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Stress Levels and Reactivity
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Robin <Eclectk1@...>
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 (best viewed in explorer 4.x or newer) |
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apschrock@...
In a message dated 00-05-23 18:01:18 EDT, you write:
<< His signs of Cushing's were hair coat irregularities, slow healing and laminitis. I think every Cushingoid horse is a bit different. I know lots end up drinking/peeing excessively, >> This sounds somewhat like Strider. It is indeed very helpful to hear others' experiences since we feel like we have so much to learn. I think one very positive thing has been her relationship with our other horse. They became instant friends since both were lonely before -- Prince was by himself and Strider was too "stove up" to keep up with her pasture mates at the lesson stable. I'm thinking that friendship has to help, too! Ann |
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Kay Howitt <akkray@...>
Yes, those are good things to consider. In Domino's case, though, he never
was lethargic at all and pergolide hasn't changed his basic activity level. His signs of Cushing's were hair coat irregularities, slow healing and laminitis. I think every Cushingoid horse is a bit different. I know lots end up drinking/peeing excessively, but mine has never done this. Maybe this is one reason why Cushing's goes undiagnosed so often...the symptoms can vary. It is good that we talk about all types of manifestations of Cushings here...it sure helps educate me about the broad effects of the disease. The more I learn, the better armed I am at detecting/treating. I also like to pass along information to other horse owners so they can pay attention to suspicious symptoms. Kay in AK |
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Kay Howitt <akkray@...>
You made another good point, Ann...I'm sure horsey friendship (and the human
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variety) lower stress levels. I bought my Icelandic gelding last Fall so my Cushingoid horse would have a companion (and I'd have a horse to ride, naturally.) They became instant friends, like you said of your Prince and Strider. Kay in AK This sounds somewhat like Strider. It is indeed very helpful to hear others' |
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elandale@...
We tested my horse for Cushings because she had anhydrosis (stopped sweating)
last summer. Several years earlier we had discovered she had a low Thyroid hormone level. Her only other symptoms were mouth ulcers and occasional skin bumps. Now that she's been diagnosed with Cushings and is on medication, we're waiting to see how she handles the summer heat. The ulcers and hives are gone. |
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gryphon87@...
About three three months ago I thought I was going to lose my cushingoid mare. We moved to a new barn that had a big indoor arena which I needed for training and she had to be seperated from her pals in another barn. She still saw her three buddies every day but was no longer stalled next door. The barn owner wouldn't move her because she wanted the larger stalls for big horses only and this mare is a pony (and my larger horses wouldn't fit in the stalls in the pony barn). At any rate she went into a deep depression, was extremely lethargic, and appeared to have lost the will to live. I agonized and thought this was the begining of the end and considered putting her down. Well as luck would have it one of my other horses had a problem also so I moved them back to the old place. She imediately recovered and is back to her spunky, sassy self. Evidently that stress was just enough to send her over the edge.
Paula |
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Kay Howitt <akkray@...>
Hi Paula....that was a most interesting story of your depressed pony mare. People get depressed when lonely, so I don't doubt that horses do also. I am glad the two horses found each other and are doing well. It warms my heart to hear of such happy endings and to know people like you are really listening to their horses. Kay in AK
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Susan Laflamme <f4mlatir@...>
When Darby was very sick with laminitis she also got depressed. I had
never seen her lose her will to live it was scarey....Darby has always been an alpha mare but she much prefers people over other horses. My husband and I would go out to the barn to soak her feet, it took a long time because she was very reluctant to take a foot off the ground ....once we had both front feet in the small feed tubs I would rub her coronary bands and my husband would scratch her whithers.....I could see her attitude change with all this extra human attention. She always has enjoyed being read to and such things. Sue At 09:43 AM 5/24/00 -0800, you wrote: Hi Paula....that was a most interesting story of your depressed pony mare.People get depressed when lonely, so I don't doubt that horses do also. I am glad the two horses found each other and are doing well. It warms my heart to hear of such happy endings and to know people like you are really listening to their horses. Kay in AK
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