Ems pony foot sore

[sugar_plumb]

Hi everyone,

I hope someone can help me as I’m now lost as what to do.
My pony has had 3 bouts of laminitis between 2019 & 2021. First of all pony diagnosed with laminitis at vets with xrays took. Treated with bute till come sound- which he did come sound.
Pony lame in beginning of feb this year. Box rest, bute & sedalin prescribed by vet. Had pony blood tested for cushings & ems. Come back positive for ems. Pony has came sound so was told to walk him on lunge for 20 mins on soft ground. Vet doesn’t want to prescribe him anything as he’s so small (miniature horse.) Pony has now gone lame again. I have been soaking his hay except 3 days when we had our water turned off due to a leak. He doesn’t have any heat in his feet but is sore walking on concrete & is walking up a little short when walking on grass. Could the unsoaked hay cause this bout of lameness or am I missing something? I have been trying to educate myself as much as possible inc webinars, research online, talking to feed companies as my vets are being very vague about home to manage ems in a miniature horse

 

[meleeka]

Yes it could be the hay. Not all hay is equal with regards to nutrition and sugar. If you have a constant supplier it may be worth getting it tested, otherwise just make sure it’s well soaked. I’m assuming he’s not in a paddock?

 

[sugar_plumb]

Yes it could be the hay. Not all hay is equal with regards to nutrition and sugar. If you have a constant supplier it may be worth getting it tested, otherwise just make sure it’s well soaked. I’m assuming he’s not in a paddock?

Thank you for your reply.
No he’s currently on a deep bed of shavings but also has the door open that goes on to a yard if he feels the need or is comfortable to have a walk around

 

[holeymoley]

Yes it could be the hay. Especially if you have ryegrass hay. Are his hooves trimmed appropriately too? High heels and imbalances can cause issues.

 

[sugar_plumb]

Yes it could be the hay. Especially if you have ryegrass hay. Are his hooves trimmed appropriately too? High heels and imbalances can cause issues.

Thank you for your reply.
He is trimmed every 8 weeks by the farrier. He was trimmed 3 weeks ago & has been sound till today

 

[Fransurrey]

Could be the hay, but that would be unlucky. Can you mix in barley straw with it? I used to do this quite successfully. Can he not have Metformin? That is done by mg/Kg, so surely him being miniature is irrelevant. I think it's worth pushing the vet to try it - I don't see you have much choice, as if he can't be sound even on box rest, then he has no quality of life. :-(

I'd try and bring those trims closer together. I used to get the farrier every 8 weeks, but I trimmed in between, so he was done every 4. EMS hooves seem to grow faster, especially in the summer season.

 

[holeymoley]

Echo the trimming. Normally the heels grow faster, I find 6 week a push sometimes. That little bit of length can just throw them out of balance.

 

[sugar_plumb]

Could be the hay, but that would be unlucky. Can you mix in barley straw with it? I used to do this quite successfully. Can he not have Metformin? That is done by mg/Kg, so surely him being miniature is irrelevant. I think it's worth pushing the vet to try it - I don't see you have much choice, as if he can't be sound even on box rest, then he has no quality of life. :-(

I'd try and bring those trims closer together. I used to get the farrier every 8 weeks, but I trimmed in between, so he was done every 4. EMS hooves seem to grow faster, especially in the summer season.

Thank you so much for your reply. I will ring my vet today & have a chat with them again & will definitely pull the farrier appointments closer together.
Regarding the metformin they said they was reluctant to prescribe metformin because he’s small & his levels haven’t been crazy but I will definitely ring them today.
Thank you