Footiness- lami scare

S

SammyDingle

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 January 2011
Messages
211
Visit site
My barefoot fell pony has suddenly gone footy on stoney ground. Now obviously my main concern is laminitis.

I have been bringing her in for a few hours a day off the grass, but providing enough hayledge in double nets to pick at. Her pulses are not raised but I have noticed she is wearing her hooves unevenly recently. Trimmer has advised to keep her in work, but let her pick her way through stones ground.

Can anyone advise how they would treat this? And what action they would take?

Thank you
 
I would try and avoid stony ground completely if it is possible, sensitive feet are prone to bruising which can cause them to be even more footy and bring on a full blown laminitic episode, if you can stay on soft ground and tarmac you may be able to keep her in work but be very careful you don't do too much if the ground is hard or stony, some exercise in a school would probably be best if you have one.

I would be doing more than bringing her in to eat haylage for a few hours each day, even double netted she is probably able to eat as many calories as you are stopping her from having by taking her in, I know they need to have something and not be starved but you do need to be avoiding her eating so much, either muzzle her and leave her out until she drops weight or keep her in and leave her with just enough soaked hay, soaking removes the sugars, to last for half the time, not eating for an hour or two will do no harm and the risk of laminitis is far greater than the risk of ulcers or colic from having to go without hay or grass for a few hours.
 
Until you get a vet to diagnose her I would treat her as a lami risk - as pulse does not always come first, crest build up fatty deposits and footiness are also warnings. I to would er on the haylage unless you soak it 24 hrs - my livery pony never had laminitis and was on restricted grazing which is strip grazed. The haylage brought laminitis to him - we all have to manage this in our own individual ways so i am bumping up this post

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...Laminitis-routine-prevent-please-share-your-s
 
Ours have gone a bit footy, the rain has certainly given everything a flush of nutrients...

I check pulses and other signs like crestiness or puffiness as well. If it's just footiness, I boot to stony ground but not on Tarmac as generally it's fine. You need to work out your limits.

If you do suspect laminitis, soaked hay or haylage, completely off grass if poss immediately. Talk to trimmer and call vet if you both agree symptoms are acute.
 
Ok so in she comes and off to get a car load of small bales of hay so i can soak that.

I do not have a school, and the school i hire is up a very rocky path unfortunately.

Vet will be called later today.. but in the mean time i will get her in with soaked hay

thank you
 
SammyDingle said:
Ok so in she comes and off to get a car load of small bales of hay so i can soak that.

I do not have a school, and the school i hire is up a very rocky path unfortunately.

Vet will be called later today.. but in the mean time i will get her in with soaked hay

thank you
Click to expand...

Do you have boots? I would also pop pads in them to walk up over the stoney ground whenever possible if it's a transient "attack" as the stimulation is really important. I'm sure trimmer and vet between them will advise. Vet might suggest shoes and wedges but do try and resist that if at all possible...
 
tallyho! said:
Do you have boots? I would also pop pads in them to walk up over the stoney ground whenever possible if it's a transient "attack" as the stimulation is really important. I'm sure trimmer and vet between them will advise. Vet might suggest shoes and wedges but do try and resist that if at all possible...
Click to expand...

I am measuring her up for boots tomorrow evening after work and ordering them asap.

I know I need to keep her in work to keep the weight off, but without the stoney paths I am extremely limited. I stuck to the roads tonight and was only out for 20 minutes.
 
A few more questions, hopefully you can help again!

After how many days should i start to see an improvement now she is in on 24hour soaked hay?

I am starting to think this is due to excessive wear on the front of the hoof. We have gone from school 3 times a week and one day hacking to hacking 7 days a week across much stonier ground. I scrubbed her hooves last night to see if there is any noticeable bruising to the sole, but i can see that the toe has worn right back and is almost to the white line. Now looking at the foot from the ground the hoof, although obviously unevenly worn, doesn't look like it would cause any problems.

I am measuring her up for boots tonight and will order tonight so hopefully this will make her much more comfortable.

She was VERY fresh this morning and not at all happy about being in, she is much happier being out, little madam.
 
Not long, once you take them of sugar the improvements are quick if the inflammation has resolved. With mine, when he used to get footy, I'd take him off grass and stable for a week and walk him out daily for as long as he could manage but usually by the 2nd day he was fine. He was chronic laminitic but I made little changes that made such a huge difference, I was confident enough to turn him out 24/7 on grass barefoot.

Personally I feel that toes wear to what the wearer needs. I keep my girls toes short on purpose and even if I don't she wears a inch long breakover at the toe designed by herself which starts from the white line. Depends on many things.

Is your trimmer an EP?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top