Should you clip horses with Cushings?

Horses with Cushing’s disease often struggle to shed their winter coats, so their coats are thicker all year round, which can become uncomfortable for them. Because of this, you should clip them regularly.

How do you body clip a horse with Cushings?

Start with a clean horse and a fresh pair of clipper blades. Have blade wash, oil, a brush for the clippers and clean towels readily on hand. Clip from the tail and go forward, clipping against the hair direction. Clip the legs last, and consider skipping them if your horse is fussy or the hair on them is light.

When should I clip my Cushings horse?

Clip when your horse has trouble with cooling out. His body temperature will take longer than usual to return to normal temperature.

What is the life expectancy of a horse with Cushings?

Vets encourage owners of Cushing’s horses to decrease the amount of carbohydrates they feed (e.g., grains or other concentrates), maintain the horse at a healthy body condition score, and ensure his diet is properly balanced. Well-managed horses should live about five to seven years or more past diagnosis.

Should I clip my horses legs?

For cobs and heavy horses, the clipping of legs can be a huge relief. The dense leg hair can encourage mites and other skin biting insects, which in turn lead to various skin infections. These are then very hard to treat and heal when there is a thick covering of hair.

Should I clip my horse in summer?

Can you clip your horse during the summer months? YES! During a hot summer spell, the heavier types of horses, need all the help they can get to keep cool, and clipping them out completely can often make them more comfortable, work better and make it much quicker and easier to wash off sweat and dirt.

Is Cushings a death sentence?

Cushing’s disease is not a death sentence. Despite the fact that there is no cure, there are several management practices that can keep an affected horse in use and in good health for many years following diagnosis.

What happens if Cushings is left untreated in horses?

If a horse has untreated Cushing’s Disease, it is more likely to develop laminitis and the laminitis will be more difficult to control. If an equine has any of the clinical signs suggestive of Cushing’s, a blood sample can be taken to check ACTH levels in the blood.

What to do after clipping a horse?

When you’ve finished clipping, switch off the clippers and move them safely out of the way ready for cleaning. If you used an extension lead, put it away securely. Praise your horse. After all, the happier he is, the easier it will be to clip him the next time.

Should you clip a horse in the summer?

Can you clip a horse in April?

Even though it’s early April, this horse still needs to be clipped again because he grew in a full, heavy coat after his winter clip. If you are aiming for a three day in late April/early May, then you might find that you will need to clip in late March/early April.

Can I clip my horse all year round?

YES! Absolutely! Clipping horses doesn’t just have to be kept for the winter months. Some types of horses and ponies can seriously benefit from being clipped all year round, particularly if they tend to grow thick heavy coats in the winter.