Digital pulse / laminitis

[peanut]

As Box of Frogs said on another post, the grass is really growing after heavy rain/sun and we are heading into the risky autumn period.

My horse had mild lami a few years ago and I check her digital pulse daily. I treat her as a laminitic but until the rain started, I had been allowing her some of our burnt out grass over the last few weeks (gone to seed and like hay).

Could a horse have early laminitis without having a raised digital pulse? Am I being lulled into a false sense of security by the absence of a raised pulse?

 

[touchstone]

Yes, I believe they can have laminitis without having a bounding/raised pulse - this is what caught me and the vet out about eight years ago! Horse very slightly lame, but no heat, pulse or sensitivity to hoof testers. It took x-rays to finally diagnose laminitis.

I must admit mine has raised pulses when she has had too much grass now and is brought off the grass immediately, but if you suspect laminitis even without a pulse I'd treat it as if it is anyway - too risky not to in my opinion.

 

[amandap]

Agree with Touchstone and I'd suspect laminitis with any unexplained lameness/footyness/stiffness especially with a horse who has had laminitis in the past and at high risk times of year.

 

[PucciNPoni]

My mare came down with it a year ago in May - she didn't do the classic lami stance - but was certainly uncomfortable on her feet. She did not have heat or obvious digital pulse. Vet had to check heart rate with steth before she could be sure it was even raised.

 

[peanut]

Thank you everyone. Mine is a skinny laminitic which is one of the hardest types to monitor. Off the grass and back to hay I think unfortunately.