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The Jurga Report: Horse Health Headlines
Fran Jurga keeps you up-to-date on EquiSearch.com on news about horse health, care, equine science and research that affects horses.

Fran Jurga's "HoofBlog": Up-to-the Minute News from Hoofcare & Lameness Journal

A Georgia Lawyer

Karen's EasyCare & Endurance Musings

Dressage unLtd.

Canadians Lend Their Support

Bridie before being started on Pergolide showing many of the "typical" signs of Cushing's disease






After a year on Pergolide, you can see how much healthier and perkier Bridie appears.





Excerpts from Angela's letter to Canadian publicatons -

I am writing this letter to inform you of the plight of many thousands of Cushing's Equines in the USA - and quite possibly in Canada in the near future - if the issue with Pergolide withdrawal by the FDA (due to side effects in humans but never documented in equines) is not resolved quickly. The drug Pergolide is the treatment of choice for Equine Cushing's or PPID. My Shetland pony of 20 years is on Pergolide for Cushing's and she is healthy and happy. Not so prior to the diagnosis and drug intervention. Bridie had laminitis and founder with rotation in all four hooves and was in considerable pain. With “DDT”- diagnosis, diet and trim with keen hoof management, it took 12 months of rehabilitation to return to health and she is NOW pain free. Without the medication Pergolide to control her symptoms I would have no choice but to have her humanely put to sleep. This is the dilemma.

The U.S. FDA, which on March 29 2007 withdrew the drug Pergolide, still has not brought forth any resolution to the predicament they put us in. As a consequence of this, thousands of horses are at risk to be euthanized due to uncontrolled symptoms of Cushing's - the most common and severe symptoms being crippling laminitis and founder. The reserve drug supplies are almost gone and production has been halted. We have asked the FDA to amend this desperate situation with an EXEMPTION FOR COMPOUNDING PERGOLIDE for special veterinary use.

At present news stations and horse publications are now addressing this issue with editorials and news spots highlighting this horrendous situation. Yet, many vets and caregivers are still not current on the situation. Without Pergolide to control the symptoms they can progress to laminitis and founder within two to three weeks. Time is running out for these equines as Pergolide production has been halted in the U.S.A. An online petition has over 4,500 signatures to date and this number grows every day. We are requesting all venues to provide public information on the desperate plight of these equines and beseech the FDA to address this issue IMMEDIATELY!

New Jersey Readers Get the Pergolide Message!

Hunterdon County Democrat story features Kellie and her TB eventing horse Kelton.


"Horse owners are hoping they can convince both the FDA and the manufacturers to keep the drug available to veterinarians, too. It was not known how many horses are being treated with pergolide, but it is possible that more horses use it than people."

Read the story and see Kellie and Kelton here:
http://www.print2webcorp.com/news/njcom/hunterdon/horsenews/20070501/p16.asp?st=p16_s1.htm

5 O'Clock News Spot on WJACTV - NBC Affiliate Station

"The drug Pergolide, although unsafe for humans treating Parkinson's, was used to treat horses with Cushing's Syndrome."

"A drug used to treat humans with Parkinson's Disease has been pulled off of the market by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Now, horse owners who use the drug Pergolide say that it will leave them unable to treat their horses suffering from Cushing's Syndrome."

See the story and news clip here:
http://www.wjactv.com/news/13288711/detail.html

Canadian Media Contacts

The Canadian Press
You can submit story idea, photos or video (keep short)
info@cp.org


CBC Radio

Ontario Today
http://www.cbc.ca/local_includes/ottawa_contacts/ontariotoday.html
The Current
http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/contact.html
The World Report
http://www.cbc.ca/worldreport/contactus.html
The World this Hour http://www.cbc.ca/worldthishour/contactus.html
The World at Six
http://www.cbc.ca/w6/contact.html
As It Happens
http://www.cbc.ca/aih/contactus.html
CBC Radio Over Night
http://www.cbc.ca/overnight/contactus.html

CBC TV

CBC Newsworld
http://www.cbc.ca/includes/newsworld/contacts/cbcmorning_story_idea.html
The National
http://www.cbc.ca/national/yourturn/index.html

Canadian Horse Publications

Horse Publications Group
Box 670
Aurora, ON.
L4G 4J9
Canada
Toll Free: 1-800-505-7428
Local Calls: 905-727-0107
Fax: 905-841-1530

Jennifer Anstey - Publisher
janstey@horse-canada.com
Amy Harris - Managing Editor of Horse Sport
editor@horse-canada.com
Lee Benson - Managing Editor of Horse-Canada & Canadian Thoroughbred
info@horse-canada.com
Susan Stafford - Managing Editor of Horsepower
fearless.editor@sympatico.ca


Equine Lifestyle Magazine

Laura Ireland
l.ireland@equine-lifestyle.com

Staff Writers and submissions
writers@equine-lifestyle.com
administration@equine-lifestyle.com

Canadian Mailing Address
Equine Lifestyle Magazine
P.O. Box 385
Lambeth Stn.,London, Ontario
Canada N6P 1R1

US Mailing Address
Equine Lifestyle Magazine
P.O. Box 201
Belford, New Jersey
U.S.A. 07718

Pergolide Supply Dwindling

Re: I wonder if anyone else is having this problem [veterinarians being told by pharmacies that there is adequate stock of pergolide]

Posted by Dr. Kellon on EC List May 7, 2007 Msg #91278

The big compounders were saying "no problem" initially too - until
they tried to place an order for bulk drug.

- pills are gone
- legitimate drug wholesalers (who supply compounding pharmacies)
have no drug
- Customs is *allegedly* (haven't confirmed this) stopping drug at
the border

There are US manufacturers who make bulk pergolide that *might* (this
isn't confirmed either) be able to supply compounders under a
veterinary use only order, but the rock bottom lowest price I've
found from the US companies is over $1 per mg, so the compounded
product would be at least $2/mg, probably more.

A compounder still selling the drug without a price mark up and
saying "no problem" is either selling VERY old stock, or is getting
it black market. Tell any vets claiming this isn't an issue to ask
the compounder where their drug is coming from and when did they last
check with their supplier about availability.

Make no mistake about this. There definitely is a crisis.

Eleanor