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Posted by Dr Thunes
on 11/2/2009, 2:30 pm, in reply to "Excessive urine (old mare)"
128.120.218.130
She may not be cushings in the spring summer but we are going through what is called the seasonal rise for the hormone ACTH which underlies cushings and so some horses become symptomatic in the fall and are then normal the rest of the year. This would need to be treated with pergolide. She may or may not also be IR which would be managed by diet.
The seasonal rise is scientifically proven to exist. A true cushings horse has high ACTH all year but those who are early cushings can just have elevated ACTH and be symptomatic in the fall.
Horses who are IR may have exaggerated ACTH rise in the fall. The EC IR yahoo group led by Dr Kellon advises that any horse in its late teens or older displaying cushings symptoms in the fall (which includes increased water consumption and urination) should be tested. The seasonal rise appears to get bigger as the horse gets older, so you may not have seen issues in previous falls but this year her rise may be pushing her into the critical region.
I would recommend that you read further about the seasonal rise and cushings/IR at the recently developed site dedicated to the subject.
ACTH seasonal rise
Clair
Independent Equine Nutritionist,
Equilibrate Equine Consulting,
www.equilibrateequine.com
clair@equilibrateequine.com
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