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Speedy and I just can't catch a break. On Thursday, Dr. Tolley called with the results of Speedy's most recent ACTH results. For those who are new here, Speedy has Cushing's Disease. Retesting the ACTH levels can indicate whether the disease is being controlled by medication or not. I wrote a Cushing's Tutorial here. I am not a vet, so take the information with a grain of salt. In short, Speedy's ACTH levels didn't fall as we had hoped; neither did they remain where they were. Oh, no. Instead, his have risen 239%.  In January of 2019, multiple abscesses in quick succession screamed red flag to my vet, especially since Speedy had never before abscessed and he was also quickly approaching his 15th birthday. Dr. Tolley ordered Speedy's first ACTH test. The results came back at only slightly elevated with a score of 56. While low, it was still too high for mid-winter, so Speedy was started on 1 mg of pergolide daily.  Throughout the rest of the winter and spring, things went well. In early August, he developed another abscess, and in November another one. And of course, we had yet a third one in mid-February. Speedy's still recovering from that one. It would seem that the Prascend was working through the first half of the year but not so much in the second.  November's abscess. I guess the good news is we now have an explanation for why the abscesses continued. The only thing we can do is increase Speedy's daily dose of pergolide from 1mg to 2. Prascend, the brand name for pergolide, isn't cheap though. I pay $2.13 per pill, and before you tell me I can get it slightly cheaper, I am aware of that. I choose to order it through my veterinarian's online pharmacy because I don't have to do anything except change the AutoShip date when needed. Well, that and provide my credit card. My vet takes care of everything else. It's convenient, and for the $8.00 a box I might save by ordering through Allivet, I'll stick with my vet's pharmacy.  Let's be honest here; $4.23 per day is a lot of money. That's $29.61 a week or $131.13 a month. Even scarier, it's a whopping $1,543.95 a year. I can't afford more. Maybe it's more honest to say I WON'T afford more. It breaks my heart to say it, but at some point, the price of a treatment is more than I am willing to spend. In June, we'll test his ACTH levels again. This test will tell us if his Cushing's Disease is under control or not. While it kills me to say this, if his numbers have risen even more, I can't justify spending $200 a month on three pills a day. I am willing to do a lot for my horses, but at some point, I'm just going to have to take a step back and let nature run its course. Will that be easy to do? Oh my gosh, no! It will break my heart.  He still likes to goof around though! For now, we're taking it one day at a time.
AMacG
3/2/2020 05:58:34 am
Huh! Weird... Almost like somebody told you recently that repeated abscessing in a PPID horse means that it isn't controlled, and it isn't normal.
I mean, you'll probably just have to move some money from your show budget to pay for his prascend. You won't be able to show anyway if he isn't treated so that'll free up some cash.
Jamie
3/2/2020 06:32:07 am
Ugh, I'm sorry.. fingers crossed that the double dose will get it under control!
Dom
3/2/2020 06:35:16 am
My dog is on $6 of pills a day. Her job is literally to sit on the couch. I suspect I am about three tax brackets down from you. But feel free to kill your horse over a "whopping" $1500 a year. How much have you been spending to thump around on his back and earn your precious bronze scores FOR HIM?!? I try so hard not to leave comments like this but you really are an asshole.
Mia
3/2/2020 10:36:54 am
"Thump"?? Really? You went there? "Precious bronze scores"? Seriously?! 3/2/2020 06:39:36 am
You don't have to publish my comment . I'm surprised at how unsupportive some of these comments are. What ever decision you make and how you come to each decision regarding Speedys care I know you will go thru a thoughtful decision process. Horses are a expensive luxury . It is our duty and our privilege to provide a caring kind home , and a loving end to their lives . You are laying yourself open to the world with your journey and deserve the respect and title of Horse person . Best Regards , I spend quite a bit more than $4.50 a day in supplements to make sure my big guy is feeling his best- gut, joint, muscle, vitamin. It's paying off because his feet and general appearance have improved greatly in the last 6 months. Horses are expensive, especially when you're trying to get into the mid levels of dressage. I've restarted my dressage journey twice now from 3rd level, so I get that it's frustrating. I think basing this decision on cost is ridiculous, because in reality you'll be adding $777.45 per year, which is the cost of a weekend or two of rated shows. You won't be showing without a 3rd pill if it comes to it, so pull from your show budget and go to fewer shows. Where the decision should come from is, "how much quality of life does a horse needing 3 prascend pills a day have?" In theory, those 3 pills should take care of it and he'll be happy and sound and you can keep enjoying him. We all know that's not quite true of the disease, so I think that kind of thing is where you need to base your decision. It shouldn't be based on money when you still have disposable income to go to shows.
