Laminitic Early Warning Symptoms

[brucea]

I made this post in the UKNHCP forum, but decided to post it in here as well because at this time of the year, and in these absurd weather conditions, it doesn't hurt to be extra vigilant and really pay attention to what the horses are trying to tell us in subtle ways.

All these things can appear well before any heat, pulses or lameness or classic laminitic stance changes, and awareness of them can make the difference between catching it early and taking action that avoids an acute episode, or missing them and having an acute episode.

I've observed that temperament and behaviour changes are ALWAYS the first thing that I see - well before any other laminitis symptoms.

Please add your own observations - these are simply my observations from the last 10 years of owning two laminitics!

Early warning signs:

• Puffy eyelids
• Swollen sheath
• Itchiness
• Grumpiness
• Withdrawn and pre-occupied look "far away"
• Slightly "worried" look around the eyes
• Irritable with noise
• Uncharacteristically nippy
• Dislike of touch or fuss
• Intolerance of activity around them
• Separation from the herd
• Itchiness - rubbing
• Inflammation or redness around the plug hole or root of the tail
• Slight changes to the breathing - slightly faster and shallower usually - and maybe above 20 per minute
• Looking around for a softer place to walk, heading to the verges
• Hint of a slightly tucked-up appearance
• Swaying very slightly from foot to foot
• Lying down more than usual.
• Choosing to stand in wet ground
• Snatching the foot away when it is lifted.
• Flinching when you tap the foot with the hoof pick
• Leaving food in the bucket

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Or simply your vague intuitive feeling that all is not quite right - always trust it, because it is seldom wrong to be overcautious.
...

For my lads, laminitis always seems to start in the guts so any slight feelings I have that there may be a slight hint of colic, I treat as if it were potential laminitis - and that's always been the safe bet.

Once you are tuned into it you can see the issues in time - but I'm happy to admit that often these have only been obvious to me in 20:20 hindsight. You know how it is - experience is something you only gain shortly after it would have made an awfully big difference to the outcome.

Happy to report that all mine are fine at the moment - we're keeping them in a very bare area and giving them 2 forage based feeds a day and ad lib hay to keep them from being too hungry. The mild weather is making them all sleepy and chilled

 

[brucea]

P.S.> just to add.

A couple of years back took a pony down from the fields and called the vet and then after several attempts reached the pony's owner.

I told the vet I simply couldn't absolutely tell whether the pony had a very serious colic, a severe acute bout of laminitis or grass sickness - all the symptoms were there.

Vet said that there was so much of an overlap of the symptoms that he was having to think really hard about what was his primary diagnosis.

Sadly it turned out to be grass sickness and the pony had to be PTS on day 3.

Always call the vet if you are not sure.

 

[Montyforever]

Had pretty much all the early warning signs and hot feet already can't really do much more than I'm doing, she's out on a bald field and in a pen and going to put her muzzle on her today. She's only going out for 2/3 hours and being lunged she's going mental being in so much .. But can't risk another acute attack

 

[ticobay831]

very interesting thanks for that, hopefully if people catch it early enough they can stop it from getting to the point where the poor gee cant walk..
I think my old boy is staring to feel it a bit, hes been a bit down over the past few days, his weight is very good and he dosnt have any fat packs on him at all this year, which is good, (( he's got metabolic syndrome)) trouble is hes not eating much of his hay at the moment and i really dont want him dropping any more weight, hes 28 this year bless him and hes starting to look an old boy now :-( the grass is coming through like wild fire with all this warm weather its mad...

 

[brucea]

Remember it's not just the grass

At this time of the year the ACTH hormone levels are changing as they shed coats and the days are getting longer. Often ponies on limited or no grazing will succumb.

If they are sensitised/compromised then even a light trim, any change to the feet, a change of hay bale or a different brand of feed, can be the single stimulus that pushes them over the edge.

Sorry to hear you are having issues Monty - maybe pop across to the UKNHCP forum and post on there - lots of experienced folk who have gone through the same thing.

