I just started my horse on permax and am wondering typically how long
will it take to see any change and usually what type of change will I
see? My vet said it would be hard to judge by coat since I clipped
her, and since she and her pasture buddy drink out of the same
drough,
can't measure water intake. I'm hoping i see a change in her
attitude, she's been depressed lately. I'm very happy with my new
vet, she's made several phone calls to other vets re: cushing
research and is also interested in checking out this group. Her
partner is an internal med specialist with an interst in cushings and
diabetes in horses. she also has no problem with us drawing our own
blood and having results sent to her or dropping it off at the
clinic,
she said it's expensive enough to treat a chronically ill horse. My
husband works at a small vet office now and they said while they
don't
treat large animals, he can use their lab as well. It's so nice to
have vets who want to work with a horse and owner like this, my last
2
vets were at best indifferent and at worst, not helpful at all.
My plan is to not start the thyroid replacement for a couple of
weeks,
want to make sure if there are any odd occurances I don't have too
much else going on, took her off other supplements for time being,
vet
thinks the permax will help with hind end stiffness and her bizarre
sweating. Will add thyroid and any other supplements one at a time
for now.
This vet told me that she is 100% sure my horse has cushings, that
the
ambiguity of her previous labs is just an indication of how
complicated cushings is. She spoke with several other vets about the
lab work and my horses symptoms and they agree. She didn't minimize
any of my efforts to maintain my horse so far and believed moving her
out of the large aggressive herd to this nice quiet place with one
gentle horse has helped alot.
Linda, happy to have an answer at last.

Hi Linda - I started my horse on permax in April and saw some immediate
results (quit excessive salt/water intake and body sensitivity went away),
but after about 45 days he started to grow a winter coat and really seemed
lethargic. I switched vets at this time because I wanted to use the BET lab
work. It came back that his cortisol rhythm is low, but also low on
thyroid. It makes sense (he's lethargic and cranky at times) and am waiting
for the thyroid supplements to get here! On another list one person
recommends taking their basal temp first thing in the morning (prior to
food). A low temp may indicate thyroid issues. I've started taking my
horse's temp every few days and he is low or borderline, so that matches his
bloodwork. I will continue to take his temp when I put him on the thyroid
to see what happens. Some medical doctors use the basal temp guidelines to
help diagnose for human thyroid problems.

I think the answer on how long for the permax to work is individual and
changes with stresses in our horses lives. I went on 2 trail rides with a
group of horses just prior to when my horse started to backslide - could it
have been the stress that did it? (And outwardly he's very calm.) I guess
the monitoring will go on for the rest of their lives!

Take care, Makyla & 4-legged friends