Mo
3/2/2020 07:49:05 am
lots of mean comments, i hate that the internet allows people to say things they wouldn't say to your face. There's nothing wrong with your thoughts and intent. You obviously love your horse, and he's showing a downward trend. I remember the most important piece of advice i ever got - it's always better to euthanize too early than too late. I've had to do it, it was peaceful for them, and i have no regrets.
Mel
3/2/2020 09:15:22 am
Karen- I’m a vet. I watch and help my owner’s make difficult decisions all the time. Despite the vocal trolls you’ve gathered with this post, this is something only you, with advice from you vet, can decide. 90% of clients have financial issues with vet care because overall pet health care is not subsidized by insurance. There is a lot of judging going on here from people that are no better and no worse. Everyone has to make choices in life and the upshot is he is your horse. The haters are going to hate. Don’t let them influence you. All I tell my owners is do the best you can within your limits.
i'm sorry to hear that Speedy's medication may end up exceeding your available budget. here's hoping that he stabilizes and doesn't require any more dosage increases!
Dom
3/2/2020 09:43:45 am
This, 100%. There is a big difference between not being able to afford treatment, even if the alternative is euthanasia, and not wanting to make sacrifices. I'm all for euthanizing because budget restricts quality of life. But the change in tone from "I owe this horse so much, look at my new truck, I love my pony and would do anything for him" to, and I quote, "I can't afford more. Maybe it's more honest to say I WON'T afford more. It breaks my heart to say it, but at some point, the price of a treatment is more than I am willing to spend", left me with whiplash and got my hackles up. I had to euthanize my heart horse at 16 because we were actually out of treatment options. If $1500 a year would have saved him, I would have done it, even though it's more than I have in my bank account at any given moment. This post actually turned my stomach. And you bet your ass I'd say this to someone's face if I saw it happening in person. It's hard to stay polite when someone puts commenters on blast for polite and correct suggestions time and time again. If I'm gonna get accused of being rude anyway, might as well stop tip toeing around it.
Di
3/2/2020 09:54:40 am
Reading these comments all I can say is wow. Listen to your vet and your heart and the horse as those are who matter in the situation. Everyone else can go screw. 3/2/2020 11:19:17 am
At my farm, the animal health care budget regularly exceeds the human version. By a lot. And let's not even talk about dental care, which the critters have but I don't. I agree 100% that it's how the post comes across (I have the funds but won't spend them), because at some point, yes, it's appropriate to stop putting money into vet bills, and yes, that point is probably 3 prascend pills because isn't that above the max recommended dose anyway? I know she loves her animals, and my heart will ache for her when she has to make that decision, because it's a horrible decision. I've had to make the same terrible decision for a 2 year old that no amount of money could fix. I feel for her, but she phrased it badly here.
SarahW
3/2/2020 11:44:51 am
Hey Lady.
Im so sorry. Sorry that your horse has cushings, sorry that the medication isn’t working, sorry that you have been so criticized for sharing your doubt with us. Horses get expensive, and there is always so much uncertainty about diagnosis and prognosis. Ive certainly dealt with multiple lameness issues in the past and always wondering if I should do more, or just stop.
Moe
3/2/2020 03:43:08 pm
I can’t believe all of you making negative comments. I don’t know Karen personally, but I’ve read her blog for years. I’m relatively certain that when she talks about the financial aspect of keeping Speedy healthy she has already crunched the numbers and already cut out the extras like shows and various tack items. She has already said she will go up to the next dose and evaluate from there after his next blood check.
