I laminitis an emergency?

[WelshRuby]

I always thought it was. Why then, am I having to wait from 10.30a.m. until between 3 and 4 this afternoon? Pony's pottery and in discomfort but he's having to wait!
Am off now to await the Vet and give him a piece of my mind (nicely)

Sorry, I mean IS

 

[rhino]

Without a doubt laminitis is/can be very serious. However, if you have spoken to the vet and done the basic 'good management' i.e. bringing in to a well bedded stable, removing hard feed etc., then the horse is unlikely to suffer any more damage in the next few hours. Obviously it is not nice to see them in pain though

This is a difficult time of year for vets, often catching up with calls that people didn't want to make over Christmas to save money and may just be having a really rushed day.. If the vet has to choose between attending a colic, a broken leg or a laminitic then unfortunately the laminitic is not going to be the priority.

Lots of healing vibes coming your way and hope the vet gets to you as soon as they can

 

[katastrophykat]

have you made him more comfy with frog supports/big bed/sedalin in the mean time? Id swop vets... mines never taken more than half an hour to get to me- and ive never called him in an emergency!!

 

[Tinsel Trouble]

It is, but if he's able to stand or lie down in a warm stable with lots of bedding then get a story book (My personal favorite is the Ugly Duckling), sit with him and read. The noise of your voice talking calmly will take his mind off what's happening, calm him down and will fill your time up.

Rhino said, there's emergencies, and then there's EMERGENCIES!!!

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

IT should be treated as an emergency - although some vets don't - get your pony in on deep bed to wait. As your pony is pottery it sounds as if you have caught it early - is this the first time or is it recurring? When my cob first got it she couldn't move at all - had to be nerve blocked in the field to get her to the stable - vet took over 3 hours to get to me as he was busy doing his AI in the clinic less than 3 miles away - wasn't interested in treating a laminitc cob - had several arguements with him over her treatment as he was clueless

 

[mga4ever]

To be fair I don't think that is too bad. We had a pony colic on sunday before Christmas, we called vet as an emergency but unfortunately another colic had called in 5 minutes before us so we spent 2 and a half hours with pony before vet on call could get to us. This was more scary when after an hour pony started to have some kind of seizures/fits. Vet was brilliant when she arrived and fortunately pony survived.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I would say that it is an emergency but not absolutely urgent.
When my Draft horse had colic earlier this year (after hours, of course) I knew that we had caught it early and that it was only mild, at that stage. The on-call vet was at a lambing and he called me twice to make sure that my mare hadn't deteriorated. I assured him that she was coping and that the lambing emergency was more urgent.

When ID had septicaemia and went downhill very quickly, on a Sunday evening, the on-call vet was in theatre. Because this was urgent the receptionist called out another vet from the practice. The poor girl was actually off work ill at the time. Unfortunately despite her best efforts, we lost the mare.

Your pony is an emergency but will be fine to wait a few hours.

 

[Tinsel Trouble]

How is the little donkey doing?!

 

[forestfantasy]

Agree with Rhino.

I would be happy that the vet is coming in a few hours, as long as the pony is as comfortable as possible.
I wouldn't be pleased if i had a colicy horse and a vet put a lami case in front of mine.

 

[cptrayes]

I don't think that you have an emergency at all.

As long as you have had the sense to take him off anything except a little well soaked hay, and have him in a nice deep bed, about all the vet can do more than that right now is to give him some bute and possibly some ACP.

You don't want him moving around at this stage anyway, so making him more comfortable could actually be counterproductive.

You have described your pony as "pottery". If you have described him that way to the vet, then no wonder he is not worrying too much. If your pony is so uncomfortable that he is hobbling, or refusing to move at all, or off his feet, not "pottery", then you would have an emergency.

Have you called this vet for this pony for laminitis ever before?

 

[WelshRuby]

Many thanks for all your replies. As soon as I noticed his potteriness I put him in the shelter, partitioned it off with sheep hurdles, ordered an emergency delivery of shavings and quickly soaked some hay (only for half hour tho') so he was comfy enough while we waited. The vet was there when I arrived and had examined him. He asked about his routine etc and said I was doing everything right. We've put it down to stress as he hates being left when I ride. Used to ride and lead but the new mare kept kicking at him!!Anyway, he's on four weeks box rest, bute and sedalin when needed.
Foregot to tell the Vet off!
Going to take bloods in the future for Cushings.
Tinsel Trouble: how did you know I call him a Donkey?!
Santa Paws: No, he's never had it in the 18 months I've had him

 

[cptrayes]

Glad you didn't tell your vet off and that pone is OK-ish. I hope he's all better soon and you get a negative on the Cushings.