Laminitis - am I being really niave?

[SkylarkAscending]

Good friend has a 16 YO 12.3ish pony from a local rescue as a companion, the rescue have lied through their teeth and have said the pony has never had problems. Both farrier and vet took one look and said he has had bad laminitis in the past. And he has gone down with it again now, probably due to the change of grazing (he has had a muzzle on)

Am I being really stupid thinking we can control it with very restricted grazing? I’m talking bare patch of earth here if needed! I’ve always had bigger horses so have been lucky enough not to have a laminitic one.

She has been advised by the vet to test for Cushings too (coat doesn’t look like it to me, and he is only 16, but very clearly I’m not a vet!!!) so she will do that as well.

We are trying to balance “keep him v send him back” - he is a sweet pony who has proved to be a great companion, we strongly suspect he HAS had laminitis during his time with the “rescue” and they simply haven’t noticed as he was out as part of a huge herd.

Don’t get me started on rescues who think they are doing good and just neglect the horses/ponies in their care!

 

[Equi]

Can he still fulfil his role of companion in a seperate bare patch? If not I would send him back unless friend is really attached. They can absolutely be managed and return to grass with medication. cushings is very possible. The Ick coat is not present in them all.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would test for Cushings asap, although pain can skew the reading. It may be better to just do a Prascend trial. Laminitis can be the most obvious symptom of Cushings and when controlled the pony can go back to a 'normal' routine.

 

[SkylarkAscending]

Thanks both - those were my thoughts as well from observing HHO rather than any personal experiences!

Yes we can fence off part of the paddock so the mare (Welsh Sect D, aged 25, healthy as you like) can see him over the fence as company but he can have limited grazing and she can have more.

Friend is sorting the Cushings test, I’ll help out with Prascend cost if needed (I get free riding, it’s wonderful!)

 

[scats]

Sometimes chronic laminitic cases struggle to return to grass, but if you can section off a bare patch and supplement with soaked hay, that’s a massive plus. Will he be able to carry on his companion duties like that?

A Cushing test is definitely a good idea though.

 

[SkylarkAscending]

Sometimes chronic laminitic cases struggle to return to grass, but if you can section off a bare patch and supplement with soaked hay, that’s a massive plus. Will he be able to carry on his companion duties like that?

A Cushing test is definitely a good idea though.

I am pretty sure we can arrange the paddock so it works - the yard owner is being quite unhelpful (not deliberately, he is very very old school) but I have hopefully influenced the owner and I can see a way ahead

 

[HopOnTrot]

What sort of soil are you on?

I struggle with clay soil as without good grass to bind it together it gets really wet.

I had a mini Shetland that had had it before and she was so small and light the ground coped okay. But daughter’s 12.2 will churn the ground up when wet, but luckily she doesn’t have laminitis.

 

[Sandstone1]

It depends on the cause of laminitis. I think most vets think that its caused by a metabolic condition. Being overweight certainly does not help but you need to get to the root cause. Then it depends how much damage previous episodes have caused. A track system might work.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Please do the Cushings test. It's a way of confirming whether you are dealing with grass laminitis, which is metabolic and can be controlled with good diet management, or you are dealing with Cushings laminitis, which leads to uncontrollable pain and a steady decline. Sorry to be blunt, but if it is the latter, you may be the first person to see the signs, and it is possible she has been sound up to now. Fingers crossed you can find a way forward.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would test for Cushings asap, although pain can skew the reading. It may be better to just do a Prascend trial. Laminitis can be the most obvious symptom of Cushings and when controlled the pony can go back to a 'normal' routine.

This repeated laminitis indicates an underlying issue normally cushings or ems, if the prascend controls levels the pony should be able to graze like a normal horse.

 

[meleeka]

This repeated laminitis indicates an underlying issue normally cushings or ems, if the prascend controls levels the pony should be able to graze like a normal horse.

This has been my experience, although if they've had laminitis once they are far more likely to get it again than a normal horse. Presumably with a 25 year old native you are also kind of weight watching anyway OP?

 

[MrsMozartleto]

Hello folks.

SLA isn't currently able to respond, but has read your answers and wanted to say thank you for your time and help.