laminitis again - treatment and prevention?

[UKa]

Further to my other post - have now asked farrier to come out to have a look at her and to discuss options for what to do with her feet. in the meantime, how are lami cases handled, how can I prevent further episodes, will she definatley need shoes - she has such great hard feet I would be very sad if she had to wear shoes from now on at all times?

 

[herbert]

I have my laminitic prone cob shod all the time and make sure his toes are kept well trimmed back. He has 2 hours of grazing a day and is fed a very high fibre diet with added epsom salts (I know they are out of fashion at the moment but they work). I know that he would like more grazing but he has come to accept that he is not allowed and it is better than having him on box rest and bute!

 

[Nudibranch]

My 20 something is long term lami (Cushings). It means STRICT dieting in spring/summer/autumn, through a combination of grazing muzzle and electric fencing. Even then because of the Cushings she gets flare-ups so I give her no-bute and put her on HiFi for a couple of weeks. Winter is her best time as the grass is obviously rubbish so she can go out with the others, she can even cope with haylage so it's a case of a "normal" life for 4-5 months of the year. Unfortunately with her condition I don't know how many more winters she will see. That will be very sad as Ive had her from a yearling.

 

[Nudibranch]

oh p.s. if the laminitis isnt too bad your farrier should be able to control it through good trimming, though be prepared to see him more often!

 

[UKa]

that's some relief ... !

 

[custard]

Honestly I can't believe your vet hasn't instructed this but the usual first treatment goes something like this:

1.Box rest on a deep shavings bed as it supports the soles, sometimes frog support bandages are applied too.
2.Hay to eat, preferably last year's and a fairly constant supply as she's not overweight. No other food at all.
3.Bute to reduce the inflamation and ACP to reduce stress, it is also a vasodilator so opens up the blood vessels to the feet.

Willow was kept like this for about 3-4 weeks until it had settled down then he was fitted with heart bar shoes followed by gradual turn out and return to exercise. I stress this was a mild dose on top of extensive chronic damage but the above treatment seems pretty standard to me in milder cases.

After a couple of months with heart bar shoes he returned to having normal shoes in front, he's unshod behind but he has very flat feet so barefoot was no longer an option.

You really need to get the vet and farrier working together on this and I'd suggest you get them both to see her at the same time, getting them to discuss it with you there really helps as they sometimes have conflicting ideas.

 

[UKa]

Hiya, sorry, i forgot to mention the bute she is getting ... and I already never feed hard feed when she is on box rest due to her being prone to tying up ...hay is always ad lib ... vet just said he would have to come back after a week, did not mention 3-4 weeks ...

 

[kaleigh23]

My pony is just recovering from laminitus, the first case in the 2 years ive had her!
Custardsmum.... treatment was very correct although my pony actually eats her bed so shavings is a no go for me!
They used to say starvation for 2 weeks although this is not applicable with every case/horse, my vet advised to give very little as she was used to her hard feed.
Custardmum... when did you start to bring willow back into work?
I've got the farrier (a new one as the old said her 'flat' back feet were ok without shoes!) coming tonight to see when she can be re-shod, so i assume he'll give me a better understanding!
She was on box rest for 3 weeks whilst i gradually changed her feed over to happy hoof and begun turning her out (max is at 4 hours per day)
Any other tips would be a great help!!!
x

 

[foxviewstud]

if she keep getting it think about breeding from her as i know of so many mares that got it year after year but when they were in foal or had a foal at foot.they never suffered from it as the foal takes all the extra protiens etc out of her, although its not a permenant cure as she cannot keep having foals it will give her and yourself a rest bite from it

 

[bensababy]

[ QUOTE ]
if she keep getting it think about breeding from her as i know of so many mares that got it year after year but when they were in foal or had a foal at foot.they never suffered from it as the foal takes all the extra protiens etc out of her, although its not a permenant cure as she cannot keep having foals it will give her and yourself a rest bite from it

[/ QUOTE ]

apparently lactating mares are also at a higher risk of Lammi

 

[bensababy]

I have found a grazing muzzle has been my ponys saviour! I have also found that his energy levels have drained now hes back in work and still on Happy Hoof, so his loaners have changed it over (sorry i cant remember what its called) but you soak it like sugar beet, its ideal for Laminitics - no sugar etc.. ill try and find out the name

 

[custard]

Kaleigh, W was out of work for about 9-10 weeks in all followed by a gradual build up of work and turnout time.

Years ago starvation used to be the way but went out with the dark ages. With an overweight horse it can cause a condition called hyperlipaemia where the fat cells break down into the blood stream and it is life threatening, any weight reduction has to be gradual.

The best advice I can give you is to use a grazing muzzle in the long term, when she's recovered. This will mean the pony has to move about more to find food and will keep her metabolism working. In the long run standing in for long periods is not good but just extend the turnout time gradually over say 2 weeks.

I disagree strongly with the suggestion to put any potential laminitic in foal. Aside from the extra weight bearing in the latter stages of pregnancy, foaling is a dangerous time because any retained placenta can get infected and the resulting toxic stuff in the bloodstream can also trigger laminitis.

Seriously folks if managed properly there should be no reason why any horse should keep getting it, I'm not saying it won't catch you out occasionally but you learn to watch for changes in the weather and your horse and his enviroment on a daily basis so you can control it.

 

[bensababy]

fully agree with you custardsmum, if carefully watched and managed there is no reason why they should get it again.

 

[foxviewstud]

i guess its individual opinion but always been ok and was always oked with vet first, these have been smaller ponies though so prob not as bad as maybe for a large horse???you take a chance of any retained placenta everytime you have a foal which is why we aways check the afterbirth for tears or holes

 

[Tia]

QR -

Please don't take the suggestion of putting your laminitic mare in foal without first considering all the extra risks. Even pregnant mares who haven't had laminitis before are at a higher risk of developing laminitis right after foaling. Laminitis is a well known side-effect.