Barney80
New User
Hi,
Id be very grateful if anyone can give me some advice on laminitis recovery/Cushings
Here is the back ground.
29 year old pony who was diagnosed with cushings last April after I took advantage of the free cushings test with an ACTH reading of 93. Vet advised that as no history of laminitis to stay off medication but tweak his diet to low starch/sugar.
A month later he became pottery and was diagnosed with laminitis and put on 1 prascend a day. Recovery was very quick and after two weeks box rest vet happy for him to go out into a newly created sparse paddock.
We reduced his prascend down to half in July and he was able to live out 24/7 with his pals on restricted grazing.
November he became pottery again. We increased the prascend back up to 1 a day, box rest for 2 weeks week and then in a mud paddock for 3 weeks and he was then fine on the regime of being stabled through the night and out in the day on restricted grazing.
Fast forward 3 weeks ago and I saw the tell tale signs. Back in off what little grass he has and on box rest. Had bloods retested which came back at 63. Vet wasnt concerned that they had only decreased from 93 when he was on no medication but advised to increase to 1.5 prascend a day and to keep on box rest for 2 weeks and shoe as normal at coming appointment . (Front shoes only as very flat feet)
Farrier came to see him and advised his feet still good, didnt want to remove/change shoes at that time as too uncomfortable but is due out again next week to reshoe.
Both Vet and farrier thought very mild with no need for x rays/frog supports etc.
He is very stressy by nature and is not coping well being in.
Vet came out Monday this week after 2 weeks for check up and was really pleased with his improvement, he was more comfortable Barging out of the stable and when walked out for the vet was jogging and full weight baring on concrete in front of stable. His bute was reduced from half a sachet twice a day to half once a day from Monday and planned to put in mud paddock on the weekend which I was over joyed at.
Today we are back to square one. Hes very uncomfortable, quiet, heat back in the foot, and I am now waiting for the vet to get back to me to discuss upping the bute again and if she wants to come out to see him.
His diet all winter has been;
Speedi Beet
Happy Hoof
High Fibre Cubes
Micronized linseed This was slowly introduced over the winter to try to add some needed condition.
He has access to hay also when in the stable but leaves this for a trug of hay replacer made out of the above list.(Teeth regulary done and still has a full set)
All winter when out he is either in a mud paddock or starvation paddock with Hay/replacer where he can still see and touch my other 2.
He is the only laminitic I have treated and in the last 2 attacks recovery has always been very positive and easy to see.
The only two things that have happened since Monday is the half a sachet of bute Do you think half a sachet would of made that much difference? Should I expect him to be up and down?
And someone tied an unfamiliar horse outside his stable although this is minor, it is the only other thing I can think that would trigger any more stress.
Hes such a great age and a character Im starting to question his quality of life as Im sure he will get over this but as he has had laminitis twice since going on a very strict routine I am concerned with the cushings that it is inevitable he will come down with this again.
Apologies for the epic length, Any thoughts/advice/ Changes to his routine I would be most most grateful.
Thank you all in Advance x
Id be very grateful if anyone can give me some advice on laminitis recovery/Cushings
Here is the back ground.
29 year old pony who was diagnosed with cushings last April after I took advantage of the free cushings test with an ACTH reading of 93. Vet advised that as no history of laminitis to stay off medication but tweak his diet to low starch/sugar.
A month later he became pottery and was diagnosed with laminitis and put on 1 prascend a day. Recovery was very quick and after two weeks box rest vet happy for him to go out into a newly created sparse paddock.
We reduced his prascend down to half in July and he was able to live out 24/7 with his pals on restricted grazing.
November he became pottery again. We increased the prascend back up to 1 a day, box rest for 2 weeks week and then in a mud paddock for 3 weeks and he was then fine on the regime of being stabled through the night and out in the day on restricted grazing.
Fast forward 3 weeks ago and I saw the tell tale signs. Back in off what little grass he has and on box rest. Had bloods retested which came back at 63. Vet wasnt concerned that they had only decreased from 93 when he was on no medication but advised to increase to 1.5 prascend a day and to keep on box rest for 2 weeks and shoe as normal at coming appointment . (Front shoes only as very flat feet)
Farrier came to see him and advised his feet still good, didnt want to remove/change shoes at that time as too uncomfortable but is due out again next week to reshoe.
Both Vet and farrier thought very mild with no need for x rays/frog supports etc.
He is very stressy by nature and is not coping well being in.
Vet came out Monday this week after 2 weeks for check up and was really pleased with his improvement, he was more comfortable Barging out of the stable and when walked out for the vet was jogging and full weight baring on concrete in front of stable. His bute was reduced from half a sachet twice a day to half once a day from Monday and planned to put in mud paddock on the weekend which I was over joyed at.
Today we are back to square one. Hes very uncomfortable, quiet, heat back in the foot, and I am now waiting for the vet to get back to me to discuss upping the bute again and if she wants to come out to see him.
His diet all winter has been;
Speedi Beet
Happy Hoof
High Fibre Cubes
Micronized linseed This was slowly introduced over the winter to try to add some needed condition.
He has access to hay also when in the stable but leaves this for a trug of hay replacer made out of the above list.(Teeth regulary done and still has a full set)
All winter when out he is either in a mud paddock or starvation paddock with Hay/replacer where he can still see and touch my other 2.
He is the only laminitic I have treated and in the last 2 attacks recovery has always been very positive and easy to see.
The only two things that have happened since Monday is the half a sachet of bute Do you think half a sachet would of made that much difference? Should I expect him to be up and down?
And someone tied an unfamiliar horse outside his stable although this is minor, it is the only other thing I can think that would trigger any more stress.
Hes such a great age and a character Im starting to question his quality of life as Im sure he will get over this but as he has had laminitis twice since going on a very strict routine I am concerned with the cushings that it is inevitable he will come down with this again.
Apologies for the epic length, Any thoughts/advice/ Changes to his routine I would be most most grateful.
Thank you all in Advance x
Both purebred Arabs, however, my other boy who we lost last year at 25 (not Cushinsg related though) was diagnosed at 21 and his ACTH was never controlled with Pergolide alone - he had to have 4 Pergolide and 4 Metpirone per day and did spend the last 4 years happily sound and out in the field playing with his friends 
