IR horse with IBD

[lisam]

My Cushing's/IR horse was diagnosed with chronic irritable bowel disease.

Does anyone have any information on this? Not much comes up in a google search and I haven't received many responses on the Cushing's yahoo board.

Lisa and Juel

[winterlakesfarm]

I have heard of this. I spent a long time with the nutritionist for Sterrett Brothers(now Mid Valley milling) talking about this issue. I have had great luck with their Low Carb Orchard pellets and a vitamin supplement. I also started adding non-molasses Beet Pulp.

What are the horses symptoms? What are you feeding?

[lisam]

Her major symptom is losing weight. She looks worse than the photo. It seemed to come on quite suddenly--she started losing weight at the end of May. We have done bloodwork, a rectal biopsy, a belly tap, and an ultrasound. She had very bad diarrhea for a bit, but I got that under control with Fast Track.

She already eats the Sterret Low Carb pellets. Or at least she did. Now she won't eat them unless I add regular orchard grass pellets and sunflower seeds. She still eats her beet pulp most of the time (she gets her minerals and flax in them). I've started giving her soaked orchard grass hay twice a day as well, just to get calories into her. She's on 1.0 mg Pergolide a day, although it's the time of year I raise it to 1.25 mg (she has seasonal cushings).

[Buena]

Poor girl. I feel for you, I really do. Ariel was my Cushings/IR girl and I struggled with her weight (both up and down) constantly. HAve you tried switching to the chasteberry instead of using the peroglide to see if that helps? And have you tried the jiagolin (sp?)?

[cutiepiepmu]

I agree on winterlakes diet recommendations. BUT - talk to your vet. There are some things medically you can try that might help the bowls. Also - I have seen several horses recently that have done outstanding using the product "Succeed". follow the program - and although it isn't hte cheapest thing out there, but it really works for horses that have digestive/hindgut issues.

I recently started my giant percheron on the program and he is less gassy and his poo is consistant rather than hard one day runny the next.

Careful about swtiching out the chasteberry and pergolide. It is ok to find the balance using both and cutting back on the pergolide, but generally once a horse needs the pergolide going off can have alot of issues.

Take care,
Sara

[lisam]

Is this the supplement you're talking about? www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?PGGUID=ACF1A6AD-B3E1-4111-BADC-FD3A3DD0384D

My vet mentioned something called Cool Calories 100 for weight gain.

[winterlakesfarm]

I have had more luck with the Vita Flex Hard Keeper than the Cool Calories but have recently heard great things about Cocosoya by Ukele. Ukele has great products for IR horses so I am sure there must be some literature out there to see if the cocosoya is safe for IR horses.

I also have had good success with Quiessence for IR.

But always ask your vet before adding anything.....

Good luck and keep us posted!!!! I know how frustrating this can be. I almost think it is harder to deal with the skinny IR guys. We are so used to the fat neck Cushings horse but I remember a few of these skinny cases when I worked for Dr. Latimer and it seemed even more of a challenge.

[lisam]

Thanks. What makes it hard is that Juel was, up to a couple of months ago, one of those fat necked well-rounded Cushing's girls. It breaks my heart to see her this way.

I've used Ukele products before--I'll check out the cocosoya.

I'm waiting for a call from the vet anyway. I use Northwest Equine--maybe you've been out to my place!

[Buena]

Lisa, hang in there. If you need a 2nd opinion, Dr. Bob is still around, just no longer with NWEquine, and he knows his stuff about those Cushings/IR horses.

[cutiepiepmu]

Cool calories is great because it does not have any filler ingredients. Some of the other weight gain products work well, but do have other ingredients. Cocasoya is an oil and smells yummy - so for the hroses that it is hard to get oil/fat into it is a great option. Also - to encourage horses to eat - try some things like sugar free maple syrup over the food or WORST case for a SHORT period - try a diet coke lol. My old IR guy will go off of his feed from time to time and a diet coke is right up his alley!

Sara

[cutiepiepmu]

Ohhh also - if your kid goes for a few days without eating much there is a chance that his tummy is upset because of excess acid. Giving something to buffer the tummy can really help encourage appetite. Giving a dose of ulcerguard for a day or two may be just the ticket!

Sara

[lisam]

Is it the excess acid that makes her stomach rumble so loud? Yesterday it was very loud, and she didn't like her belly touched.

[cutiepiepmu]

I am sure it doesn't make her comfortable - although the rumble could be simply because she isn't eating alot and her tummy is upset. Ulcerguard is a great product - but there has been some recent studies showing issues using ulcerguard(same meds as gastroguard but non prescription strength) with pergolide and in cushings horses when used long term - so talk to your vet and try to limit the length of treatment. BUT - to get your kid over the upset tummy hump it is a good option and then I would go ahead and use the succeed.

There are alot of meds that are used when treating bowl disease in horses - including steriods - but most have HORRIBLE side effects, so if you can try something a little more simple first I personally think you are better off.

Take care,
Sara

[lisam]

My vet called me back today--instead of prednisolone, she wants to try this med that doctors use to treat humans with Chrone's Disease. I can't remember the name--I was on my cell and had nothing to write it down on.

[lisam]

The medication came for Juel, it's called Azathioprine. Thing is, Juel is gaining weight steadily without the meds. She looks much better already--maybe it's the twice daily feedings of soaked hay in addition to her pellets, and the occasional turnout with the muzzle on. I'm wondering if I should hold off on the medication, and will call and talk to her vet about it.

I have been giving her Cool Cal as well--that stuff smells heavenly!