Lami and abcesses

W

Welshymad

Member
Joined
19 April 2011
Messages
11
Location
North East
Visit site
My pony has been on box rest since the end of Aug with deep abcesses. She has had one on her back left and front left. Vets suspected lami too so xrayed her and she had a slight rotation.

She had a bad wk at the beginning of Sept but has improved, she went without painkillers for over 24hrs on Monday and looked fab bright and has been spending more time up too

I got some xrays done on Tues to check everything and im devastated to find out her front right has sunk :(

I just don't understand! She has been doing so well the last few weeks and now I'm faced with the thought that I might lose her and she is only 3 ;-(

Does anyone have any experience please??
 
This is what i am going through my mares right fore has sunk too . only she been in since July.

She is on bedmax bedding 1 foot deep - pads formula4feet and laminator.
soaked hay etc i had major set back which is why i am in this positions she escaped into field.




where abouts are you in the country???

I am using Billy Crothers 5 times world champion farrier specializes in this field


when she was better was she out or in??? you need to keep her off any sugars like grass carrots etc .

http://www.handmadeshoesltd.co.uk/news-archive.asp?k_id=135

Billy Crothers

Business Location enter town or postcode in
Billy Crothers

Bedfordshire « Farriers « Leighton Buzzard « Billy Crothers
01296 662473 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting**************01296 662473******end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Billy Crothers
Woodlands
Leighton Buzzard
Bedfordshire LU7 0QJ


Telephone:


01296 662473 Magnify telephone number

Fax:


01296 660779
 
Last edited:
I'm in Northumberland

Just totally devastated at the moment, off to see the vets to look at xrays and discuss. She has been doing much better and bearing weight over the last few days.

I know of a very good barefoot trimmer so might speak to him after I have been to the vets, she has had frog supports on and have bought her hoof wraps which she seems comfy in.

Im not sure how it all started she has had liver probs a few months back so it may all be related with stress lami or something :-S

She has been on box rest for 6 wks now.
 
I hesitated whether to comment because there are some very different views on management of laminitis.

But in case it's any help at all....

Abscesses..... I don't understand why anyone would restrict movement in a horse with foot abscesses. Surely, the horse needs to move to keep the blood actively moving through the foot and helping the healing process, as well as the movement helping to increase pressure of the abscess and help them mature and burst out. Personally I would opt for giving the horse some movement, even if it's just creating an electric pen incorporating the yard outside their stable. Then the horse has the option to move.

My understanding is that the pedal bone can only sink significantly if there is space below it. In other words, if the hoof wall is too long and/or if there is a shoe on, so very very regular trimming will be really important.

I have one mare with laminitis at the moment, and I am lucky to be able to trim her every few days if necessary to help reduce leverage forces and to avoid the wall becoming too long. Her hoof is growing at 1cm a month, and I strongly believe that the growth/healing is helped by movement.

Don't know if that's any help, but it may give you other avenues to explore.

Sarah
 
Oh dear, am sorry for you. Having dealt with laminitis in the past I know how awful it is.

There are complemetary things you can do, but please, always ask your vet first.

I keep my horses out 24/7 barefoot with a barefoot trimmer. Feet do really need careful trimming if prone to laminitis.

I use Magnesium Oxide supplement on all 3 horses.

I use Happy Tummy charcoal supplement on the welsh x pony who did have laminitis last Autumn.

Obviously restrict grazing and monitor weight carefully.

Laminitic horses do need to have padded floor, thick shavings to cushion the sole and pedal bone - if it can be a large deeply cushioned stabled, then this gives room for some movement and walking space in a safe environment.

Sinking/rotation need not be the end, but does need careful management.

Good read: Founder Prevention and Cure by Jamie Jackson (available on Amazon)

I do hope this helps.
 
Thanks for the advice

She was out in a paddock with my other horse but the vets went mental and insisted that she was brought in for her own good. Got the impression I was being a bad owner :-(

She is on a very deep bed too, she is bright and has been getting cheeky (her usual self) over the last few days so this news has just been gutting.

I would like to get her out on a paddock but walking her to the field over a very stoney track was difficult, unless I box her over everyday which I would do just to get her to move about.
 
