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Insulin and ACTH results

Patricia Evans
 

Hi all,
I had new bloodwork drawn on my horses recently and the results for Dancer came back higher than expected. She has had labs within the reference range for the past year or so. My question is that Dancer had a violent reaction to having her temperature taken during her exam by the vet prior to the bloodwork being drawn. She struggled, reared and danced around, which was totally unexpected, since she had never done that before. Could her higher labs be a result of all that upset, or is it more likely that it was just the time of year? I plan to have the vet draw the bloodwork prior to the exam next time. Her pergolide was increased by 1/2 mg since the seasonal rise is beginning, but I would like to know for my own information if that could possibly be the result of that activity before the draw. Everything else was the same and she had her normal hay and AM meal before the vet visit.
Thanks for any information.
--

Patricia 

North central Florida

July 7 2018

https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Patricia%20and%20Dancer%20and%20Nathan
Dancer:  https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=66069

Nathan:  https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=94152
Snickers https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=241740 

Eleanor Kellon, VMD
 

There was one study showing that excitement during blood sampling does not influence ACTH. However, many horses that act up during blood draws do it because they know they can get away with or because of an aggressive personality, which is different from fear or excitement so the answer is there is no answer to your question!

Have you seen any external changes like more fat deposits, harder or bigger crest, less spontaneous activity?
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Eleanor in PA

www.drkellon.com 
EC Owner 2001

Patricia Evans
 

Her crest is about the same, maybe a little more firm. The only fat deposits she has besides her crest is the ones on her shoulder area, which are small. None above her eyes or on her butt. She seems pretty comfortable and will trot and gallop on her own. She's at a good weight. She was really good about the needle stick; it was the thermometer she protested about. She is not the least bit aggressive with people, but she has a tendency to be a nervous type. She has had laminitis twice, so we were trying to keep her situation under control during the rise with the pergolide increase. 

--

Patricia 

North central Florida

July 7 2018

https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Patricia%20and%20Dancer%20and%20Nathan
Dancer:  https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=66069

Nathan:  https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=94152
Snickers https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=241740 

Eleanor Kellon, VMD
 

About how much time elapsed between the thermometer incident and the blood draw?
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Eleanor in PA

www.drkellon.com 
EC Owner 2001

Patricia Evans
 

Eleanor Kellon, VMD
 

OK. That makes it more likely the "episode" could have affected your results but the insulin seems awfully high even allowing for that. I would increase pergolide as you plan to do, make sure diet is tight and just watch her carefully.
--
Eleanor in PA

www.drkellon.com 
EC Owner 2001

Patricia Evans
 

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