Heat and digital pulse

[rlhnlk]

I know this is a dim question but can heat and a pulse be signs of anything other than laminitis? As in if your horse comes in with heat in the hoof and a pulse is that a sign that the laminae have started to disintegrate or does it just mean some inflammation has started and if left until the heat and pulse have gone before anymore excercise then it should be fine? Any info on this would be much appreciated thanks

 

[pottamus]

In simplistic terms to me, it means there is some problem / inflamation happening in the foot. Laminitis really is a word used for inflamation and as the feet of horses are made up of laminae, it is likely to be this that is the problem or an abscess brewing. Has your horse has laminitis before...are they overweight...any changes in diet or grass intake to make you think it is laminitis?
If in any doubt get your horse off grass and treat as laminitis, just in case.

 

[HaffiesRock]

My pony has been suffering with her feet in the last couple of weeks. No heat or digital pule that I could feel, but I had the vet out anyway. She used the hoof testers and found no pain, only a bit of thrush, but on seeing how stiffly she walked said we should treat as laminitis to be safe. She went on box rest Monday afternoon and 24 hours later she is a different horse!

I would always say never let anything to do with your horses feet pass you by. Get your horse off the grass and ring your vet for advice.

Hopefully its just a case of stress to thefeet and joints due to the wet, but better to be safe than sorry :O)

 

[rlhnlk]

That's great thank you, she's chronic laminitic and is just being rehabbed back into the field following around 4 months on/off box rest. I think she's insulin resistant and she's been on metformin for around 3 weeks now. The reason I was asking is that every time she's been out she comes in with warm feet and a stronger slightly raised pulse. It's back to normal by the next day so I'm not too worried, I'm just trying to get my head around exactly how far along the laminitis chain she is if it's just short term pulse and heat. She is lame, but she's riddled with arthritis so potentially the lameness is related to stiffness and joint aches rather than laminitis.

It's kind of all about her being happy now, in this case I can't afford to call the vet out anymore, she's effectively a palliative case so I'm just trying to work out the best way of managing it to keep her happy - as long as she's smiling she's ok to stay.