Cushings and skin problems

[skyy]

I have 3 Cushings horses - a 25 yo pony, a 17 yo pony and a 20 yo horse. The 17 yo and the 20 yo were just diagnosed last year. It took a while for the 17 yo and the 20 yo but now their numbers are good (on Prascend). This year, however, they both have horrible skin prone to all kinds of ick - scratches, cannon crud, hives that turn into scabs, flaky skin. I am at my wits end. They both are easy keepers so they get 1 qt of a Senior feed 2x per day with TC Ration Balancer and Vit E pellets and decent quality hay. . As well, they are both on isoxuprine and Equioxx.

I have asked my vet about doing a stim test just in case the normal blood test is not reflecting accurate numbers and their Prascend needs to be adjusted. What else can I being doing for their skin?

[Renn_aissance]

Flax made an enormous difference for my fellow’s skin health. His bloodwork didn’t show any nutritional deficiencies, but if you haven’t ruled that out already, I’d start there.

Chlorhexidine scrub is a godsend.

[Bluey]

Maybe consider, if numbers say so, adding a thyroid powder?

My one Cushings gelding 21 year old is only on alfalfa hay and a handful of senior feed to get the thyroid powder in him and has excellent skin and hooves quality.
Has been for 4 1/2 years now.
Vet and farrier say so repeatedly.

[walkinthewalk]

I feed an extra 3,000 IU of human grade vitamin E daily to my horse with environmental issues and it has helped tremendously – 99%

I also feed the same amount to my IR horse.

since your Cushings horse is on Prascend, I would first ask the vet if that big of a daily dose of Vitamin E is ok to give. I’m sure it is but ask to be safe:)

[skyy]

Thanks for the input. They both are already on Vit E.

[merrygoround]

I find that using a spray of undiluted chlorhexadine solution on a dry coat will allow it to dilute, and soak in when it rains, acting as a preventative.

As far as cannon crud, I have found the desitin, chlorhexadine cream, plus OTC cortisone to be very useful.Slather it on, don’t scrub, just keep slathering.

[ShotenStar]

My 23 year old Cushings mare also had poor skin issues - flaking, scabby, dry, etc, etc, etc. Until she started getting regular HA injections for general lameness issues. She gets monthly injections, both targeted to specific areas and a general IV top-up. Not only has her movement improved but so has her skin. It is now soft and smooth, even in the hairless areas (her hair loss is a whole 'nother issue). Perhaps not a cost effective solution for you, but it was a very notable side-effect in my case.

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