My horse has been on/off lami all Summer - I slightly disobey the vet and get my horse moving about a little as soon as pain free - but I find this works best for him as his legs fill up and his gets impossibly stiff ( he is 19).

But I am determined to give him the best life I can and so have sent everything off to www.forageplus.com to ensure that h...here there are only good reports. Good luck.
 
Well after lengthy discussions and lots of diff opinions we have decided it would be best for her if she was PTS :(:(:(:(:(:(:(

Its heartbreaking she is only a baby and her spirit is there but her feet are beyond repair

Wish I could save her but the last piece of kindness I can offer her is a peaceful and dignified end ;(
 
PTS!! I have read about horses that have recovered even when the bone has broke through the hoof sole...or they have had serious re-sections to their hooves to correct the issues...surely there is a way forward with this...surely time and the RIGHT care and management can save your horse at such a young age??
I think I would be looking for a second opinion if my vet told me that when my lad had laminitis with rotation...he is now back to normal work as we were before....yes it took many months of care to get him over it, but that is pretty normal and to be expected with laminitis.
 
Gosh...Welshymaid...I do feel for you.
I think before anyone condemns Welshymaid out of hand....otpions have to be considered.
Laminitis affects both horse and owner....and the stress caused to the human should not be underestimated.
It may be that the poster is unable for financial/emotional/other reasons to continue with the treatment involved...and as we are not privvy to the xrays...we do not know to what degree the rotation has occurred.
The description of 'sunk' might lead us to suggest the horse has truly 'foundered' and I have to say this is an extremely distressing incidence for both parties.....equine and human.

I have a pony who has laminitis...not to the founder stage...I am glad to say...but I have had some dark moments.....
With regard to the abcessing...he reguarly abcesses...and my own personal opinion is...and I stress I have no medical evidence to back it up.....is that he continues to have small bleeds, which then stagnate and cause the abcess. Curiously the abcesses always come out through his frogs....
I know from experience and continued xarays...that he has minimal rotation...and some vets may not find it at all....but it doesn't make living with the Big L any easier...

Thank you for reading and best of luck with your decision Welshylady....

Best wishes
Bryndu
 
wow ?? I know horse that had both pedal bones about to come through he recovered . find a remedial farrier As said i use billy crothers 5 times world champion

As I said my mare has been box rested since the weekend of 11th July 3 months . Its been a long time and a couple of set backs . But I am not giving up she is 23 .

I spoke to someone who had both front pedal bones drop as i mentioned at beginning he has almost gone back to normal just cant canter yet

MY mare has also sunk in her right fore she has styrofoam pads on to stop pedal bone rotating and more sinking her last two xrays show no more sinking or rotating . I think you need to speek to someone who has come out ther side. I did to the lady i mentioned she gave me hope..

I have had sleepness nights- counted my holiday days till i would see her again- felt sick cant eat all those with worry . get a second opinion I didnt need to my vets included billy crothers wont give up .
please dont give up until there is no hope

my mare has small lami feed with bute and soaked hay . her pulse today has lessened please dont give up till there is 100% no hope my mare hobbles about but i can now see a small light the other side . shoot me a pm if you want:)
 
Last edited:
what you need to do is put styrofoam pads on or frog supports which will push up through the frog and stop rotating any more. Once the hoof has stabilized then prob heart bar shoes on.



You need to stabilize her foot first that's the import things give her no treats of sugar in anyway shape or form inc apples carrots. Yours going through what I am going through we can support each other .

YOU DONT WANT A BAREFOOT TRIMMER You want a Remedial Farrier

...
.
.
.
.
.
.
 
Last edited:
Dont get me wrong I have thought about this long and hard, I have not slept or eaten since finding out.Ive never lost a horse before so im in bits but feel its the right decision. She is only a baby who has spent her life out playing in the fields and has been stuck in a box for a long time, how long and in how much pain would she have to remain in to have a chance?? She is on the really strong meds now which will do the rest of her system no good either.....

My vets have spoken to Edinburgh and other local specialists and all have painted a grim picture, for her to be taken away from her family to spend god knows how long away in a strange place on a slim chance she might get better is not good enough for me. She potentially has 20 yrs left in her and I would regret it if she was not able to enjoy her work anymore.

This has been a very difficult decision, I have another welshy who had lami and a rotation yrs ago and altho he made a good recovery the chances with the youngster are so much worse.
 
