Can a change in feed bring on laminitis suddenly?

E

EquestrianFairy

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 October 2006
Messages
6,502
Visit site
Well, I'm stumped...

Two weeks ago I noticed my boy was holding his tail to one side, he was sound on Soft ground but 1/10th lame on hard ground and when being lunged (on hard ground) reacted very strongly to hoof testers on one back foot, close to his heel.
Vet thought bruised heel as he is barefoot and/or possible abcess.

stabled and 7 days danilon. (Poulticed also but nothing came out:

Today he was trimmed and his danilon finished Friday night. The barefoot trimmer (very well respected) seems to think it's LGL as he is now reacting to BOTH hind feet with hoof testers.
He however trotted up sound in a straight line on hard ground today also (wasn't lunged). I don't know if the danilon is still in his system though.

We have just realised that the day before I noticed his tail going to one side, I changed his feed to alpha beet and baileys topline condition cubes.
The trimmer thinks it's possible that this has caused it...

Thoughts?!

Vet is back out Tuesday.
 
Last edited:
Yes true. He is underweight.. Or at least I think he is and his field is very sparse/boggy so I never really thought of that.
He's in with hay most nights so does get a break from any grass.

I've never had an ounce of any laminitis with my horses so this is a shock for me. Trimmer has advised to stop the new feed but carry on everything else as normal.
I just pray he's sound for the vet now on Tuesday.
 
Topline cubes has molasses in, and as ihatework says - grass is coming through. Nugz is off the grass completely at the moment as even a couple of hours is enough to make him footy :(
 
Only a vet can diagnose. Saying that, more subtle laminitis symptoms are sometimes (?often) missed. If you switch to a laminitic diet and he improves...
 
Do his hooves feel warm? And when you say lame, is he also footy over hard or stony ground? It's not sounding quite like LGL to me, but I'd definitely limit the grass and switch back to original diet, maybe add some magnesium oxide too.
 
Can't give advice on whether it's laminitis or not, but the Dengie Alpha-Beet you bought is a feed recommended for conditioning underweight laminitics so it shouldn't be that causing the issue. I'd get rid of the Baileys topline cubes - those are full of soya beans and molasses and oil which might've been too much on top of the Alpha-Beet.
 
Last edited:
I had the vet out last week, he checked over his back and found no indication of any issues. He had physio 8 weeks ago and I had initially rearranged her to come again but when he was lame I had to cancel as she won't treat a lame horse.

I think if he's sound when vet comes back on Tuesday I will organise her to come just as a precaution anyway so I know I've looked at all avenues for the second time at least.
 
Landcruiser said:
Do his hooves feel warm? And when you say lame, is he also footy over hard or stony ground? It's not sounding quite like LGL to me, but I'd definitely limit the grass and switch back to original diet, maybe add some magnesium oxide too.
Click to expand...

No they don't and no digital pulses
Either :-/

Mag Ox is a good idea though, will get some.
 
If you give anti inflammatory drugs Danilon or Bute it will slow down an abscess,it would be better to tub the foot in warm salt water and poultice ,if you think there may be a abscess brewing .
 
Yes definately, the top line cubes would be a no no I would have thought, wouldn't be the alfa beet as is recommended by lami trust, did you suddently change diet or do it over 5 days at least ?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top