Anyone have any suggestions? New study posted on Horsetalk NZ suggests that the drug only lasts twelve hours, so it suggests twice a day adminstration. That gets really expensive.
My old mare has Cushings and I’m not treating it. Given her leg problems I’m more focused on covering her Equioxx and diclofenac ointment, in addition to her alfalfa pellets and peanut hay. She can’t chew regular hay. I think the Cushings is the lesser problem in her case. Her legs will likely spell the end for her. I think you should prioritize what treatment is necessary.
If your horse has metabolic syndrome, then I would definitely treat the Cushings to try and avoid laminitis.
I have my old mare on 1/2 tab of Prascend a day (given once every 24 hours). Her numbers are completely normal with that administration of the drug. Maybe it’s different if the horse is at the point that it needs more, but the 1 x 24hr has worked fine for us.
Why would it get really expensive if treating twice a day vs. once a day? Just do half the dose each time.
My mare is on 3/4 tab of Prascend daily - given via oral syringe every night before feeding dinner. I get it through Valley Vet - typically on sale for $277.95 for the 160 count. She’s been on it since 2015 - she gets tested yearly (sometimes 2X year) and has been fine - numbers look great.
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My vet is gung ho that the actual Prascend has higher efficacy than compounded. Before upping the dose I’d try the Prascend
Same thing I’ve always heard/read. Compounded version isn’t as effective and at one point pulled from the market when Prascend was approved. I didn’t think the compounded version was really used anymore.
My gelding has had normal ACTH numbers on 1 tab once a day for several years now. But if you are worried about it, could you just do 1/2 dose twice a day?
For the record, I get his Prascend at Valley Vet. I just signed up for auto-ship and I got an additional discount that made it the cheapest option I could find.
If they were talking about compounded pergolide, then that’s very likely. That’s why Prascend is now in existence - consistent amount of pergolide in each dose (compounds can have varying degrees of pergolide in each dose), and a much more stable product (compared to compounds which degrade over time).
That makes no sense. If you’re not going to treat for Cushings, why don’t you euthanize? Cushings could likely be contributing to all her other issues. It’s not just about laminitis. I’ve told this story before on COTH but a friend of mine had an adrenal gland tumor that gave her pseudo-Cushings. She is still trying to recover from the physical aspects of cortisol overload - she had stress fractures in both her feet from bone loss, extreme fatigue, low immune response, insomnia, joint pain, etc… She may never fully recover. Just because you can’t see the symptoms in a horse doesn’t mean they are not there.
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