Is this Laminitis?

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Esperanza

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Hi,

I would appreciate any advise on the following. 12 weeks ago my gelding became slightly lame on his off fore. He had acute laminitis 3 years ago as he was overweight but since then has lived in paddocks that are strip grazes. We called to vet who took x-rays which showed slight rotation but this had not changed since he had laminitis originally. The vet said that our farrier had to change how he was trimming our horse and that once this was done, we would see an instant improvement. We called out our farrier and gave him the x-ray. 2 days later he was very lame but this time in his near fore. We called the vet out 3 times who said that all we could do was give him bute and " starve him" which I thankfully no better than to do. My gut instinct was that this lameness and laminitis was not becaused by his weight, he is thinner than ever before but that there was another issue. Also he is only lame in 1 foot which I know is unusual with Laminiti.Also the farrier had trimmed his feet right back to the white line in one go! We did some further research on line and found that when he was sore, styraphome pads and vet wrap gave him instant relief. We got a new farrier who said that his feet were completely unbalanced and that because of the way that his feet were being trimmed he was getting no support and that the issue was not his weight.
The problem is he has been on 2 bute for the last 12 weeks, after the new farrier came he became almost 100% sound so I cut back on 1 bute and 3 days later he was showing lameness. I now have a vet bill of £300 pounds for a vet that only comes and tells me that he is too fat and offers no other supprt. I am concerned that the continual bute will give him ulcers although he shows no signs of it and is a very happy horse. Also why is he not getting sound, should we be looking at another cause? He lives in barren paddock with a friend and has HI fi lite and soaked hay.

I am sorry that this is so long, but this has been going on so long! Any advise would be more than appreciated?

:)
 
Get a second oppinion, often a second vet will spot something the first vet missed, your vet is not helping and it's costing a lot for nothing. I'd also get the farrier to a thorough check, he may be able to tell whats up.
To me it dosen't sound like lami, but i could be wrong, mabe its Navicular Syndrome, that mostly strikes the front feet.
 
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i agree that getting a second opinion would be beneficial, you've got the x-rays so hopefully they should be able to come out and examine the horse as well as look at the x-rays. good luck
 
I would also say get another opinion as the vet is being of no help or comfort to you (and doesn't like a great vet anyway!). Try not to worry about your horse having been on bute for 12 weeks, I have a retired horse who has been on 1 or 2 sachets of bute everyday for 4 or 5 years and seems to be OK (apart from her other problems, bless her!). Obviously you want to get him off it but I think the main thing is to keep him comfortable until you can get another vet in to try and diagnose the problem. I hope he comes sound soon!
 
I would say that this is laminitis, especially as you have rotation in one hoof. My mare was similar in that there were no classic signs of laminitis and she was lame in one foot, it was x-rays that confirmed the diagnosis due to the pedal bone having dropped slightly. They don't have to be overweight to get it and if she's had it in the past she will still be prone to it.

To be honest I'd get her off grass completely for the time being and restrict movement especially if she's being given bute as this will make her more comfortable and allow her to do further damage. I only allow mine to move freely if they are off bute completely and relatively sound, as they will then tend to do only what they are comfortable with. I've also had a pony that movement caused the laminitis to flare up with with raised digital pulses, so box resting on deep shavings was the way forwards for recovery. Adding magnesium oxide to the diet helped mine too.

Laminitis can be a long haul, and one of ours took months to become sound, so patience and perseverence are definitely required!
 
Thanks for all of the replys and good wishes it is appreciated.

The problem is that I am in Southern Ireland so we are limited with regards to equine vets. When I lived in the UK I was lucky to have excellent vets and I think that that is why I am so disappointed!

I have already tried 2 other vets, both refused to come see my horse when he developed laminitis originally in the night. One actually stated that she was not coming out to see a horse with laminitis as it is not an emergency ( which it is to me ) and that it would be fine just give it a bute and she would come on Monday.

In fairness to the vet my horse came from South america so is very cobby and could live on fresh air, but I just think it is so easy to blame laminitis on weight, and a I have said he is lighter than ever before. Its just frustrating and I wish I could do more for him

I spoke to the vet this morning and he talked about nerve blocking him any opinions? I know the value of nerve blocking but could this do more damage if it is Laminits?
 
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Esperanza said:
The problem is that I am in Southern Ireland so we are limited with regards to equine vets. When I lived in the UK I was lucky to have excellent vets and I think that that is why I am so disappointed!

I spoke to the vet this morning and he talked about nerve blocking him any opinions? I know the value of nerve blocking but could this do more damage if it is Laminits?
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Nerve blocking will prove if the pain is in the foot or not so definately go for it, it does not last for long and will be invaluable in proving where the seat of pain is!

Have PM'd you as well!
 
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