question! When blood work is drawn later in the day, you will need to make certain that they have food four hours after they are done with breakfast and then every two hours thereafter.

Or - just make them very happy and leave free choice until you can get home.

For those who are struggling getting a vet to use a lab of your choosing, perhaps offer to do the leg work of packing and shipping after they have spun and frozen the blood. Actually, you can freeze it yourself after it's been spun and then pack/ship overnight. FedEX and UPS have guidelines for how they will accept specimens for shipment. Check ahead of time so you are prepared.

Linda
EC Primary Response
West Coast
May 2004

Hi Katie,
Can't answer your question about AM or PM blood draws, but am very intrigued about your female DVM who is willing to send to Cornell. I have hit the proverbial "stone wall" trying to find a vet who will extend themselves a bit.

Could you share your experience after the results are back? I'm sure many Southern Californians would be interested. I sure would! Hoping she's located 50 miles north from where you are in Ramona.

Thanks,
Carol, Casey, & Jesse, Yucaipa, CA, May 2009
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ECHistory/files/Casey/
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ECHistory2/files/Jesse/

Hello Lorna,

Should this exchange be continued by private email?

I am not sure whether the iron in my hay is considered high. It's listed at 56.97 ppm.

I have 10 pounds of the monocalcium phosphate.

Bonnie Ivey, Ontario
12/08

What a beautiful tribute! I'm sure his black coat looked stunning against the rainbow backdrop as he crossed The Bridge. May your other horses provide you comfort in your time of loss!

Alexis
So AZ
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

PS --- In a weak attempt to keep it on topic (:-)) horses with uncontrolled Cushing's can be more prone to this kind of issue. That said, JoAnne, my boy who went through this was not Cushing's.


"Microfilariae concentrate in the skin of the ventral midline. "


Nancy C in NH
February 2003
Moderator

Visit our new site:
http://www.ecirhorse.com/

Carol, I am so happy for you and Mac that you had him and he you and all
those wonderful times together made richer by your care and the company
you had in each other.

Hugs to you, and a wave to him as he gallops off into his sunrise.

Donald, Altea, Bonnie and countless horses cared for and loved who all
appreciate you and Mac.

6/08 Pacific Northwest

Karen wrote:

Hi JoAnne

We need to move this to ECHorsekeeping if Rayya is not IR or PPID. Just want to add that info on the Onochera that Rick mentions in his post is in one of the Merck links I sent. Not sure that they are weather oriented but will go look for more info for you. Oddly there was a ton of discussion on ECHorsekeeping (then ECPhotos) list last year that explains what to do for these.

Only one gelding here was plagued with them last spring and summer. My other boy was not.

Here's the link again

<http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/71804.htm>

The midline swelling and weeping goo that you describe was very much a symptom. Using spirulina and chondroitin worked for him with out the need for steriods

Background info on spirulina here

<http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/EquineCushings/files/Spirulina/>

Nancy C in NH
February 2003
Moderator

Visit our new site:
http://www.ecirhorse.com/

still she threatens me when shes fed up with things like blankets...she would never ever have tried to do that before she got sick.

That's exactly when my mare is her nastiest. She's never even twitched an ear at me before in the 18 years I've owned her but recently has been quite sensitive about blanket adjustments.

...maybe it's just a chesnut mare thing.

Mary
Ontario
May 2009

Hi, Carol,  I'm so sorry to read about your loss.  It made me remember another wonderful TWH I used to know named Mac.  If your Mac was like him, I know you definitely have a bunch of good memories to keep!
 
Cindy Perkins, Belleville, IL
perkins_cynthia@... 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I have a bag of Horse Tech's Nutra Flax right next to me here. All they have added to fresh milled flax is calcium carbonate.
And what they say is that they have added Ca to balance the Calcium to Phosphorus ratio of this supplement.
So it won't put your Ca:P ratio in your whole balanced diet out of whack.
Kathy Saucier
Texas
2005

HI Paula
With it being right sidedness, I'd be looking for an ulcer, either fore gut or hind gut or both. Her grabbiness would certainly lead me to believe an ulcer is the culprit, jmo. Been there. candy

Yesterday we played at liberty, happy to move though still not as happy to the rt - cellulitis is gone.

Carol,
So sorry for your loss.
Your Mac brought back many similar memories of my Magic I lost a year and a half ago.
Big black 16 H walker with white star and snip too.
Little girls fall in love with those big black horses.
And he too, in his latter years was fabulous with kids and was used in many lessons. He too knew to be ever so careful.
They are so special.
That is so wonderful of you to take in these Cushing's horses and give them the care you have learned. Bless you.
Kathy Saucier
Texas
2005

Carol, I'm so sorry for your loss. And so proud of you for taking in
foster horses and sharing your love and knowledge with them. Fly Free
Mac, you will be missed. Hugs and thinking of you, Amy in PA '06ish
(Misty C/IR, Herbie IR, lost beloveds on HIH site Echo, Dylan, Pebbles,
Cherry)
--- In EquineCushings@..., "Carol" <calpiner@...> wrote:

We lost our wonderful 30 yr old TWH, Mac, on

. So the knowledge I've gained with Mac will be passed forward to both
of them.

