I think he has laminitis :(

brightinsel said:
Is this still current? I'm sure I have read that they'd have to ingest an almost impossible to source and consume amount of 'stressed' (fructan-rich) grass to trigger laminitis, or at least provide the extra carbohydrate to cause a laminitic response. NOT trying to argue, but there is continuous progress and new light being shed. I thought the fructan theory, as a standalone cause, had been debunked?
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I think that Oberon is right about this, no one is saying that stressed grass is causing the laminitis alone, it's just the last straw if you will, that take some horses way out of their tolerance zone. Just feeding a horse frosted grass and finding it won't develop laminitis is a bit like levitating a frog.
 
CobsGalore said:
The vet also said some gently walking on the lunge on soft ground would do him some good - I'm not sure about this? I thought this was a very out of date theory?
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Personally, if it's laminitis, I would not be lunging him on any surface. They should be left to choose how much they move, not be asked to move. Ideally, they should be on deep shavings, pea gravel or sand and left to their own devices regarding movement.

ETA your vet may be is thinking he needs to increase the blood circulation, but if he is in a small turnout area, this will be enough. Giving sedalin or acp is very beneficial too as it increases the blood circulation to the laminae.
 
Wagtail said:
Personally, if it's laminitis, I would not be lunging him on any surface. They should be left to choose how much they move, not be asked to move. Ideally, they should be on deep shavings, pea gravel or sand and left to their own devices regarding movement.

ETA your vet may be is thinking he needs to increase the blood circulation, but if he is in a small turnout area, this will be enough. Giving sedalin or acp is very beneficial too as it increases the blood circulation to the laminae.
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Totally against forced movement, it must be up to the horse entirely.
 
Hi
Ask you vet for xrays of all 4 feet to check for any rotation of the pedal bone or sinking.
The vet will then be able to see the angles of the pedal bone against the wall of the hoof, the angle of the toe against the frog, and the degree of any sinkage that has taken place.
You will then be able to make an informed decision on how to move forward.
If there is rotation your vet and farrier will need to work hand in hand with the xrays to reshape the feet to the new angle of the pedal bone.
The xrays will give you a starting point and comparisons for xrays later on should you need them
Best of luck.

Bryndu
 
OberBaubles said:
Not sure how this became all about you Leviathan :confused:
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Its not about me:rolleyes:
If you can't read between the lines then I am not wasting time explaining.

What makes you be the one to tell a poster to be wary of advice added to a thread?? , they can make up their mind themselves if they take or leave the advice.

The bottom line is all members can post advice to someone who asks and OP can choose to ignore or use that advice.
Its not down too certain members to diss advice as good or bad which another member gives unless its obviously harmful to the horse in question.

You in a roundabout way was tell the OP not to listen to any advice given in this thread and others which is wrong.
 
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I think often the horse is just managing on the grass and rest of the diet/weight and then stressed grass (frost, too dry suddenly wet etc.), which can accumulate high sugar levels, tips them over the edge into LGL or full blown laminitis.

Op, I would still be careful with the diet. x

ps. I think sugars including fructans are part of the story and often the tipping point but I am beginning to think mineral and general health status is another factor after seeing the improvement in my lamintic pony with better levels of minerals and vitamins along with low sugar diet.
Also we have the almost epidemic incidence of metabolic disorders these days too.
 
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From what I recall in my Feet First book, which is upstairs where it's cold, so can't quote directly, the investigation into the fructans as seen in frosty grass was flawed for a number of reasons which from memory involved making horses ingest huge amounts of fructans via a tube rather than anything natural, and a small sample size of horses already on a high sugar diet. Therefore the authors said the debunking was effectively debunked. I keep my lad off frosty grass where possible. Won't do any harm!
 
Leviathan said:
Its not about me:rolleyes:
If you can't read between the lines then I am not wasting time explaining.

What makes you be the one to tell a poster to be wary of advice added to a thread?? , they can make up their mind themselves if they take or leave the advice.

The bottom line is all members can post advice to someone who asks and OP can choose to ignore or use that advice.
Its not down too certain members to diss advice as good or bad which another member gives unless its obviously harmful to the horse in question.

You in a roundabout way was tell the OP not to listen to any advice given in this thread and others which is wrong.
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The internet is a hive of different information and that is great - but in a case where a horse is in ACUTE laminitis and the owner is fortunate to have little experience of the disease, it is essential to communicate with the presenting vet before making any changes.
My main reason for advising caution and biggest bugbear is The Laminitis Trust's website with their recommendations of molassed and unsuitable feeds and out dated treatments.

I am mystified as to why you have taken exception to my posts personally or why you feel it necessary to be so hostile?
As you seem fond of interpreting my meaning for me - perhaps I should reiterate that I wrote to be CAUTIOUS about taking advice from the internet or a forum and to run everything by the vet BEFORE DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT.

Are you seriously suggesting that is wrong?

And yes - I include my own advice in this ;).
 
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