 

[Wagtail]

Grunting when leaning down to eat were my horse's first symptoms. A sort of raspy breathing.

 

[Peachescream]

Alot of these symptoms i find can also linked with cushings. Its worth keeping an eye out for horse or pony drinking more as cushings and lamanitis often go hand in hand especially in the older horses and ponies. Although i find cushing symptoms tend to be more noticeable at the shortening of the daylight hours in the Autumn so wrong time of year at the moment. When i bought my pony a couple of years ago she was not long recovered from lamanitis, thankfully she has not had it again although she was showing all the symptoms of onset listed on this thread. I got her tested for cushings and she unfortunately has it . Thing that makes it clearer that its cushings as well is not shedding the winter coat or abnoormal wavy or curly coat patterns. But i agree its definatley much better to try and look for signs first and hopefully prevent a full episode, I hate this time of year for the lamanitics .

 

[brucea]

I'm a bit paranoid with two of mine. I treat everything as laminitis until proven otherwise - it's a precaution that's paid off so many times.

Never causes harm to be over cautious.

 

[Bigginge]

Reluctance to walk down hill was the first thing I noticed, and a very slight change in footfall, which meant we were fortunately able to catch it early and only got a very mild dose.

He also looked a bit long in the toe, which I had assumed was because he was due to be reshod, however our farrier said he would have been shifting the weight to his heels, only ever so slightly so you wouldn't notice any difference in his stance, but enough to change the shape of his foot slightly.

 

[Fellewell]

I always feed ponies as if they are laminitic (even if they've no history of it) regardless of condition.

 

[brucea]

I think one of the biggest challenges in feeding these ponies is to make sure that they get enough to keep their guts happy, and full, but at the same time not enough to cause them problems - and keep the minerals and vitamins up to the level they really need.

We've had a lot of success this year with Fast Fibre. Going through bags and bags of the stuff! Seems to work well though as a base and carrier for the vits and minerals.

 

[amandap]

I think one of the biggest challenges in feeding these ponies is to make sure that they get enough to keep their guts happy, and full, but at the same time not enough to cause them problems - and keep the minerals and vitamins up to the level they really need.

This is so true. You have to get pretty inventive in ways to slow down eating.
I must admit I notice they do tend to have less of an appetite when they have been on soaked hay for a few days though, that being hungry all the time seems to go or lessen.

Also may I add, any change/reluctance in willingness to move or turn as well. I was alerted to my pony once when I saw my gelding nuzzling and pestering my pony. He would never do that unless she was off colour.

 

[OWLIE185]

It is also important to check their digital pulse on a daily basis. Your vet will be pleased to show you how to take your ponys digital pulse and what the warning sgns are. Please be aware that there are a number of different triggers for Laminitis such as Cushings, Stress, Concushion from working on hard ground, emerging encysted small red worms, an infection etc. It is imprtant to keep their weight down as it is thought that this reduces the chances of them getting Laminitis but the trigger may be something else.

 

[brucea]

But don't rely on absence of digital pulse meaning all is well. In early laminitis the pulse might be low or hard to find. It is only once it's well under way you'll feel the bounding pulse.

 

[WelshRuby]

Brucea, this is very timely, thankyou for posting.
I lost my Shettie this morning to this @+"$* disease.

 

[fizzer]

Ignorance and lack of knowledge is sadly a big factor in the horse world.

The more publicity on Laminitis the better.

 

[Black_Horse_White]

When my horse had it I missed the early warning sign but knew it was there. I used to watch him eating his feed and shifting the weight in his hind legs. And he went lame when he had a stone in his hoof but then sound when it came out. Had I been aware of these symptoms I could of prevented his acute attack. I'm much wiser now and treat my horse as a laminitic even though he's not. My boy made a quick recovery but sadly I lost him to something else.

 

[muff747]

Brucea, this is very timely, thankyou for posting.
I lost my Shettie this morning to this @+"$* disease.

Sorry to hear you lost your pony WelshRuby, it's a horrible disease, claims so many lives too soon.