When we moved to FL, I left my old horse with friends in IL (he's lived at their barn for years and years and he was retirement age anyway). He's 31 now and just had his fall shots, and the vet says he has Cushings. He's been losing weight since last year...at that point he was put on a new diet which helped for a while. Now the vet says he's showing other symptoms like the thick, curly coat so Cushings is behind this. He's totally healthy otherwise, so we're putting him on medication (thank goodness I have an understanding husband since it will be an expense we don't need...but I've owned Cochise since he was 4 so he is truly my baby).

Anyone else have a horse with Cushings? If so, did it do well on medication? At 'Chise's age, I don't really know what to expect but as I mentioned he's healthy otherwise, other than not having many teeth left.

Very sorry to hear about this. Can you explain what Cushings is and how it will affect your horse?

yes i am to sorry to hear about this but i dont know what Cushing is either since i have never been around horses. hope it goes well for you though

My old granny pony (welsh-cross) had cushings. She was in her twenties when diagnosed, and we had her on supplements and meds (she also had COPD) but mostly kept an eye on her. I used to clip her in the late spring since she didn't shed out, and she lived until 32, then she had an aneurysm. Cushings is when there is a tumor on the pituitary gland, if I remember right? It makes some of the systems go a little funny. Like the Pea would lactate, even though she wasn't pregnant. It was weird. I hope all goes well with your horse...I know what it's like to go through something like this from a distance...

Here is some info. from Horse Illustrated:

http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-health/e...ease-24321.aspx

Basically it's am incurable problem with the pituitary gland, but it can be controlled to an extent with medication. Other than that, I don't know much. From what I've read so far, it sounds like the meds. improve quality of life and slow progression. He's 31 now and has had a full life, so it's a matter of keeping him as happy and comfortable as possible. If he had other serious problems I would consider putting him down, but other than this and problems eating (caused by loss of teeth) he does great.

Awww poor old guy ...wishing him well and I hope the meds help ..

Hoping for the best for Cochise that the meds will delay any further damage.....Poor baby......

Thanks for the good wishes. The meds should arrive at the barn by the end of this week so I'm hoping that will help get him in good shape by winter. I wish he was close by...it's hard to know he's 1200 miles away. But my friends are great and treat him like their own so I know he's got the best care possible. They had a horse too but he died a year ago so Cochise is all alone now. Well, thankfully not quite alone as they have an ancient goose and he and the goose have become best friends and hang out all day together.

i have cushings...but they havent figured out why
i dont have a pituitary tumor, lung tumor, or adrenal tumor...but i cant loose weight no matter what and im always tired
my cortisol levels are through the roof
i go to a specialist later this month

i hope your horse feels better
i know how bad it can be