Laminitic pony - small or big stable?

C

CazD

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 May 2007
Messages
992
Visit site
My EMS pony currently has laminitis. She was stabled in her usual 12 x 10 stable but following an incident when she broke out of the stable she was penned in the field shelter which is approx 18 x 15. She seems happier in the field shelter as she is closer to the other ponies and less segregated from them but she doesn't seem to be improving much. Would she be better in a smaller stable where she can move around less?
 
highlandpony95 said:
it took him a very long time to recover.
Click to expand...

She is on deep shavings bedding and has heart bar shoes on. X rays have shown some rotation and sinking. We are currently on week 4 of her being lame and she is still on Metformin and Bute. Her pain is breaking my heart and I just want to do things right in the hope she gets better. The vet and farrier are both being positive but I'm so worried that she might end up being pts.
 
i was worried to death about mine he had some rotation, he was stabled for around 2 months before he was allowed out in a tiny tiny paddock, i hope she does get better soon, its heart breaking :(
 
let her move as much as possible - exercise is vital.Liverpool vet school has good info on everything re laminitis. Poor you and mare - hope all works out ok.
 
CazD said:
She is on deep shavings bedding and has heart bar shoes on. X rays have shown some rotation and sinking. We are currently on week 4 of her being lame and she is still on Metformin and Bute. Her pain is breaking my heart and I just want to do things right in the hope she gets better. The vet and farrier are both being positive but I'm so worried that she might end up being pts.
Click to expand...

She should not still be in pain after 4 weeks. Has the rotation been corrected properly? Have you had X-rays taken since to show this?
Laminitis is not a death sentence...it can almost always be treated.
Please get in touch with the Facebook group Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), PPID Cushings and Laminitis UK . They will give you some fantastic advice and support.
 
cornbrodolly said:
let her move as much as possible - exercise is vital.Liverpool vet school has good info on everything re laminitis. Poor you and mare - hope all works out ok.
Click to expand...

This is absolutely not true. Moving about with uncorrected rotation can be catastrophic and quite frankly cruel.
Much laminitis information out there is very outdated...
The laminitis Site is very useful and has only up to date, well researched information and help.
 
I would think the shelter, so long as she is confined and has a deep bed would be fine. The last thing you want is her box walking in a small space. Much better if she can see her friends and communicate with them. Agree with the frog supports wholeheartedly as well. They're not expensive and can make a great deal of difference in the long term prognosis. I've always put them on immediately laminitis is suspected and have found them immensely beneficial. Even to the point that when I leant them to a friend the vet said that putting them on straight away in that case probably save the horse's life as they stopped the pedal bone rotation in it's tracks. Not that, that will apply in every case but I think it proves that it's better to use them than not.
 
3OldPonies said:
I would think the shelter, so long as she is confined and has a deep bed would be fine. The last thing you want is her box walking in a small space. Much better if she can see her friends and communicate with them. Agree with the frog supports wholeheartedly as well. They're not expensive and can make a great deal of difference in the long term prognosis. I've always put them on immediately laminitis is suspected and have found them immensely beneficial. Even to the point that when I leant them to a friend the vet said that putting them on straight away in that case probably save the horse's life as they stopped the pedal bone rotation in it's tracks. Not that, that will apply in every case but I think it proves that it's better to use them than not.
Click to expand...

Agree with this. Also with the poster that said lots of info is outdated and too much movement before correction can be catastrophic.

Just a thought...is there any way you can restrict the size of the shelter by putting up a safe partition? Maybe you could rotate some company for her on the other side or maybe she'll just still be happier as closer to the others, but not quite able to move around as much as she can currently. As 3OldPonies says though, it'll only work if it doesn't make her box walk. It's all worth trying though and do try to stay positive as well. It's amazing what they can come back from and you're obviously putting her welfare first so you will do right by her, as you already are!
 
_HP_ said:
She should not still be in pain after 4 weeks. Has the rotation been corrected properly? Have you had X-rays taken since to show this?
Laminitis is not a death sentence...it can almost always be treated.
Please get in touch with the Facebook group Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), PPID Cushings and Laminitis UK . They will give you some fantastic advice and support.
Click to expand...

I spoke to the vet immediately she became lame and he prescribed bute and metformin over the phone and said if she was still lame in three days he would come out and see her. When he came out, he did the X rays (about 3 weeks ago) which showed the rotation and sinking. The farrier came about 4 days after that (unfortunately he was ill at the time and couldn't get there any quicker). The farrier bought pads etc with him and glue on shoes but was happy just to put the metal heart bar shoes on as the horse was ok with this. The farrier said it could take 4-6 months for her to come completely right. The vet is going to come back next week and see her again then and presumably re Xray
 
Mine is in a 12x10 but I put a stable guard up so she can see out and what is going on, also she has been lame since beging of Feb, she is slowly getting better so I can put her out for a little while so I can muck her stable out and then bring her in. It seems if they have EMS it takes longer for them to come sound so don't panic too much. Mine is happy in herself and she's happy to eat her haynet looking out over the yard and paddocks. I keep her on a deep bedding of straw and as I have said she's mucked out everyday, also she's a Welsh sec a 11.2hh. She is on 3 handfulls of high fibre x2 and 2 soaked haynets x2 plus 1/2 bute per day and Equi life which she's been on for just over a week NOMETSYN which is expensive but I thought I'd give it a go.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top