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Gerri
Platinum Member
 England
4211 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Nov 2014 : 11:18:25 PM
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For all of you who remember milly she needs your help and advice she has just been diagnosed with early stages of cushings disease and prescribed prascend I have read up on this drug and side effects are horrific can anyone help and advise me please?
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2014 : 07:45:20 AM
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| Homeopathy works well for one of ours. Look into a vet practice that does it.....there seems to be more now |
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Gerri
Platinum Member
England
4211 Posts |
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Goldenmane
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4964 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2014 : 09:47:52 AM
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My shetland was on pergolide for about 4 years with no noticeable side effects. Sorry to hear about the lovely Milly, it is a worry.
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Ziadomira
Platinum Member
England
1635 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2014 : 12:15:01 PM
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| One of ours is on Prascend one tablet a day. She has suffered no ill effects so far but we check her blood every year. Much happier than she was before it was diagnosed. She is 24. |
Edited by - Ziadomira on 30 Nov 2014 12:16:10 PM |
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FireLight
Gold Member
620 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2014 : 1:49:49 PM
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| I had my lad on Prascend for a year. No side effects and much better than without it. Sadly an unrelated problem took his life. I weighed up the side effects to the positives and decided to go for Prascend but it is an individual choice. My lad stopped getting absesses and was more even tempered and of course you fair better with the dreaded laminitis. |
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Ari
Platinum Member
1657 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2014 : 2:29:23 PM
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| We have two on the yard who have been on Pracend a long time with no side effectsand bith are ridden regularly. They certainly wouldn't be the happy healthy horses they are today without it. |
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garnet
Platinum Member
2382 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2014 : 5:41:28 PM
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| A friend's 30yo was diagnosed last August and put on prascend - his condition has improved and he looks fabulous. I don't know anyone who has been on it long-term but it's probably one of those where the benefits outweigh the risks. I am on a vast assortment of medication, most of which has hideous side-effects according to the blurb, but it's either take it and have a life or don't take it and lie on the settee waiting to die. I know it comes as a shock when a beloved horse is diagnosed with something like this but it really can be controlled very successfully. Best of luck with Milly. |
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Pasch
Platinum Member
2277 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2014 : 6:40:48 PM
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I agree with Garnet,I wouldn't worry about side effects unless some serious ones come up…let us know how you both get on  |
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saraht
Silver Member
England
414 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2014 : 6:57:13 PM
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Hi Gerri,
Sorry to hear Milly has tested positive. What side effects are you worrying about? I understand that some horses can become depressed, a bit grumpy and off their food for a while but this passes after a few weeks. High doses can be started at 1/4 or 1/2 a tablet a day and gradually ramped up to the full dose. Zizz will have been on 1/2 a day for two years come the New Year. In 2012 we thought we would lose him he was skin and bone despite eating well. He had an infection that meant he couldn't digest his food properly and as the Cushings was suppressing his immune system he wasn't fighting it at all. It is amazing what that tiny bit of a pill can do. He is regularly tested and has had no issues - still runs the herd and is full of beans. The Prascend will slow the progress it isn't a cure but is so much better than not treating in my opinion. I have read that chaste berry has been used to support Cushing horses and apparently it can help with the depression in mood and appetite that can occur with the medication (it hasn't been tested though) - I purchased some for Zizz but he has never been a problem on the Prascend so I never used it. I suspect there are some horror stories on-line and I suppose there will be a few horses that react badly to the medication - perhaps your vet do a test Milly for sensitivity? Other than the medication I changed his feed to cut out as much sugars as possible and treat him as if he was laminitic to be on the safe side although my vet said it wasn't necessary - the only exception is he has half a hollowed out carrot to hide his pill in. |
 Bramble 'darli  Birdy  Zirrus  Poppy |
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Ryu
Bronze Member
62 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2014 : 8:52:21 PM
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| Sorry about Milly. I have a horse, Robbie who is 25. He's currently on one prascend per day. He was diagnosed with Cushings 4 years ago .He has no obvious side effects. He was very depressed before we started the prascend, but within a few weeks I got my horse back. I hope this helps |
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Misshana
Silver Member
England
449 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2014 : 07:19:43 AM
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| Not wishing to hijack this thread, I too am unsure whether to start prescend. My gelding (21 years)has had raised levels for the last 2 years. He was borderline on first test, only 27 on second test (1 year later) and border line again this year. He is not on medication at the moment as showing no clinical signs except a heavier coat in winter which he loses normally in summer. He is retired due to other health issues but he does seem to be getting very spooky and snorty at things he sees every day. He has slight cataracts forming but vet thinks he sees ok. Could this be anything to do with cushings?? Has anyone else experienced this with a cushingoid horse? |
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saraht
Silver Member
England
414 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2014 : 08:42:09 AM
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| Perhaps try him on a short course and see if it makes a difference. Zizz had no clinical signs other than the inability to fight infections and was certainly not more spooky. His mother, on the other hand, has tested within normal range but has age related changes to her eyes has become more unhappy to move around the barn without lights on - she will rush through gaps. She isn't worried in daylight or if the lights are on and she is not more spooky in general. Could it be simply that he isn't working and has more energy? |
Bramble 'darli Birdy Zirrus Poppy |
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Misshana
Silver Member
England
449 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2014 : 09:38:25 AM
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Can you use just a short course? I was under the impression once started you had to continue using. We feel he likes his 'adrenaline rush' but sometimes he will race round and round his stable like something possessed. He had a deep digital flexor tendon injury several years ago and although came back into light hacking for several years, is not sound now, so don't feel safe to ride him.
