Hollows above eyes squishy?

[Horsegirl25]

What does everyone think of this photo? I brought my horse in this morning and the first thing I noticed was just how swollen above his eyes were!
Now obviously I googled, and it says could be a sign that lami is starting!!! I have checked all his feet and they are fine. He’s an ok weight has put on a wee bit but ribs are still easily felt.
I am now panic stations that this is the start of lami/ems

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Increased sugar intake so I would be inclined to take care if there’s a history of lami ..sometimes unbalanced teeth/chewing can cause the inflations.

 

[Horsegirl25]

Increased sugar intake so I would be inclined to take care if there’s a history of lami ..sometimes unbalanced teeth/chewing can cause the inflations.

No history of lami however is a native so I suppose higher risk if you like.
He was going out with a muzzle but hadn’t been for the past 4 months ish as weight was doing good, do you think it would be worth while putting it back on for an extra precaution

 

[Surbie]

No history of lami however is a native so I suppose higher risk if you like.
He was going out with a muzzle but hadn’t been for the past 4 months ish as weight was doing good, do you think it would be worth while putting it back on for an extra precaution

Yes. We have warm damp weather and that's perfect for the grass to start flushing. Not that ours seems to have stopped at all this summer.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Horsegirl25 if the grass is long enough then yes I’d muzzle or my preferred option would be bring in during day to a soaked net.

Edited to add…don’t panic.

 

[Horsegirl25]

Yes. We have warm damp weather and that's perfect for the grass to start flushing. Not that ours seems to have stopped at all this summer.

Thank you. I would kick myself if he got lami, as I do really try with his weight ugh so hard!

Horsegirl25 if the grass is long enough then yes I’d muzzle or my preferred option would be bring in during day to a soaked net.

He comes in during the day to a steeped 2kg net and goes back out at night, this had been working (or I thought it had) until I noticed his eyes this morning when I brought him in

 

[Lucky Snowball]

I’d be treating as if he has laminitis and having a Cushings test if they don’t go down in a few days. Better safe than sorry.

 

[JenJ]

Don't panic! However I would strongly suggest getting a vet out for blood tests next week to check insulin levels - if they are high then there is very effective medication available.

Feet are the last place to show the signs of lami, so by being alert and looking for the other signs as you have, and acting on them, you have the opportunity to stop it before it starts.

 

[Horsegirl25]

Thank you all, have tried to pgone but they are shut so will have to wait till Monday.
Would you treat as if he had lami or continue what we are doing but muzzle?

 

[holeymoley]

Definitely a sign something going on inside. It’s what I call ‘froggy eyes’ and for mine who is insulin resistant is a big warning sign of inflammation inside the body which could then lead to laminitis. I would definitely restrict any grazing, soak hay etc just to prevent anything. The weather is crazy this year so rain then dry weather or the like has sent grass sugars a bit over the place. It may also be worth while doing a blood test or cushings test.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

The shortest shoots of grass on my almost grass less track have suddenly become very green in the past few days. We have had warm muggy weather and rain, perfect for grass growth so if in doubt put a muzzle back on. Even slim natives can get laminitis, they don’t have to be overweight or show any other signs as I found out a few years ago.

 

[JenJ]

Thank you all, have tried to pgone but they are shut so will have to wait till Monday.
Would you treat as if he had lami or continue what we are doing but muzzle?

Muzzle, soaked hay and monitor closely.

 

[Horsegirl25]

Thank you all very much. I will phone vet on Monday and get something arranged for bloods.
Feeling a little deflated if I’m honest, I try so hard with his weight. Soaked hay all year round, was muzzled until I thought I was on top of it! Super fit, eventing regularly. Where as there is some horses I know severely overweight, out on grass no muzzle and fed hayledge and nothing seems to go wrong with them.
Hoping it’s nothing serious….
Have just been a hack and they look less prominent, who knows! Will keep yous updated when we have bloods done

 

[JenJ]

Thank you all very much. I will phone vet on Monday and get something arranged for bloods.
Feeling a little deflated if I’m honest, I try so hard with his weight. Soaked hay all year round, was muzzled until I thought I was on top of it! Super fit, eventing regularly. Where as there is some horses I know severely overweight, out on grass no muzzle and fed hayledge and nothing seems to go wrong with them.
Hoping it’s nothing serious….
Have just been a hack and they look less prominent, who knows! Will keep yous updated when we have bloods done

Don't feel deflated - lami is a complete **** and can happen despite meticulous, text-book care.

I posted on the survey thread the other day about my section As - it's my tiny one, borderline underweight, never had lami in her life, that came down with it last year. Whilst my other one, same height but when I got her was 90kg heavier than the other one, has been absolutely fine!

We can only do our best, and be vigilant for catching early signs, exactly as you have x

 

[HappyHollyDays]

As well as the Connie I also have a pony with EMS, puffy eyes and a swollen sheath are a sign his lymphatic system isn’t draining as efficiently as it could. Exercise is the best way to get it moving again which is why you can see a difference already. Have you tried him on a good quality milk thistle supplement? It is an antioxidant which among other things can help to boost the metabolism.

Please don’t despair, if it is EMS it is manageable and if it’s early signs of laminitis you are doing all the right things.

