Cost of PPID/Cushings testing

[saitou_amaya]

I know there are always a lot of threads relating to Cushings, so I apologize if this has already been asked. I have an 18 year old Friesian gelding that my trainer is convinced has PPID. I’m not convinced but I am willing to have him testing if the test is not too expensive and to humor him. My horse has had anhidrosis for about 3 years now that does not seem to be responsive to any treatments. Last summer he developed summer sores that took months to heal. They kept getting infected and re-opening. So my trainer thinks there is something wrong with his immune system. My trainer also pointed out he grows a very thick winter coat. But he is a Friesian and that is very much a Friesian trait. He always sheds out just fine (actually is nearly shed out now) and don’t horses with PPID not shed out or do so slowly? My trainer also says he is lethargic, but again Friesians are known for being a bit lazy. This horse has never been a forward or hot horse. Does he seem to be getting more lazy year to year? Yeah, maybe but he is also getting older so its hard to say.

To me it doesn’t sound like PPID but maybe I’m just in denial. Does anyone know from experience how costly the testing is?

[arabsporthorse]

I recently submitted blood to Cornell ( best place to send this FYI, and I think the only place that will test Leptin). I had ACTH, Leptin, and insulin tested for less than $75. Worst part is that the blood should be shipped overnight,so that also cost about $60. Your vet may charge a markup- I was lucky to be able to submit directly as my vet is a friend- Cornell bills the clinic listed on the submission form.

[S1969]

I think I paid $80 for the test at Cornell; I don’t remember being charged for overnight shipping though.

It doesn’t really sound like PPID to me; It’s not a thick coat so much as an abnormal coat that is noted - either long, curly, or slow to shed (or all 3). Laminitis, fat pads, muscle atrophy,often on the topline, sweats easily…are other typical symptoms.

But…mild laminitis could present as laziness…any signs of foot soreness or heat?

[Renn_aissance]

I am in MD. ACTH, leptin, and insulin for a total of $160 inclusive of farm call, so $100-120 for the test itself. I believe my vet ships to Cornell but as a previous poster has said, overnighting it is an expense.

I’ve had my ISH tested annually for the past 10 years or so because what with the easy keeper metabolism, the hair coat worthy of a feral Shetland, the anhidrosis, and the apparently depressed immune system, a metabolic disorder would not have been a surprise. What was a surprise was that it took 7 years for the test to come back at all abnormal- first leptin resistance at age 18 and at age 21 the ACTH was finally high enough to suggest Cushings. Because I always had a metabolic issue in the back of my head, I treated him accordingly, managing his diet and exercise as if he had been diagnosed, which I’m convinced was a contributor to how long he went with normal levels. If nothing else, the repeated testing has given an excellent baseline to know his “normal range” and assess his pergolide dose.

I say all this because I know what you mean when you say “it could be a disorder but on the other hand, it could just be him.” In my horse’s case, over the length of time I had him, it was both. Based on your description, if he were mine, I’d test him. It’s not expensive and you’ve got nothing to lose.

[saitou_amaya]

Thanks for all the responses so far. I’m adding a couple pictures I took today of the horse in question. Sorry he looks kind of sweaty and tired. But not like a PPID horse to me.
http://m.imgur.com/a/QkkAK

I am leaning towards getting him testing next month when the vet is out since its seems to be pretty cheap. And if the anhidrosis turns out to be a symptom that would be great news as then it would be treatable.

In the last year he does seem to be getting more lazy. But the funny thing once we start jumping he is forward and happy. When we work on dressage it is work to get a nice forward canter on him but jumping he has a nice forward canter. You’d think if it was something physical like PPID causing the symptoms it would be both on the flat and jumping. I am planning on doing a bute test later this week to see if the laziness and lack of energy is any physical discomfort. He is on Pentosan monthly and if the lack of energy is anything physical, my first thought we would we need to up his joint maintenance, not PPID.