Gerri I hope Milly's ok. Is she the filly you bought from Ros all those years ago? |
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FireLight
Gold Member
620 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2014 : 12:54:27 PM
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| A horse on our yard became really spooky and very irrational in her behaviour to the point of being dangerous to handle. She was 30 years old at the time. Any way she tested positive for Cushings and now with one Prascend a day she is approaching her 35th birthday and is calm and sensible again. So yes Cushings can affect behaviour. |
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Misshana
Silver Member
England
449 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2014 : 1:17:21 PM
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| That's very interesting. He is becoming more and more irrational so maybe that's the reason. Will speak to vet re trying prescend. Thanks |
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Gail
Gold Member
993 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2014 : 1:40:02 PM
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Hi,
I have over the years had 2 horses on Prescend. Apart from the initial period when they went off their food they tolerated it fine.
Apparently it's called the Pergolide Veil when they are depressed and off their food as the drug affects the taste of what they are eating....that's what I read when I researched it.
Cushiings is horrible and makes them feel really rotten, that's bad enough but if they develop laminitis that's even worse. Prescend will hopefully stop laminitis developing.
It also tastes pretty horrible, I could only get mine to take it if I put it down their throats, nothing would disguise it for my boys. However some horses take it without any bother. Not mine.
Gail x |
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saraht
Silver Member
England
414 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2014 : 2:40:43 PM
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| I was told you can come off and go back on - indeed competition horses cannot compete whilst on Prascend as it is currently on the banned substances list and have to come off for competitions - not sure of the withdrawal time though. |
Bramble 'darli Birdy Zirrus Poppy |
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Ziadomira
Platinum Member
England
1635 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2014 : 3:12:59 PM
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| Izzy has hers in he middle of a polo mint. No trouble eating it at all. |
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gossy
Platinum Member
England
3639 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2014 : 3:13:09 PM
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| My girl was diagnosed in April she has been on half a prascend every day since, no side effects and shes 1000 times better. |
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Gerri
Platinum Member
England
4211 Posts |
Posted - 05 Dec 2014 : 10:17:22 PM
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| Hi Peeps first let me THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR REPLIES I CAANOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOU TAKING THE TINE MILLY IS THE MARE I BOUGHT FROMM ROZ 22 YEARS AGO AND SHE HAS BEEN MY WHOLE LIFE EVER SINCE SHE IS MY REASON FOR LIVING I WAS ONCE OFFERED THIRTY THOUSAND POUNDS FOR HER BY AN OLD MAN THAT FELL IN LOVE EITH HER AND EVEN THOUGH I WAS REALLY HARD UP I COULD NOT PART WITH HER THE BOND BETWEEN US IS UNBELIEVABLE. SHE REALLY IS HUMAN AND I UNDERSTAND EVERY THING SHE TELLS ME, I KNOW I SOUND LIKE A CRAZY OLD WOMAN BUT ITS THE TRUTH. I PAY A FORTUNE FOR HER to have the best in life and she is the reason for my always working. She has always been here for me and I will always be here for her whatever it takes,,we have grown old together I could not live without her |
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Pauline
Platinum Member
England
3185 Posts |
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kath
Gold Member
United Kingdom
943 Posts |
Posted - 08 Dec 2014 : 12:34:52 PM
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| We have two horses on Pergolide, my 28 year old part bred and my mum's 22 year old pure bred. Both have been on Prascend for a couple of years and i see a huge difference in them - much happier than they were before (the pure bred gets depressed if his doseage is too low) and much better coats and condition. I wouldnt hesitate to recommend someone with a Cushinoid horse to use it. There can be side effects of depression and lack of appetite, but if you build it up slowly - or even drop the dose right down for a while and build it back up again - they get used to it |
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
Posted - 09 Dec 2014 : 7:36:22 PM
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| Whilst there are possible side effects, and those leaflets can be scary, there are so many advantages to the health and wellbeing of the cushingoid horse from prascend it really is a no-brainer to give it a go. |
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Gerri
Platinum Member
England
4211 Posts |
Posted - 10 Dec 2014 : 6:04:53 PM
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| The well being of milly has always come first and the non brained is knowing and doing what's best for her. |
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Lin123
Gold Member
England
1360 Posts |
Posted - 10 Dec 2014 : 8:38:49 PM
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| My 15yo Arab mare was diagnosed with Cushings in September of this year after suffering her first ever bout of laminitis. She's on 1 prascend per day and her levels have dropped and her laminitis is under control. It's been a huge learning curve for me and as she suffered "the veil" whilst waiting for the medication to kick in it was a case of 1 step forwards and 6 steps back....however, imo, the advantages of medicating her have far exceeded not doing so as I've got my girl back again :-) |
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Milly needs help
