Here is the history:

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ECHistory4/files/Julie%20Congleton/

She was a brood mare and that interests me to understand more about cushings at age 10 and conception. As you will find from my history, the udder is damaged from trauma, and I "think" the mastitis is resolved. I have no idea if she was bred and had a problem in the past six years or is it because she is PPID and no one managed it and the problem with the udder and it was filling with milk and no one took care? I have no idea.

My question is....we are in S.E. N.C. I waited until after I thought the seasonal rise had passed. Her i/g was 17+ I did the b.w. myself ad feel really good about how it was collected and spun/frozen immediately at the barn and shipped the same day. I read a note in the files that dr. k wanted acth done in the afternoon, so I did that, after a morning of low sugar hay. I "think" except for her maybe not being through the seasonal rise? that the test should be accurate.

thanks!
I haven't found the place to uplaod my hay yet.
julie nc 9/07

--- In EquineCushings@..., "congleton" <juliecongleton@...> wrote:

Here is the history:

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ECHistory4/files/Julie%20Congleton/

My question is....we are in S.E. N.C. I waited until after I thought the seasonal rise had passed. Her i/g was 17+ I did the b.w. myself ad feel really good about how it was collected and spun/frozen immediately at the barn and shipped the same day. I read a note in the files that dr. k wanted acth done in the afternoon, so I did that, after a morning of low sugar hay. I "think" except for her maybe not being through the seasonal rise? that the test should be accurate.

Hi, Julie -

Interesting history. This poor mare! (love the name, by the way)

I would have thought the seasonal rise would be over by now; and 10 is young for Cushings (although not unknown). Paints/QH's are not generally a IR breeds - so the only indication you have of a potential for trouble right now is the mastitis and the fat pockets (which is enough to be going on with!)

Sometimes diagnosing problems is not at all straightforward. Her poor body will still be recovering from lack of care, and chronic mastitis, for some time to come. I am wondering if pain/stress (even though she is not outwardly showing it) has elevated the ACTH, although one would expect to see elevated insulin as well.

I don't have an answer for you! I would suggest doing everything you are doing to bring this mare back to health, with balanced minerals and adequate protein in her forage. Be very cautious of the grass thing if she starts showing fat deposits or sore feet at all. I know her blood work doesn't show IR - but something is obviously going on. Maybe a Lyme test is in order, as well.

Here's the ideal, if money is no object: test ACTH, insulin, glucose and iron in April; retest in August or early September. (could leave out the iron at that time) The April test should be diagnostic for classic Cushings: if her ACTH is high then, she should be treated as Cushings for sure. If she is early Cushings, then she may just need pergolide during the seasonal rise (August-Feb, weaned off by April) - The August test will show what degree of ACTH elevation she has.

If all this testing is not an option, then to be safe, I would treat her as IR for now; and watch her like a hawk in the fall.

Good for you taking on Moondance - she must think she has landed in the roses at last!

Jaini(BVSc)Merlin,Maggie,Gypsy
BC09
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