Laminitis and muzzles

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rforsyth1984

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Horse has gone down with lammy again :( Not much grass visable on the field, horse is a slim 15.1 arab in light work and he had a muzzle on until 10 days ago. I took the muzzle off because he got it off in the field, leaving the headcollar half off over 1 ear, which rubbed and gave him a big painful lump on his head. I usually stop muzzling around this time of year anyway, so decided to leave it off. Bad decision, he's now in with lammy and got to go for X-rays in 10 days.

Good news is, that despit being crippled on Wednesday, he is now walking sound. Obviously he is on bute (2 a day), and the important measure will be if he is sound off bute, but I'm taking the fact that he was sound and happy after just a day of pain relief as a good sign.

Obviously, he will have to be muzzled again. I can't restrict turnout as he goes nuts in the stable (thank goodness for sedalin at the moment!) and has arthritis and a dust allergy so needs to be out all day. Can anyone reccommend anything for keeping the muzzle on without him hurting himself? Its a leather headcollar I put over the muzzle, I think he uses his hind hoof to push the muzzle off over his ears but can't quite get the headcollar off, hence it getting stuck. He has only done this twice in 5 weeks of wearing it.

The fiel they are on is about 2.5 acres and there are 6 horses grazing on it. Strip grazing not an option unfortunately :(
 
I use the greenguard grazing muzzle with the greenguard headcollar.

Hope your horse gets better soon, mine has lami at the moment.
 
Sorry to hear that Lotty, it's horrible isn't it? Feel so sorry for my boy stuck in on a lovely day when the rest of his barn are out.

I used to have a greenguard when they first came out but it wasn't very good. I had a look at the new model today - do you find it better?

How are you planning to manage your horse when he/she is better? Out all day with a muzzle, or restricted time? How long do you muzzle for - all year round or just spring/summer/early Autumn?

I used to muzzle just for 4-6 weeks when they moved onto the summer grazing at the end of April, not had a problem with that till this year. Not really sure how best to manage it now :(
 
I've brought one for my horse too. Not used it yet as he is on box rest for the near future. It's his 1st attack and hopefully his last. Hope our horses get better soon. Never want to go through this again.
 
Hi there, the new greenguard muzzle is deffinately better than the old one. The old one she just used to shove it to the side :) There are 2 other liveries who also use the new style and they find them good.

My mare has been on box rest for 10weeks now and just had her 3rd set of Imprints fitted. I got some 3year old hay which I was soaking and she improved 99%. I ran out of this hay 2weeks ago and had to start using the yards hay which I soak overnight, since she's been on the yards hay she's had a set back.

If she ever gets the all clear to go out then hope to turn her out late at night with a muzzle and bring in early morning. I have had her 7 years and not had any problems until now. I think it may be best to turn out at night, restricted at first but be vigilant and feel for pulses.......I know, my feeling is she may have to be stabled more now.

((hugs)) to us all. It's awful, the up and downs and not knowing.....
 
:( poor you.
Another Greenguard fan here.
I used to have one of those bucket muzzles but it rubbed his nose. The Greenguard one come with it's own headcollar and fits really well both on his head and the muzzle doesn't rub.
They aren't cheap so check out Ebay.
 
QR

If your horse has laminitis, you shouldn't actually know that it is sound because it shouldn't be walking anywhere! It should be in, on a deep shavings bed on lock down! Moving it about, especially on bute, is the very last thing you should be doing!
 
I was just about to reply the same brighteyes!

Even for mucking out, she should be in, for at least 30 days after sound without painkillers.
I'm not a fan of muzzles, but I strip graze mine; I have two native ponies, they are only on quarter of an acre and this is more than enough for them.

I'm lucky and have my own land, but I still wouldn't have my horses anywhere where they don't cater for laminitics.
 
brighteyes said:
QR

If your horse has laminitis, you shouldn't actually know that it is sound because it shouldn't be walking anywhere! It should be in, on a deep shavings bed on lock down! Moving it about, especially on bute, is the very last thing you should be doing!
Click to expand...

I know, he is in and hasn't been out the barn at all, but he does walk around his stable (On wednesday, he couldn't walk even a few steps), and he escaped to the next door stable yesterday whilst I was mucking out (has him tied to the haynet ring but he snapped the twine whilst I was in the tack room and nipped out!)
 
AngieandBen said:
I was just about to reply the same brighteyes!

Even for mucking out, she should be in, for at least 30 days after sound without painkillers.
I'm not a fan of muzzles, but I strip graze mine; I have two native ponies, they are only on quarter of an acre and this is more than enough for them.

I'm lucky and have my own land, but I still wouldn't have my horses anywhere where they don't cater for laminitics.
Click to expand...

You are very lucky, unfortunately I don't have my own land and am restricted on yard choice because my horse weaves and lots of yards round here won't have us. I also need all year turnout because of the arthritis and dust allergy, so again, limited choice. The yard does cater for laminitics but I don't want my horse in for most of the day and the mini paddocks are for restricted turnout only. We will use one of them when he first starts going out, but then he will join his old group, hence the need for a muzzle. I'm not a fan of them either but it seems the best choice for a horse that needs to be out a lot.

Thank you all for your replies and helpful comments. I think I will have another look at the greenguard muzzle.
 
I use the shires muzzle but have to admit it is not the best fit, but my lad is only out during the day and in from 3pm with soaked hay. If he goes out over night he doesnt go out till very late on to limit the amount of grass intake.
 
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