LM59
Active Member
Posted in NL as well.
Can anyone give me any advice regarding cushings-induced laminitis? I have never had a laminitic before, so all this is new to me. Apologies for the long post..........
A little history- I have a 17hh ex-racehorse TB gelding who is 17 on loan from a charity as a companion, who I have had for 18 months. I had trouble keeping weight on him last winter, so he had full blood tests etc, but we couldn't find any reason other than him just being a poor-doer. He had a great summer with no problems. Around October, his arthritis got worse, so he was put on to one bute a day to help (he had access to stable and barn, but was out and well-rugged 24 hours a day).
Four weeks ago he suddenly went very lame in both front feet, although one was much worse than the other. He had heat in all four hooves and pulses in the front two. I had the vet straight out, who diagnosed bruising, and an abcess in the worst one. I hot poulticed twice a day for five days on box rest with no improvement. The vet came out again and had another dig, but still no improvement. This continued for two and a half weeks, with three vet visits, plus one from the farrier (he refused to move at all, it was that bad), and at one point was on up to four bute a day.
After this, I had a different vet from the practice out one evening. He found pulses in all four and diagnosed laminitis. He was very surprised, as he is a lean (not thin at the moment) thoroughbred with no history that we know of. He thinks it may be due to cushings, although he shows none of the more obvious signs. However, he does have trouble keeping weight on (despite eating constantly), takes a very long time to heal (even the smallest graze) and has mud fever-like symptoms all year round despite treatment. I had the blood test taken last week, so we are waiting for the results- due later this week or the beginning of next.
He had a one week course of ACP which seems to have helped massively, and is currently on two bute a day- having been in for four weeks now. He is comfortable, but I would love some advice and help on the prognosis for him. He cannot be ridden due to an old back injury and his arthritis, so exercise is not possible. At the moment he seems comfortable on his deep bed, and is mostly back to normal in his attitude etc. He is happy to walk on a hard surface as well (he can access a concrete area if he chooses).
I know that he will have to be managed as a normal laminitic, but I am concerned that restricted turnout etc may make his arthritis etc worse, and I am already having great difficulty keeping his weight up. I have no school or other facilities for alternative turnout, as the horses are kept at home.
The additional complication is that I only have the two horses, who have such a strong pair bond, that I cannot safely turn out the other one without dangerous behaviour on the TB's part, so the other one has been in for four weeks too, and is starting to get very restless (18hh shire).
Has anyone had the same problems or a cushings horse/pony with laminitis? How did you manage it, and was it successful? Any advice on any aspect would be greatfully received. Thanks for reading all this!
Can anyone give me any advice regarding cushings-induced laminitis? I have never had a laminitic before, so all this is new to me. Apologies for the long post..........
A little history- I have a 17hh ex-racehorse TB gelding who is 17 on loan from a charity as a companion, who I have had for 18 months. I had trouble keeping weight on him last winter, so he had full blood tests etc, but we couldn't find any reason other than him just being a poor-doer. He had a great summer with no problems. Around October, his arthritis got worse, so he was put on to one bute a day to help (he had access to stable and barn, but was out and well-rugged 24 hours a day).
Four weeks ago he suddenly went very lame in both front feet, although one was much worse than the other. He had heat in all four hooves and pulses in the front two. I had the vet straight out, who diagnosed bruising, and an abcess in the worst one. I hot poulticed twice a day for five days on box rest with no improvement. The vet came out again and had another dig, but still no improvement. This continued for two and a half weeks, with three vet visits, plus one from the farrier (he refused to move at all, it was that bad), and at one point was on up to four bute a day.
After this, I had a different vet from the practice out one evening. He found pulses in all four and diagnosed laminitis. He was very surprised, as he is a lean (not thin at the moment) thoroughbred with no history that we know of. He thinks it may be due to cushings, although he shows none of the more obvious signs. However, he does have trouble keeping weight on (despite eating constantly), takes a very long time to heal (even the smallest graze) and has mud fever-like symptoms all year round despite treatment. I had the blood test taken last week, so we are waiting for the results- due later this week or the beginning of next.
He had a one week course of ACP which seems to have helped massively, and is currently on two bute a day- having been in for four weeks now. He is comfortable, but I would love some advice and help on the prognosis for him. He cannot be ridden due to an old back injury and his arthritis, so exercise is not possible. At the moment he seems comfortable on his deep bed, and is mostly back to normal in his attitude etc. He is happy to walk on a hard surface as well (he can access a concrete area if he chooses).
I know that he will have to be managed as a normal laminitic, but I am concerned that restricted turnout etc may make his arthritis etc worse, and I am already having great difficulty keeping his weight up. I have no school or other facilities for alternative turnout, as the horses are kept at home.
The additional complication is that I only have the two horses, who have such a strong pair bond, that I cannot safely turn out the other one without dangerous behaviour on the TB's part, so the other one has been in for four weeks too, and is starting to get very restless (18hh shire).
Has anyone had the same problems or a cushings horse/pony with laminitis? How did you manage it, and was it successful? Any advice on any aspect would be greatfully received. Thanks for reading all this!
