Lami questions

[PucciNPoni]

I feel like I've been bombarding this forum with lots of questions but I've been getting good helpful info back - so I guess I'll keep at it.

Okay, my mare was diagnosed with acute lami last Thursday. The vet came back out on Monday and said to keep her box rested for another few days with no pain killers and if she's looking sound I could start working her in hand next week. If I wanted to turn her out on a starvie paddock (or more if I felt I had to) I could but was happier to keep her in. Our fields are a bit too lush and our starvies have too many little ponies in them and I feel that my mare would just bowl them over - or jump/limbo out of the starvies in to the lush paddocks...greedy girl that she is. I can start working her and get her out 2x a day so that's not an issue.

My question is this - she's got a mahoooosive stable that she has bedded about 6 inches deep and has rubber mats. She's digging the door area where she stands most of the time down to the mats anyway (and making a slope so that she stands down hill most of the day) and I'm just wondering if I should just start doing her bed as I used to - with a deep bed at the back of the stable or keep it bedded to the door?

Another problem I'm having is that she's getting a bit wheezy - her bed is all shavings and soaked wood pellet - but it's a bit dusty regardless so I wonder again, if having full bed is more harmful now if she's at the point of starting work next week anyway?

Thanks for reading!

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

I would contact the Laminitis Trust/Clinic and ask for their advice - they are experts in dealing with lami of all sorts in all types of horses. When my mare had her acute laminitis she was on total box rest from April until August. She was on a deep shavings bed right up to her door - they need the support on their frogs to stop rotastion. Have you had xrays done of her feet to check for rotation? If you start excericising to soon you can make the rotation significantly worse - and do not lunge as it puts to much strain on the foot capsule.

From my own experience all I can say is that the advice of my vet (big well known equine vets) was at complete odds with my farrier and the Laminits Clinic. I followed the advice of my farrier and the Laminitis Clinic and now have a sound mare back in work - doubt I would have the same outcome if I had followed my vets advice.

I would advise you do a lot more research and the decide what is best for you horse based on what you want to do with her in the future.

Good luck.

 

[f_s_]

Is the laminitis in her back feet?

Just wondering, because if she's standing downhill, could she be trying to take the weight off the backs?

Before you turn her out, you have to make sure that she is in no pain. That means, she's moving freely, can turn, has no raised pulse, does not shift her weight to compensate, and she is on no medication when she does this.

I would keep her in for a little while longer. Damp her bed if it's getting dusty (damp shavings support the feet anyway) and keep trying to get the bed to the door. Unfortunately, horses like their beds the way they like them!!! So, you may just have to put up with it!!!

 

[f_s_]

BTW agree with Slinky on this one, laminitis trust is excellent for advice, and don't start exercise too early!!



Good luck

 

[Pep12]

Bit worried about the vet saying you can put her back out so soon. the general considered opinion is that they should be box rested for 30 days once they are sound without pain killers. Re youir bedding, Can you not just keep watering it with a watering can to reduce the dust? Keep the bed right up to the door as it is this that is supporting her feet. I was worried about the dust when my horse was on box rest with lami, but then I figured that can be sorted, if his pedal bone rotates or "sinks" that can't be fixed. Phone the laminitis clinic and see what their opinion is if you have any doubts.

 

[PucciNPoni]

Thanks all - have taken advice and phoned Lami Clinic today. As you've all advised, they say another 30 days of box, deep litter (more bedding going in anyway). I've been using a watering can, and then someone else commented that I might be opening up avenue for Thrush. I'm not wetting it that much but it makes me feel a bit better to damp it down anyway.

Ho hum...meanwhile I was hoping to return to work - but too good to be true. She definitely seems fine in herself, but as much as I love working/riding/showing/competing, I love my horsey more.

 

[pottamus]

My lad had a very mild twinge of lami in 2007 (so mild the vet did not pick it up) but I treated for lami (luckily) and he was on box rest for 2 weeks before being let out and another week before exercise started...and that was a mild case...so I would keep in a while longer if I were you...to be safe.

 

[TheFarrier]

As far as thrush is concerned the best you can do is keep her feet picked out and purple spray the frogs daily.

With laminitis i would err on the side of caution