Last edited:
I respect your decision.:)



For me IMO I have had my mare since 1989 15 months old we have been together a long time done allot . Since on box rest she is looking brighter in the last few days pulse has gone down. Things are looking up.
She may only have 5- 8 years left I dont care . She is not giving up she is a fighter so as my vet says as long as I want to fight for her- she wants to fight it they will fight it. We have come along a rocky road but there are less speed bumps on the road ahead.


I dont have to send mine away ,
She is relaxed at home 8 feet from my front door where i can keep an eye on here, her son is in next stable he also keeps her spirits up

I wish you well good luck.

wow just counted my mare has been in the stable 13 weeks
 
Last edited:
Sometimes it is so hard to know what to do. My pony had really bad laminitis in January, following the snow and ice and me being unable to even get to the yard, let alone soak his hay. He was having dry hay (and more of it than usual because no-one knew when they'd be able to get up there again) and he was so bad our vet talked for the first time about putting him down. This wasn't his first attack but it was the worst. Our boy is so spirited, he kept battling, but we came very close to PTS. Only the fact that he was obviously determined to keep going kept us going. He developed abscesses in his off-fore and near hind at the same time and could only stand by leaning against the wall. I said to my OH, "I can't keep him going like this" but the next day he seemed just a tad better, so we kept doing all we could. He is now out in his diet paddock mornings, in the big field (with a muzzle) afternoons, and comes in at night and he seems happy. He is not 100% on tight turns or steep slopes, but he's sound enough to rocket around the field, so I'm happy. But this has taken ten months and I would never ever blame anyone for choosing the "other option". It's hell.
 
In case you have not had her put to sleep yet, and in case you have any doubts about your decision, I post this:

If there is nothing else underlying the laminitis and abscesses, then it really seems crazy to say that her feet are "beyond repair".

Are you sure you have taken the best advice on this?

Rotation CAN be reversed.
Sinking CAN be reversed.
Horses CAN survive, and heal, even if the pedal bone has come through the sole on all four feet.

Sometimes it is a matter of deciding how much it is right to put a horse through, and weighing that up with the chances of a good recovery, and the likely length of life. In a young horse, I think the prognosis is pretty good personally.

Take a look on Pete Ramey's barefoot site if you are in any doubt.

There's a lot of c**p spoken about laminitis, and about possible recovery. Some folk (professionals who should know better) may try to convince you that recovery is not possible, but be sure you know what facts they are basing that on, and how recent their knowledge is, so you can weigh up how much to take that into account in your decision.

I have an excellent barefoot trimmer who checks my ponies every 6 weeks. Although it's out of her area, I know she visits a couple of friends in Northumbria every couple of months to check how they are getting on.

Those friends had a pony go down with laminitis a year or so back. Xrays showed rotation and sinking. Vet and local farrier reckoned shoeing was the only way forward but prognosis pretty grim. My trimmer went and had a look, and was able to rebalance the feet and the pony was instantly more comfortable, and is now able to do fifty or sixty miles A WEEK hacking!!!!

So, please, DO believe the feet CAN repair, but you need commitment and the right help for that to happen.

Now, as I say, I don't know if the pony is still alive, or if you are in two minds about your decision, but if you are, then take some time and get some more professional advice. I'm sure my trimmer would speak to you over the phone, and I can't help wondering if you might be within a short distance of my friends.

If your pony has already been pts, then hey, that's the way it is. I respect any owner's decision in this respect, so either way, I wish you lots of peace.

Sarah
 
Leviathan said:
... told me sinking and rotation cannot be reversed it just settles in its new position
Click to expand...

Sadly, there are all too many people who still think that, and unfortunately I would guess that it persuades a good number of owners to have their horses put to sleep.

However, you just have to look a little further to see that rotation and sinking CAN be reversed. You only have to look at the rehab Xrays on this website to see that very clearly:

http://www.hoofrehab.com/rehabilitations1.htm

I don't think you can get much clearer than that. Again, I say rotation and sinking CAN be reversed...... and it isn't rocket science!

Sadly there seems to be a huge rift between farriers and trimmers, and whilst the trimmers deal with "hopeless" cases and bring them back into work, some farriers seem stuck with a misinformed belief.

Sarah
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top