Posted 2017-05-07 8:28 PM Subject: Calling all Cushings Owners
Regular
Posts: 93
I have an old horse that has been diagnosed with Cushings Disease. I was wondering has anybody used Chasteberry, Vitex Angus castus powder? If so what results did you have and what is the dosage?
Posted 2017-05-08 1:32 PM Subject: RE: Calling all Cushings Owners
I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
We used Chaste tree berry on hubby's gelding when he responded poorly to Pergolide. The Pergolide put him off his feed and made him even more squirrelly. We pulled a blood Cortisol before starting the CTB and it came in over 12 (whatever units) After 6 weeks on the CTB it came in a little over 6 or 7. He was also on Thyroid, which my vet strongly suggests for Cushings horses.
I think I was giving him maybe 1/8 cup a day. It has a peppery smell to it so I am not sure about picky eaters. Can't say it will work for every horse, but it worked for him. I bought it in bulk powder form from Glenbrook farms online (Kentucky). They also make a Meta Mix with CTB recommended for Insulin Resistant horses. My friend told me she just bought it liquid form. I first tried it after researching a product for mares with CTB was having some success with Cushings horses.
Posted 2017-05-09 5:00 PM Subject: RE: Calling all Cushings Owners
I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387 Location: Pacific Northwest
I'm interested to hear about this thread. My trimmer thinks one my dad's horse has cushings (that's mainly what she deals with). But right now my dad is extremely stressed out with other farm-related things, like to the point he gave himself severe stomach ulcers. I don't want to ask him to take his horse to be checked for Cushings, especially since the horse is already retired to begin with. Have people had success with managing it on their own? The horse already lives on a dry lot and he gets beet pulp, alfalfa pellets and timothy hay. He had a bizarre founder episode in the winter time but that's the only time he's been unsound. He's being managed very well with the barefoot trimming right now.
I saw that SmartPak has a supplement with the main ingredient the OP asks about.
Posted 2017-05-10 12:05 PM Subject: RE: Calling all Cushings Owners
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 407
I have A 27 YR OLD with cushings and I have used Chasteberry powder. I was only giving about a teaspoon a day. I got it at Herbal.com It was really cheap and it worked great. He felt better and had more energy and his hair shedded out alot better too. What this powder does is calm the pituitary gland so that it functions normally. Cushings is where the pituitary gland goes out of whack and the powder calms that down.
Calling all Cushings Owners
