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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
 
| So my old guy has tested positive for Cushings. At the same time (before Pergolide so I can't blame that) he stopped eating altogether and his eye swelled up to the point where his conjunctiva was hanging out. It was infection from a tooth.
A week of antibiotics and bute are doing the trick for his tooth. It's an upper molar toward the back so my vet says he'd need to go to UC Davis to get it out. In his condition I don't think he'd make the trailer ride and I'm positive my hubby would not agree to the expense for a kids horse.
He can't chew hay so I've started him on soaked alfalfa pellets along with his Renew Gold. He's 13.3-14.0 and severely underweight. How much to feed? Any concerns for Cushings with pellets? Right now I'm feeding him by weight to match what he should be getting in regular hay, plus 1.5 lbs of RG - sometimes two to get him to eat his meds so I don't have to force the syringe in his mouth.
I've never had experience with Cushings before but I'm trying to learn all I can. Winwillows has given some great info.
This whole thing is pretty consuming. Poor old man. :-( | |
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 Special Somebody
Posts: 3951
  
Location: Finally horseback again.... | Where are you located?
The only treatment that really will clear that infection up from that type of issue is flushing the sinus cavity for 7-10 days straight with a mixture of saline and baby shampoo then saline and chlorhexadine. Dr Stone at Katy Equine does this procedure very successfully. Antiobiotics usually wont work on them.
If your horse is older, the upper molar should be relatively simple to extract.
When you do extract the molar, feed him only a senior feed , no hay for several weeks to allow granulation of the tissue to cover the socket. Hay will pack into and keep in from healing. The senior feed will wash out as he drinks.
I hate to see these, poor guys, they stink so freaking bad.
Cushings is managable, the Pergolide is great. but just know that his bones will becomes more brittle and prone to fracture, so whom ever takes the molar out they will need to use caution with the speculum, not use too much force to open his mouth.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| Canchasr1 - 2014-11-11 4:37 PM
Where are you located?Â
The only treatment that really will clear that infection up from that type of issue is flushing the sinus cavity for 7-10 days straight with a mixture of saline and baby shampoo then saline and chlorhexadine. Dr Stone at Katy Equine does this procedure very successfully. Antiobiotics usually wont work on them.
If your horse is older, the upper molar should be relatively simple to extract.
When you do extract the molar, feed him only a senior feed , no hay for several weeks to allow granulation of the tissue to cover the socket. Hay will pack into and keep in from healing. The senior feed will wash out as he drinks.
I hate to see these, poor guys, they stink so freaking bad.Â
Cushings is managable, the Pergolide is great.  but just know that his bones will becomes more brittle and prone to fracture, so whom ever takes the molar out they will need to use caution with the speculum, not use too much force to open his mouth.
Â
I'm in Monterey County, CA. My vet was pretty sure Davis was the only place with the tools to do it. And the only alternative treatment offered was a different antibiotic. He did rinse him out when he was here but nothing similar to what you suggested. Are you an equine dentist? Or do you know one in my area? | |
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Special Somebody
Posts: 3951
Location: Finally horseback again.... | HorseMommyFiveO - 2014-11-11 4:41 PM Canchasr1 - 2014-11-11 4:37 PM Where are you located?
The only treatment that really will clear that infection up from that type of issue is flushing the sinus cavity for 7-10 days straight with a mixture of saline and baby shampoo then saline and chlorhexadine. Dr Stone at Katy Equine does this procedure very successfully. Antiobiotics usually wont work on them.
If your horse is older, the upper molar should be relatively simple to extract.
When you do extract the molar, feed him only a senior feed , no hay for several weeks to allow granulation of the tissue to cover the socket. Hay will pack into and keep in from healing. The senior feed will wash out as he drinks.
I hate to see these, poor guys, they stink so freaking bad.
Cushings is managable, the Pergolide is great. but just know that his bones will becomes more brittle and prone to fracture, so whom ever takes the molar out they will need to use caution with the speculum, not use too much force to open his mouth.
I'm in Monterey County, CA. My vet was pretty sure Davis was the only place with the tools to do it. And the only alternative treatment offered was a different antibiotic. He did rinse him out when he was here but nothing similar to what you suggested. Are you an equine dentist? Or do you know one in my area?
I actually know a few that are in California.
Look up Jerry Gaona, he is in northern Cali now I think. 818-309-8202
The problem with flushing just once is it just doesnt take care of it all. When they do an xray, you can see sometimes they have developed "pockets" in the nasosinus cavity and they will be full. It takes several times to get it all.
This is a very common problem with Cushings horse mainly because of their depressed immune systems. They dont fight infection as well as the normal horse.
How old is your horse?
If he is 17-19 or older, the upper # 9 will be very short anyway. These usually involve either the 9 or 10. ( 4th or 5th tooth in the archade) If that is the case, you should be able to to an intra- oral extraction without him having to be lain down. It is ALOT easier on the horse to be done that way.
Edited by Canchasr1 2014-11-11 4:53 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| Thank you!! He's 22 (or 21, I'd have to look at his papers). | |
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