Carrots and Laminitics

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FabulousFlynn'sMum

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Hi, Dont know if this should be in veterinary but here goes. My 18 year old 16.1 ID has apparently gone down with laminitis. His brief history is he first went down with it when he was four but there was a dispute between the vet and farrier as vet said lami, farrier said nitrogen poisoning, anyway, he hasnt had any problems with lami since then until about a month ago, he went very pottery, feeling his feet and then quite lame on one particular foot. I took him to our vet for xrays who fully expected it to be ringbone and he would have to be retired on bute for the rest of his days. The vet came to get me after the xrays and said its actually good news, its laminitis! I was just in total shock, him obviously not having an attack for the best part of 14 years. The vet said he's not huge but could do with losing about 100 kilos (nearly fell over with shock again!) and to put heart bars on him and he should come ok.

Anyway, three weeks down the line, he's not particularly visibly lame more pottery I would say and feels the stones when crossing our carpark to the field, yet gallops around like a two year old in the soft field and the all weather arena (i'm not riding him obviously just turning him out during the day).

Really sorry for the long post but my main question is, could lots of carrots have triggered this? I thought I was quite knowledgeable on lami having researched it after his initial bout all those years ago but I had no idea carrots were really bad for laminitics, the reason i'm asking this is he must have been getting at least 10 carrots a day spread across his brekkie, tea and odd treats etc?

Please feel free to tell me if you think i'm just clutching at straws but I just cant see how he's come down with it after so long. The vet did mention testing for cushings and problems with his body processing sugars if we found he wasnt coming right on our regime he's on now.

Big bottle of wine for anyone whos got this far, sorry, I can waffle for England, but really would be interested in your advice.

Love Jayne xx
 
Carrots can induce laminitis. My boy gets half a carrot in his very tiny feed at night time, he doesn't have breakfast an is only allowed one slice of hay in winter and half a slice in spring / summer, and no treats! I feel really mean but its vets orders and given the fact he had regular attcks of laminitis for five years I'm having to be cruel to be kind.

Is the bottle of wine on you?!?
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I am afraid that carrots are very high in sugars and therefore a potential risk. The fact that farmers use them to fatten cattle should tell you something about their composition. Apples are better than carrots as more water. But again everything in moderation. Hope he gets better soon
 
Yep carrots are bad for laminetics, those with laminitis at my yard are allowed the occastional tiny piece of carrot as a treat but apart from that are kept away from them.
 
So carrots are a no no. Apples are marginally better.

What veg/fruit can you safely feed to a potential laminitic?
 
Hi, back again, just been sorting the neddies out. Thanks all of you for your replies, youve all been very helpful as always. I suppose its the same old thing got to be cruel to be kind, i'm gonna limit all three of them to just one small carrot when I say goodnight to them and thats it. Its just not worth it.

Thanks again for your replies.

Luv Jayne xx
 
ok, going to have a very grumpy pony on my hands 2night. I didn't know that carrots were that high in sugar. Poor baby, he's not allowed any thing nice any more. Doesn't seem fair that he can't have any and other horse can.. but i know i have to be creul to be kind. Has any one got any idea about parsnips?? do they have the same effect??

xxx
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One of my lami ponies gets lots of carrots and the odd turnip etc. but he isnt sensitive. ie. I know what works for him as he only had lami ONCE as a 5yo and he's never had it since (fingers crossed) and he's now 21!

However my other lami pony is VERY sensitive. She only gets 1 small carrot OR 1/2 apple a day max. She also doesnt get a turnip
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