Cushings and laminitis help

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abb123

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I have a 20 year old WBxTb. The last 6 months she has not been quite right, her back seems more dipped, she has grown a very thick coat even after being fully clipped, and she didn't seem 'right'.

2 weeks ago she came down with really bad laminitis. The field is brown with no obvious grass but I guess there must have been some coming through. On box rest, farrier and vet out. Cushings test showed 167. She started the prascend tablets a few days ago after the positive cushings test.

2 weeks of box rest and 4 bute a day and she is still in a lot of pain and is still hobbling if out of stable. She is not happy if left in on her own and box walks and weaves. My other horse refuses to go out without her anymore, which is great as it helps keep the other one calm and resting. So I now have two horses on box rest.

She has very poor feet that are very flat and weirdly shaped. I think that because they are so flat that she must have very thin soles and so any swelling/rotation will be more painful for her.

I'm having her feet x-rayed tomorrow and so I will know more then.

I don't really know what to expect, having never had a laminitic or cushings horse before - should we have seen any, even slight, improvement by now?

Is there any hope for her? I don't feel comfortable keeping her going as she is for much longer, am I being unreasonable though? I feel like I'm giving up and not giving her a chance. Obviously will be discussing with vets tomorrow.
 
It's all here http://www.thelaminitissite.org/
The people who run the site are very knowledgeable and experienced, and the x rays will reveal exactly what you are dealing with. Meanwhile, support the soles with pads, Styrofoam, deep conformable bedding and then boots and pads. If you support the bones in this way, and the Prascend aids the healing process (along with diet and a really good trim following the protocols on that site) you can rehabilitate even badly rotated or sinking pedal bones.
And of course, pain relief with something like Danilon to keep her comfortable enough to move a little. We did have heart bar shoes to provide that support for the first few weeks, applied by a knowledgable remedial farrier recommended by my vet, but once the feet were stable (about three months) removed them and got a top class podiatrist to trim his toes back and support his heels. It can be done, don't give up, but educate yourself. Apart from TLS above, Pete Ramey is worth googling for his articles.
Two weeks is very early days, given that the internal structures may be compromised and they need healing to reverse that damage, but it can be done. Mine was sound once the heart bars went on, and from then on, although he was by no means ready to do without them for about three months.
 
You have 2 issues currently - the ppid and the laminitis ... the drugs work to manage the blood sugar : insulin levels. Which will obviously affect the laminitis.

If its working - she wont get laminits again from 'nothing'

However! REhabbing a laminitic takes longer than 2 weeks so you will still be struggling though the effects of that attack.

Movement is good but only once an active attack has been 'treated', most need about 4 weeks on a super deep and soft bed to support the sole.

I dont agree with heart bars - they very logic of putting all the wirght through the walls and frog elludes me ... even the vets i consulted admitted it could cause more sink. In addition to this frog pads actually put the pedal bone at an even steeper angle and could potentially cause sink.

Best is to allow the whole foot to weight bear - obviously if the pedal bone has penetrated the sole pads with cut out sections could be used. but if they are comfortable on a soft bed then that is the simple route id take.

That said - you have a duty of care and must always listen to veterinary advice
 
I've had the x-rays done and they show minimal rotation of the pedal bone in one hoof and a small degree of rotation in the other. The main problem is that she has very thin soles as she is quite flat footed. She is still in a lot of pain even with 4 bute a day and is not really able to walk out of her stable and is able to do minimal movement in stable with very deep supportive bed. We are going to try balancing and then heart bar shoes to see if that can at least make her more comfortable. To be honest my main aim at the moment is to try to ake her more comfortable and then see where we are.
 
She shouldn't be moving out of her stable with acute laminitis Please please read the laminitis site from top to bottom, run by a lovely lady called Andrea who will help you no end.Heart bars are not always the answer.I don't think she will be able to lift her feet to be shod by the sounds of it.
 
OLDGREYMARE said:
She shouldn't be moving out of her stable with acute laminitis Please please read the laminitis site from top to bottom, run by a lovely lady called Andrea who will help you no end.Heart bars are not always the answer.I don't think she will be able to lift her feet to be shod by the sounds of it.
Click to expand...

She had to move out of her stable for the x-rays to be taken. Otherwise she has not been out of the stable at all.
 
Have they put any frog support or pads on her feet I find this offers instant relief in the early stages of laminitis my horse had them on for 3 months then she had her feet trimmed once she was able to walk comfortably, you can't trim or shoe the horse while it still can't walk speak to your vet about supporting the feet with padding or support this will aid in getting her sound.
 
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