Advice needed-laminitic with strange foot! Pls help!

C

clip_clop

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 May 2004
Messages
398
Visit site
My cob had laminitis in 2002 and 2005 and has not had an episode since, the first time the YO put him out on a lush freshly fertilised field and the second time he got it was because he was stressed.

He has been in regular work, just mainly hacking with a bit of lungeing and schooling. He has been having a few hours of turnout (a few times a week) in a small paddock with not a lot of grass, he doesnt tend to mind staying in at all which is good as i am able to keep him at a good weight. At the moment i can feel his ribs without needing to press on his sides. He is fed one scoop of hifi lite a day and hay. The vet is due next week for annual vaccinations and farrier is due on friday. He has front shoes on but is not shod behind.

I have noticed the inside of his foot has changed shape, particularly the sole area. Im not sure if this is because his feet are ready to be trimmed or other things are going off. It literally looks like the area in front of his frog near the toe is closer to the ground than the rest of the sole up near the bars of the foot are much deeper.

I keep thinking mad thoughts to myself about pedal bone rotation but hes sound, hasnt got the typical laminitic stance, is happy in himself and doesnt stumble or go pottery round tight turns.
 
I think the best thing is to have a word with your Farrier ... did you say he was due soon?

It sounds like you have been so careful and aware about Laminitis that hopefully it is not
frown.gif
.... how old is he?
 
He's 15. I cant help but worry, but im obsessive about laminitis and keeping him slim and not out for long and hes so cheery in himself with no obvious signs, thats whats so strange. When he had his previous bouts he was very quiet and glum but hes walking freely round his box etc at the min.
 
I agree with eaglestone. This heartbreaking disease has just killed my mare.

If he had heat, digital pulse or wasn't 100% sound, I'd be thinking FOUNDER at this point, but as you say he doesn't have any other issues it doesn't quite add up. Having said that, my mare was nowhere near as uncomfortable as most sinkers until her last day (words of the vet).

I would personally be getting the farrier to come sooner if possible and/or vet to check, given the history of this horse (and the fact I am paranoid penny at the moment).

Good luck.x
 
I read your thread carrie1983 about your mare just now, im so sorry for your loss. Ive also noticed he does have a slight crumbly foot which is unusual as he has quite hard feet. One fo the vets at our practice did want to put him on founderguard just after his last attack in 2005 but other vets decided not to as i seemed to be managing it well but now im not sure whats happening. Its so worrying. I will phone the farrier/vet and see what they think. Its strange how the foot seems to be so deep around the side of the frog and the bars out to the wall of the hoof whereas the toe area is not which has just led me to worry that the pedal bone has dropped as that would be where it would be seen at the toe?
 
Yes. That is where my mare's sole dropped - the toe in front of the frog. It cracked at the toe and then the frog became less and less prominent. One more day and we'd have had the bone through and it would have been a mess. Even if you 0.1% suspect, it's an emergency.

Good luck.x
 
I shall ring the vets asap and get them to come out, i do worry a lot so will definately get them to have a look even if it does just turn out that theres nothing wrong, at least i will have peace of mind then.
 
Try not to worry to much yet... It may just be he has had a alot of growth since the farrier came last. By the sounds of it you are managing him well & if you are only turning him out a few times a week for a few hours i doubt this would cause a crisis. Have a chat with your vet & farrier in the morning to put your mind at ease. x
 
His frog is still prominent, it hasn't changed in anyway but as you look at the foot it does just look like the area at the sides of the frog out to the side of the foot have not grown yet it looks like theres more growth at the toe, its hard to describe it. There's no cracks or anything at present
 
It sounds like there is an imbalance in growth. Having just lost my mare (4 days ago), this is what I'd be thinking if it was my gelding. I'm not saying it is that, especially as there are no other contributary factors involved, but it pays to be over cautious rather than under.
 
Thanks for all your advice carrie1983, you have given me some pointers on what to look out for and i really appreciate that. As you say its better to be over cautious rather than under and i shall be going up the yard very early in the morning and phoning vet/farrier.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top