 

[Aperchristmas]

Don't feel deflated - you've spotted the warning sign! My personal view of lami management is that we try to give them as normal a life as possible, and only take more drastic action when you spot a warning sign like the puffy eyes. He'll be right as rain in a few days, and blood tests will give you an indication of any underlying cause. It sounds like you're managing him really well, and you've spotted the problem before it became a big one. Perfect!

 

[SantaVera]

It's a sign of equine metabolic syndrome which can lead to laminitis. My horse is the same. Treatment is to feed soaked hay, reduce grass intake and don't feed cereal or pony nuts. All food must be under 10% sugar and starch combined,not just sugar. Low calorie chaffs such as fibre lite are suitable. I have a laminitis app on my phone, it's useful for finding out when it's safe to turnout. If pony is overweight put on a weight reduction diet. Well done for spotting the signs.

 

[holeymoley]

Thank you all very much. I will phone vet on Monday and get something arranged for bloods.
Feeling a little deflated if I’m honest, I try so hard with his weight. Soaked hay all year round, was muzzled until I thought I was on top of it! Super fit, eventing regularly. Where as there is some horses I know severely overweight, out on grass no muzzle and fed hayledge and nothing seems to go wrong with them.
Hoping it’s nothing serious….
Have just been a hack and they look less prominent, who knows! Will keep yous updated when we have bloods done

I know how you feel. Mine can be showing a few ribs easily or look a fabulous weight yet still can react. Unfortunately it’s just how their bodies work. It may catch up with the obese ones over time. It is manageable as long as you’re on the ball with it and learn the ‘warning’ signs.

 

[CobsaGooden]

Well done for spotting it. My old haflinger used to have metabolic syndrome and this was a warning sign but never progressed once caught. I’d always check his eyes and pulses before anything else.

Good idea with the vet too. Personally I’d keep them in this weekend or turn out in a muzzle as the weather and grass growth is all over the place. I think I remember early autumn being a danger time for my pony.

 

[Horsegirl25]

Thank you all for your kind words. It’s hard to not have the ‘why me’ mentality! Currently his asthma is flaring from the harvest around his field and now also this!
The muzzle will be back on tonight which I can’t imagine he will appreciate, although my mare he shares a field with might as he won’t be able to bite her
It is comforting to hear other peoples stories also. Thank you all again.

 

[sjdress]

My older horse gets this sometimes when there has been a grass increase. Never progressed to Lami

 

[rabatsa]

This can also be a symptom of other things. Several of ours got this when we were having problems with liver fluke.

 

[Breather]

Aw. Going by the photo he looks a bit sad and uncomfortable, poor chap. Laminatis rumbles in most equines, so worth checking and assessing for, as well as Cushing's.
I say uncomfortable because, considering that the photo looks to be taken square, his face looks rather asymmetrical - eyes, cheek bones. This could because of issues in feet or body, but personally I would get his mouth and teeth checked straight away as well.

 

[Horsegirl25]

Aw. Going by the photo he looks a bit sad and uncomfortable, poor chap. Laminatis rumbles in most equines, so worth checking and assessing for, as well as Cushing's.
I say uncomfortable because, considering that the photo looks to be taken square, his face looks rather asymmetrical - eyes, cheek bones. This could because of issues in feet or body, but personally I would get his mouth and teeth checked straight away as well.

hey thanks for your reply, he had his nebuliser on lol so that is probably why he looks sad in this photo
This was straight after our hack, they have went down however when I left this afternoon they were back to what they were looking like this morning…

 

[Michen]

My guy has just appeared with these too. I have removed him from grass and he's going on soaked hay immediately- he's also high risk.

 

[Lois Lame]

... I say uncomfortable because, considering that the photo looks to be taken square, his face looks rather asymmetrical - eyes, cheek bones. This could because of issues in feet or body, but personally I would get his mouth and teeth checked straight away as well.

I don't think the first photo was taken square. Everything is on a slant in that picture

 

[scats]

This is my warning sign with Polly that she’s struggling. So it’s muzzle on, up the work a bit, soaked hay (which I do anyway) and watch her like a hawk.
Roll on October when we breathe a sigh of relief that we’ve survived another summer!

 

[Horsegirl25]

This is my warning sign with Polly that she’s struggling. So it’s muzzle on, up the work a bit, soaked hay (which I do anyway) and watch her like a hawk.
Roll on October when we breathe a sigh of relief that we’ve survived another summer!

Thank you, I have done the same now.
My boy was less than impressed when the muzzle went back on last night!
So frustrating, so close to October.
It is extremely hard having a good doer…

 

[SEL]

Thank you, I have done the same now.
My boy was less than impressed when the muzzle went back on last night!
So frustrating, so close to October.
It is extremely hard having a good doer…

Extremely hard! My EMS mare has been drugged and muzzled since June and is still overweight.

For some horses its likely genetic so there will always be a risk. I can't remember which Olympic warmblood struggles with elevated insulin but saw on Insta the rider thanking her vets for their support - it's not just natives

 

[scats]

My childhood pony was a nightmare to keep weight on, but god I’d do anything to have that problem again!