[onthebit]

Not all horses with PPID shed slowly, or even have an abnormal hair coat. The anhydrosis and depressed immune system (hard to heal summer sores) can be very classic signs of PPID as well. I currently live with 17 Cushing’s/PPID horses (I run a retirement farm) and have lived with many more over the years. Not all are tested because of the huge hair coat or non shedding, some don’t even have those symptoms although the majority do exhibit the hair/slow shedding.

[Laurierace]

I think all older horses should be tested for PPID, IR and thyroid at least once per year.

[Beethoven]

@saitou_amaya

I know there are always a lot of threads relating to Cushings, so I apologize if this has already been asked. I have an 18 year old Friesian gelding that my trainer is convinced has PPID. I’m not convinced but I am willing to have him testing if the test is not too expensive and to humor him. My horse has had anhidrosis for about 3 years now that does not seem to be responsive to any treatments. Last summer he developed summer sores that took months to heal. They kept getting infected and re-opening. So my trainer thinks there is something wrong with his immune system. My trainer also pointed out he grows a very thick winter coat. But he is a Friesian and that is very much a Friesian trait. He always sheds out just fine (actually is nearly shed out now) and don’t horses with PPID not shed out or do so slowly? My trainer also says he is lethargic, but again Friesians are known for being a bit lazy. This horse has never been a forward or hot horse. Does he seem to be getting more lazy year to year? Yeah, maybe but he is also getting older so its hard to say.

To me it doesn’t sound like PPID but maybe I’m just in denial. Does anyone know from experience how costly the testing is?

That enough signs in my book. I’d suggest testing him. I usually do a full metabolic panel panel but if money is an issue then I will just run an ACTH.

[RedHorses]

The thing about Cushings is that by the time you see the classic signs in full force the disease has done a lot of damage in the mean time.

I have a horse with Cushings, caught very early. His ACTH came back at 21 when horse often test in the 700s on the initial test. The only sign he had was a lack of topline muscle despite proper feed and dressage work. Even the vet thought Cushings, while possible, was unlikely in his case. Treating Cushings is all about minimizing future damages caused by the disease.

Your horse has two classic symptoms. It’s worth a test.

For what it’s worth, they now recommend testing in the fall as the autumn ACTH spike may spike higher in pre/early Cushings horses even while the rest of the year has a normal ACTH. If you test now, you may want to retest in the fall as a double check.

[Hermein]

The last time I had a horse tested for PPID, it was around $100, and the blood work was sent to Cornell.

Alas, it came back positive, but we did catch it early. Horse, 29 yrs old, is now on 1 tablet of pergolide a day. He’s not shedding out yet, but none of the others are either.

[dressager]

It’s probably a good question to call your vet’s office. I am a firm believer in testing and retesting. Metabolic issues are heartbreaking. I’ve had people put off testing and never been happy in the long run. I’ve also had horses test negative for cushings and six months later (even with completely low sugar/starch diet) test very high positive. I was told any horse over the age of 15 should be testing and I believe any horse over 10 or 12 with symptoms.

[chicamux]

Anhidrosis is often a symptom of PPID. Get the full panel done of Insulin, Leptin, Glucose and ACTH. The test costs from Cornell are actually pretty low. It is all the work that the vet does that brings the cost up.They drive to your farm, draw blood, have to drive back to their clinic, should not go to another appt. They spin the blood out and I think freeze the plasma? The plasma has to overnight (to keep it frozen) to Cornell. So they spend 2-3 times as much TIME on doing this blood work plus the appt time.
Often a horse is actually Insulin Resistant before PPID. The traditional method is to fast the horse before testing but this actually stresses the horse which causes a change in hormone levels which then affects the results. Better is to give the horse NO grain in the hours before the blood draw but keep hay in front of the horse during the last 4 hours. This keeps the horse’s system stable and the test results are more accurate. Now is a good time of the year to do the ACTH test as we are past the seasonal rise.

[eventgroupie2]

$85.00 here in Lexington, VA - just had two run this week.