I had the vet to do repeat bloods for Cushings yesterday as Raf's dose was increased by half a tablet following his annual test in October and the vet advised to re-check at the end of the year. Yesterday's vet advised me to rig up a light for Raf to be on for 12 hours a day to trick his body into thinking it's spring. He's in the far end stable in a barn and gets no turn out at the moment because we have to keep his legs dry. He gets turn out in the indoor school (same barn as his stable) but again it's quite gloomy. The vet said studies have shown it's beneficial for Cushings horses to have an artificial light source if natural isn't available, to mimic the amount of daylight hours they would be exposed to in Spring/Summer. It doesn't have to be a powerful lamp, 40 watts will do, but should be on between 10 and 12 hours a day. It's important that he also has a 'winter', so up to the end of the year he doesn't need it, but from January until he gets turned out again in Spring he should have the light. Similar to using artificial light to bring stabled broodmares into season.
I thought it was interesting and just wanted to share I have another question on a separate topic but I'll post that on a different thread.
I thought it was interesting and just wanted to share I have another question on a separate topic but I'll post that on a different thread.