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Metformin and Weight gain
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Gary Moore
Since DJ now only weighs 730 lbs (10/03/2022) and she was previously 850 lbs (9/02/2022), should I be decreasing her metformin? She is on 12 pills (1000mg each) twice daily. Bloodwork was drawn yesterday for ACTH and insulin and I should have results by Friday. Also, I am giving her Triple Crown ground flax. Should I be using flaxseed oil instead to help her gain weight or just increase the amount of powdered flax? Should she continue to be exercised to control insulin or is that burning too many calories?
-- Sue in PA 2020 https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Sue%20and%20DJ |
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Sue,
It would help if we could see a picture of her. Don't make any decisions about decreasing metformin until you have her bloodwork. How much hay are you feeding her? That is the place to start if she need to increase weight. -- Eleanor in PA www.drkellon.com |
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Gary Moore
Thank you for the metformin info. I won't make any changes yet. I just uploaded two body pics of DJ to my case history file. She was getting 16 lbs of soaked hay daily along with her beet pulp supplements which I calculated to be about a pound a day. I have increased her hay to 17 lbs and added an extra serving of beet pulp and a small amount of soaked timothy balance cubes.
-- Sue in PA 2020 https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Sue%20and%20DJ |
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Sherry Morse
Sue, Please add the link to your photo album: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=279072 to your signature when you have a moment. It would also be helpful if you could label the photos with the date they were taken.
Thanks, Sherry and Scutch (and Scarlet over the bridge) EC Primary Response PA 2014 https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Sherry%20and%20Scutch_Scarlet https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=78891 |
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Gary Moore
I just got the report for DJ’s bloodwork. Her ACTH is 19 and her insulin is 14! I think I have also successfully put in the link and labeled the body pics that I took on Monday. How should I proceed with the metformin now that she weighs less? Should I continue giving her extra hay, beet pulp, and Timothy balance cubes to increase her weight?
Thank you to ECIR. Following your protocols is the reason her insulin is the lowest it has ever been!! -- Sue in PA 2020 https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Sue%20and%20DJ😊 ( https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Sue%20and%20DJ ) https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=279072 |
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Gary Moore
Now that I have her bloodwork results - ACTH 19.2 pg/ml and insulin 14.22 ulU/ml and her weight is 733lbs, should I be decreasing her metformin dosage? She is currently on 12 (1000mg) pills twice daily. That was based on her weighing 850 lbs. I have added current pics to her case history file.
Would it be possible to stop the metformin for a few months now that her diet is tightly controlled and she is being exercised regularly? Thanks, Sue -- Sue in PA 2020 https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Sue%20and%20DJ😊 https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=279072 |
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Hi Sue,
You can try tapering off the Metformin. Just watch her for signs of hoof tenderness as you go. If you can check her insulin after she's off it to make sure it's still low that would be ideal. I don't know how long you have to wait after you stop the Metformin before retesting, hopefully Dr Kellon will add that info. DJ is a bit thin, I'd put her at a 4/9, but I don't think she needs to regain the 100 lbs she lost. Let her gain weight until her BCS is a 4.5/9, you should be able to just barely see her ribs. Keeping horses with EMS on the slim side is better for them and may be partly why her insulin is nice and low. -- Kirsten and Shaku (IR + PPID) - 2019 Kitimat, BC, Canada ECIR Group Moderator Shaku's Photo Album |
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As long as you are able to keep up her exercise over the winter, you could try stopping the metformin. Wait a week after stopping to recheck her insulin. If you need to restart it, use her current weight to adjust dose.
-- Eleanor in PA www.drkellon.com |
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