One of the things that I learned when Abby passed away was to cherish

the moments that we had with Mac. We both feel very blessed to have had
so many years with our beloved buddies. They will live on in our hearts
in the many many happy memories of trail rides and quiet times together.

Carol
Missing my buddies in the Pacific NW

If you have wormed your horse in last few weeks with ivermectin, the scabs your seeing in the jowl area could be Onchocerca cervicalis microfilarial dermatitis. My Arab mare had a bad case but it responded quickly to dexamethazone.
Rick
NH

I am wondering if the use of APF and PhytoQuench together is OK. A little history: 16 year old pony with laminitis in Oct. Diagnosed with PPID and IR at that time. Put on pergolide and thryroid-L. Diet changed to Ontario Dehy Balance Cubes with salt, flax, and Vit. E. Used a muzzle for turn-out. Trimmed properly. Pony did well through Nov. and Dec. Then about 9 days ago, started to look very sore again.
Vet re-did blood work and took xrays. Blood work revealed ATCH is fine, but the IR is still not good. Vet has upped the Thryroid-L. She is on 1 gram of bute. Started APF 4 days ago and she is starting to show improvement. Will be weaning her off the bute and am wondering if I can add PQ if needed after getting her off the Bute. Soft-Ride boots should arrive Monday.Thank you for your help. Any other suggestions are more than welcome. This group has been wonderful.

Anne T., Barkhamsted, CT
October 2009

I am about to have annual bloodwork drawn on my mule and my Canadian horse, both of which are diagnosed IR through previous bloodwork. This time, I have arranged with my vet to sent the blood to Cornell. I'm really glad that she's willing to make that arrangement - I'm in So. Calif. so as you can imagine Cornell is not a lab that's often used around here.

so she's coming out on Monday, but early in the afternoon. She needs to come later in the day in order to be able to take the bloodwork straight back to her office after my appointment (her office is about 50 miles away). She's bringing a centrifuge so she can spin it down immediately.

Since this isn't a morning draw, what do I do about food? In the past, I've had morning bloodwork and just given them their regular hay. But they are generally done eating by mid-morning, and she's coming in the early afternoon. Should I give them extra? Come home ahead of the vet and feed them?

Any thoughts would be appreciated! I want to get the best and most accurate blood draw that I can, obviously.

Katie
Ramona, CA
Member since 8/08

Carol,

I'm very sorry for your loss. You had Mac almost 20 years, and, though I'm sure it didn't seem so, that is a very long time for him to "get under your skin." These old guys just take our hearts with them when they go, don't they? He sounds like one of those very special horses that only come along once in a lifetime. What a wonderful tribute to your old friend, that you have these fond memories to share with the rest of us.

I know the pain is raw right now, but it will ease with time. Sending hugs from NY, and raising a glass to Mac.

With Our Deepest Sympathy,
Cindy, Alf, Connie, Dare, & Saffron
(in memory of Dusty and Red)

Karen wrote:

I am back. I have been without a computer for two weeks. Bad virus.
Tilly is doing well. We just put in the fifth application of
maggots. They are still eating away at bad stuff in her feet. I am
hoping this will be the last. I will be checking tomorrow afternoon
to see if they are still working. We have decided not to do the
prefusion for now. Maybe later, but the maggots seem to be really
helping her.

Hi Karen, I have had a virus also....boy are they ever a royal pain. I think I'm okay now but the computer guru is coming again Monday to check us out for sure.

I am so glad to hear that Tilly is doing well. I have been wondering about the two of you but couldn't use the computer to find out how things were going. Your message gave me a big sigh of relief. I am so happy for you both.

Elva
June 2004
New Mexico

Is it usable, or should I return it and get monosodium Phosphate?

If it were me,Bonnie,and I had iron issues,I'd return it.That's a concern with d-calcium P, and mono-cal P.Also,for my hay the calcium would mean I'm adding to my already-high Ca.
Otherwise ,I would use it(how much did you get,though?) and get the monosodium phosphate next time.


Lorna in Ontario
Support/Moderator
2002

Ok- still breathing! :)
Yes hay is being balanced, custom supplement is in the works. They are getting vit E capsules, salt, etc. I started the Horseshine, 2 days ago, tonight will be 3rd feeding for everyone. Decided to go with stabalized vs. fresh grind cuz I couldn't get past the "might be a change of cyanide". Personal choice!
I watch them all very closely anyway but more so now whenever anything is added/changed with their diets because of the pregnant 1, 1 who is IR & 1 Cushings. No special needs in my barn! ;)
Thank you for the continued info!

Alexis
So AZ
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry