Help! Laminitis, hoof and hoofboot experts, please

[Garnet]

My Mum's 24yo welsh driving pony has gone down with laminitis in the last week. Mum has always managed him with very little grass, kept his weight down and fed low sugar feeds. He was very stiff behind about six weeks ago, but the vet thought it could be a muscle strain, so he was box-rested and then had been starting walking out in hand.

Farrier came about two weeks ago and insisted he could see no signs of laminitis, but cut toes further back and lengthened the heels of the shoes to provide more support at the back of the hoof.

I have been up to visit my parents over the weekend and seen the pony and helped Mum to read some of the excellent information on here, but Mum desperately needs help to get "plugged in" to the best advice - neither her farrier nor her vet seem to be particularly clued up and the vet has already mentioned the dreaded heart-bars!

I have no direct experience myself, but I know from reading on here that frog support is vital and the pony ought to be a good candidate for going barefoot with hoofboots to help the transition.

Is there anyone local to my Mum in SW Cambridgeshire who can recommend a good farrier or veterinary second opinion, plus help her measure pony for hoof boots, balance rations, advise on forage analysis and suitable supplements etc. Mum needs help and I can't give it from my home in Sussex this week as my beloved Syd is being PTS on Friday. I am stretched to breaking point and can't bear Mum to lose her pony this week too . . .

Thank you for reading and for any help or suggestions.

 

[Wagtail]

You are right. Heartbars are really not the way to go. They only cover up the problem and IME are the start of a downwards spiral where the hoof is never able to support itself. First of all, is the pony in on a deep shavings bed with soaked hay? Does it have bute or danilon for pain relief and sedalin paste to help open up the capillaries, and therefore blood circulation to the laminae?

Personally, I would remove the shoes and replace them with hoof boots and thick Styrofoam pads inside. If the pony is insured, and boots are not an option, then I would ask about imprint shoes which are glue on shoes that provide frog support whilst not compromising the hoof wall.

 

[Wagtail]

Also, has the pony been tested for Cushings?

 

[Garnet]

Thanks Wagtail,
Pony is in a small (double stable-sized) bare paddock with soaked hay. Ground is soft and his feet are packed with mud and wet hay, which I hope will provide the same support as a deep bed of shavings. Sunny gets very depressed in the stable and so Mum wants to try and keep him out if possible, but she recognises that if the ground hardens then he will be better off in a stable.
He has been tested for Cushings recently (in the last month while the free blood test offer was on) and although his results were slightly elevated (49) the vet didn't think it was high enough to treat.
I agree with you about removing the shoes and I have now made a series of phone calls, starting with my well-trusted farrier and found a local farrier who may be able to help Mum.

He is on bute from the vet. Not sure about Sedalin - will ask Mum.

 

[Garnet]

Hoof pictures, with apologies for blurriness - camera was not playing ball:
Front foot (yes, the quarter clips are on the front foot and the toe clip is on the back foot)

Hind foot

I am concerned that these are showing a bullnose profile, suggesting that something metabolic is going on - any further advice?

 

[amandap]

So sorry to read about your Syd. x

Diet is key to getting laminitis under control along with testing for metabolic issues. I agree with wagtail about the styrofoam pads and boots. These pads are suitable and can be taped on with duck tape in emergencies or if he has to cross stony areas. The pads soon squash down and fit in deeper type boots. http://www.equinepodiatrysupplies.co.uk/Pads/EPS-4-lb-Pads

Here's a diet suggestion. http://ecirhorse.org/index.php/ddt-overview/ddt-diet
A good balancer will need to be added in the longer term.

Unfortunately the grass may be a problem for him, is there a school or other grass free area he could go in where he would settle? Could mum tape a track round the edge with wider areas so grass is restricted further? Or even lay some carpet in an area to cover the grass? Sounds daft I know but sometimes needs must if he isn't responding to diet changes.
I can't help with a professional recommendation but suggest you contact here and ask if they can suggest anyone. Cambs is just out of their area. http://www.barefoot-south.com/

ps. Justine at Equine podiatry supplies is very helpful so may be able to help with boot choice and fitting, get Mum to ring her.

pps. Hay should be soaked for 12 hours and rinsed well. Fresh water each soak.

 

[AngieandBen]

I think my trimmer Sarah Swallow covers your area, 07926 39504 she will advise re feed/grass and measure for boots

 

[amandap]

I think my trimmer Sarah Swallow covers your area, 07926 39504 she will advise re feed/grass and measure for boots

Only read positives about her.

 

[rema]

If the pony was on a bare paddock and low cal feed and soaked hay and was not over weight then i think it would point to a metabolic issue..Does the pony have a dip in it's neck just up from the wither?..And are there any fat pads at all?.I would also get the pony of some form of Magnisium Oxide which will help with the hind gut if there is a metabolic problem..

 

[AngieandBen]

Only read positives about her.

She's lovely, been having her for around 4 years now

 

[charliejet]

The pony needs to be treated for the underlying cause and in this case it sounds like Cushings. 49 at this time of year is a positive test for Cushings. I would get back to the Vet about a Prascend trial or find a Vet that is more up to date on metabolic issues / lami. Also would get a trimmer / or barefoot friendly farrier that knows about boots, take the pony barefoot (I have both shod and barefoot horses / ponies so not a barefoot everything person) but believe for lami it is best to get the feet properly balanced again to allow them to repair. You can always shoe again later if needed.

This site and the lady that runs it were very helpful to me

http://www.thelaminitissite.org/laminitis.html

Good luck with it all, sorry to read about your troubles

 

[Wagtail]

Thanks Wagtail,
Pony is in a small (double stable-sized) bare paddock with soaked hay. Ground is soft and his feet are packed with mud and wet hay, which I hope will provide the same support as a deep bed of shavings. Sunny gets very depressed in the stable and so Mum wants to try and keep him out if possible, but she recognises that if the ground hardens then he will be better off in a stable.
He has been tested for Cushings recently (in the last month while the free blood test offer was on) and although his results were slightly elevated (49) the vet didn't think it was high enough to treat.
I agree with you about removing the shoes and I have now made a series of phone calls, starting with my well-trusted farrier and found a local farrier who may be able to help Mum.

He is on bute from the vet. Not sure about Sedalin - will ask Mum.

With regard to the Cushings result, and the fact that the pony has laminitis, I would go against what the vet recommends and start medicating with pracsend. This is what I did with my mare who was also only borderline Cushings. I think when laminitis is the main symptom, it is more important than ever to control the Cushings. From the hoof pictures, it looks as though there have been repeated attacks.

 

[Frozen Hoof Boots]

You need the proper Sole Mates grey pads.The equine podiatry supplies pads are poor quality copy pads and collapse therefore will not provide the support required. I have the proper grey hoof pads and bought these other white ones from EquinePodiatrySupplies thinking that they were the same thing. I had to bin them after 1 hour of use in my boots as they became flat and squishy. Whereas the proper Sole Mates pads I've had for months still providing good support in my boys boots but wanted another pair for when they get wet.

Buy the proper Sole Mates pads from www.aepsupplies.co.uk and don't make the same mistake I did.

 

[Garnet]

Thanks for all your advice - spot-on as usual!
Mum had a long chat with her vet yesterday afternoon, armed with a long list of questions to ask following reading up on the links given on here. The vet agrees that the Cushings blood test level is high enough to try some pergolide/prascend, so that will be starting today.

Sunny is now in a stable on a shavings bed and Mum is going to try to keep him happy - this may involve Dad being instructed to perform some DIY task on the concrete apron in front of the stables to provide a pantomime performance for Sunny's delight. (For those who followed the Poo Brick saga, unfortunately the poo brick manufacturing process takes place out of sight of the stable!)

Today Mum is going to contact Sarah Swallow and/or another farrier that has been recommended to us, to get more hoof advice.

Thank you all again for your support, it is much appreciated.

 

[AngieandBen]

Keep us updated!

 

[amandap]

Fingers crossed.

 

[Wagtail]

You need the proper Sole Mates grey pads.The equine podiatry supplies pads are poor quality copy pads and collapse therefore will not provide the support required. I have the proper grey hoof pads and bought these other white ones from EquinePodiatrySupplies thinking that they were the same thing. I had to bin them after 1 hour of use in my boots as they became flat and squishy. Whereas the proper Sole Mates pads I've had for months still providing good support in my boys boots but wanted another pair for when they get wet.

Buy the proper Sole Mates pads from www.aepsupplies.co.uk and don't make the same mistake I did.

I have the grey pads but wanted some new ones and have ordered the white ones from equine podiatry supplies. Wish I'd seen this post first! I will report back when I have used them as to what I think.

 

[amandap]

The cheap ones aren't for long term use. Imo they are great in first aid kits and for immediate protection. They have served my pony very well.

 

[Frozen Hoof Boots]

I have the grey pads but wanted some new ones and have ordered the white ones from equine podiatry supplies. Wish I'd seen this post first! I will report back when I have used them as to what I think.

Cancel the order and don't waste your money. I'm going to send mine back.
The white pads are not the same as the grey ones. They are cheap copies that do not give the same support. Frankly after using them twice they're now as thick as a Chinese prawn cracker
The grey ones are much denser material and retains its shape.

 

[amandap]

Here's some grey ones at reasonable cost. http://www.lindsaydaep-equinepodiatrysupplies.co.uk/#/sos-therapeutic-hoof-pads/4559852482 EPS used to stock them but the white 7lb pads are better for bigger horses.