tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666223941809333401.post1303132324936682669..comments2023-04-16T04:30:10.996-05:00Comments on Flying Free: The Super-Official Health Plan UpdateKathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663927549661433575noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666223941809333401.post-12641768657470816152015-07-14T12:13:20.392-05:002015-07-14T12:13:20.392-05:00Soaking hay sucks. There's no two ways about i...Soaking hay sucks. There's no two ways about it. There are people who have come up with good systems on the COTH boards. The best one I've seen so far involves a large muck bucket and a small hole hay net - so you can just lift the hay net right out of the bucket.<br /><br />Tris spent the summer of 2014 just a little more lethargic than I thought he should be, and no matter what I did, he did not gain muscle, fitness, or a topline. I wavered back and forth all summer, and then in August had the vet out to check on his foot anyway, so asked her what she thought of him overall. She said she absolutely wanted to draw blood for Cushings. He just had a sort of older horse look to his face that had come on gradually - not as apparent to me but immediately to her, since she saw him only periodically. Once she made that diagnosis his summer of drinking water buckets dry and having eye and allergy issues made a lot more sense.<br /><br />The difference this summer is night and day. He's fitting up beautifully and gaining muscle SO much more easily. I'm thrilled.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16071037752920853786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666223941809333401.post-27203874076717733962015-07-14T10:20:12.277-05:002015-07-14T10:20:12.277-05:00I was actually hoping you would reply, Amanda ;) ...I was actually hoping you would reply, Amanda ;) I'm still trying to come up with a good way to soak hay - very awkward thing to do, lol. When did you first think that Tristan was having a problem?Kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09663927549661433575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666223941809333401.post-16409142722704410462015-07-14T09:12:45.526-05:002015-07-14T09:12:45.526-05:00I'm sorry. :( Excess water consumption, toplin...I'm sorry. :( Excess water consumption, topline wasting, and laminitis issues all point to classic Cushings. The good news is it's very manageable now, and the pergolide is relatively cheap and easy to feed.<br /><br />You might consider soaking hay to get additional sugar out of it in the meantime, especially if it's being fed free-choice, and you might consider a low-carb grain.<br /><br />Water consumption, topline wasting, and low energy/low immune system were Tristan's initial Cushings symptoms. He is dramatically better since starting on the pergolide, and I've never regretted testing him at the first hint of a problem.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16071037752920853786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8666223941809333401.post-76124218324958673992015-07-14T07:54:14.944-05:002015-07-14T07:54:14.944-05:00good luck :( sounds like a good plan and i hope sh...good luck :( sounds like a good plan and i hope she starts to improve. if not tho, at least blood work will give some answers (hopefully)emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.com