Cheryl
3/2/2020 10:01:39 pm
Yes, what Moe said! Exactly what I was thinking but Moe said it better. I am also shocked by the antagonistic comments. I understand all too well about making difficult decisions about animal health and having to deal with finances as a limiting factor. It sucks.
Joel
3/2/2020 10:28:45 pm
Humanely euthanizing a horse should always be an option. I do not envy your position.
Janet
3/3/2020 05:57:09 am
I have only recently started to read your blog and appreciate your honesty in talking about a difficult issue. I don't understand why people who disagree feel that they must disagreeable in the process. I have a 25 year old on Prascend and it does add up. The vet has put him on Previcox recently. I don't know how long I should keep this up and, unfortunately I have already given up doing shows on my younger horse. Since I don't have a farm, monthly board adds up too. I wish more people would talk honestly about the hard financial decisions. They are real. I also hope this doesn't deter you from writing your blog. The world would be a lesser place without your articles.
Tracy Beavers
3/3/2020 08:53:42 am
I recently had a good friend of mine decide to let her horse go before a major issue occurred. He had several minor daily health issues, as well as a major health problem that would eventually cause his death (somewhat similar to what you're going through with Speedy). Her horse had been retired for a number of years, but slowly declining in health. I saw comments are closed on your latest post. While I feel terrible that Speedy's disease is progressing and you may have to make some hard choices, I think what caused such a visceral reaction in the commenters here was that it seemed to be a financial decision you were struggling with, rather than a quality of life decision. By posting your whole budget for the world to see for so long and then posting about how you can't spend the $200 to keep Speedy on his medication if it takes that many pills, people can look through it and find things that they see as luxuries and wonder why you wouldn't cut back on those things to save your horse. You show and lesson a fair amount, which is great! But since everyone knows how much you put into your show and lesson budget, I think they wonder why you couldn't take the money from that pot to pay for the medicine if it is just a financial thing. If this post had said that you've already run the numbers, taking out all luxuries and still can't afford the medicine (though again, being so honest has its downsides because I'm sure lots of people would be able to rework your budget to accommodate the $200 a month) OR if you came across as more concerned about making sure that all Speedy's days are good and are worried what his quality of life would be like on all those pills, I think the post would have come across better. The tough part about having all your financial information online and then saying that you don't have the money to pay for something is that people will be able to nitpick. This is why I choose to be vague about most of my expenses and horse care items. It's just not something I want people to be able to use against me, the internet is a tough place, maybe it's a good idea to be a little more vague.
I'm going to second what Megan said regarding the tone of the post being that you couldn't afford the medicine, rather than being concerned about Speedy's quality of life.
Amanda
3/3/2020 01:50:17 pm
Yeah. Came to write this exact thing. I have a horse with Cushing's, and I get it: Prascend is expensive. Cushing's is complicated and difficult to manage. It's a progressive disease so all of us who love horses with it will face hard choices at some point.
Nora
3/4/2020 09:42:12 am
I came over to write the same as the others above after reading your most recent post.
Kirrily
3/9/2020 03:09:54 am
Have you joined the free ECIR support group? They can help you learn to manage his PPID more effectively, and likely save money. Lots of people are using compounded pergolide at a fraction of the cost with success. There are options! Comments are closed.
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About the Writer and RiderI am a lifelong rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010. Welcome to my dressage journey. 
Photo by Lori Ovanessian
About Speedy GSpeedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)
About IzzyIzzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)
Bakersfield Dressage approved!
My favorite breeches!
FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE
I love her stuff!
Watercolor Artist and Friend
National Rider Awards
USDF Bronze Medal - 2020
USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013
State Rider Awards
CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018
State Horse Awards
Speedy G - 3rd Level Horse Performance Award - 2020
Speedy G - 2nd Level Horse Performance Award - 2018
Working Towards:
CDS Sapphire Rider Award Third Level: 63.514% Third Level: 62.105% Fourth Level: Fourth Level: 2023 Show Season
Show Rating (***) CDS/USDF/USEF (*) CDS (s) Schooling (c) Clinic (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic 2023 Show Schedule
TBD 2023 Completed … Pending 2023 Qualifying Scores
Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Training Level 3 Scores/2 Judges/60%: Score 1: Score 2: Score 3: Archives
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