Laminitis getting me down

[mums the groom]

Sorry but I'm going to have a sorry for myself moan.

My daughters pony has laminitis again, even though for the past year he has been on soaked hay and top chop zero and out in a muzzle the little shit has had laminitis again for the last 6weeks. He's had 5&1/2 weeks box rest and has been allowed out for 1 hour on 2 days and is footy again I've had r
The vet out and he s now not insured due to time limits had Cushing test which was 54 and insulin resistance which was 19. I'm getting really down with it he's getting pissed off being stuck in all the time and my daughter is unable to control him can't exercise him due to feet can't throw him out either any suggestions

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Have started him on Prascend? If not do, as that reading is just into the problem area, it often has an effect quite quickly. I would have expected the vet to prescribe immediately. What should the insulin reading be? The only alternative that I can see is pts.

 

[meleeka]

Laminitis that doesn’t resolve in two weeks usually has an underlying cause such as cushings or rotation from previous episodes. If it were my pony I’d ask the vet for a trial of Prascend. If it’s that you’ll notice a difference quite quickly. Have you had xrays? That would be beneficial for your carrier to be able to trim the hooves for a quick recovery.

 

[tda]

I truly feel that if they get to such a stage that anything triggers it off, then you need to make the decision. It has to be about quality of life x

 

[ester]

ditto is he on prascend? is he shod? if so what with?

 

[mums the groom]

he's not on prascend despite me asking the vet to prescribe it they said his levels were too low and to test again in the spring and he's shod with just normal shoes farrier is coming today

 

[Leo Walker]

The levels are definitely not too low at 54! The pony is currently symptomatic as well. I'm horrified they wont prescribe. You need a second opinion ASAP

 

[ester]

I'd get a new bloody vet!

(and discuss shoes with farrier, particularly if he is uncomfortable, imprints work well).

 

[holeymoley]

There must be an underlying reason why he’s getting it. In a rush at the mo but will check back at this thread later.

 

[pippixox]

I don’t know what the insulin levels mean, but my friend had a pony who was very similar. Laminitis even with no grass etc. She gave the pony metaformin tablets daily and she transformed in a matter of days and would even manage some grass (she was diagnosed with ems)

Also she had a pony previously (unlucky!) who had cushings and managed for some time on a low dose of paracend. But after a few years she still got laminitis and she decided to PTS as she no longer had a good enough quality of life. But the paracend gave her some great years, with some grazing and lead reign

 

[millikins]

I truly feel that if they get to such a stage that anything triggers it off, then you need to make the decision. It has to be about quality of life x

My little pony has had 2 severe episodes in last 6 years, negative cushings and EMS. She is currently fit and in work (drives) but she has become footy on fresh grass, frosty grass and too much dry hay at various times. I adore her but we live with a daily balancing act of meeting her needs and ensuring quality of life, another bad bout and I don't think I could put her through it again.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Get a 2nd vet opinion asap, because otherwise you have a difficult decision to make.

 

[blitznbobs]

Might be harsh but in my experience laminitis that doesn’t resolve quickly, doesn’t resolve and of the horses that have ‘got better’ that I’ve seen literally all of them are lame to my eye.... I think you have to think hard about where this is heading.

 

[Goldenstar]

Get another vet.

 

[Leo Walker]

Might be harsh but in my experience laminitis that doesn’t resolve quickly, doesn’t resolve and of the horses that have ‘got better’ that I’ve seen literally all of them are lame to my eye.... I think you have to think hard about where this is heading.

I really and deeply regret keeping mine going as long as I did. He really did seem happy, but there was never going to be a good prognosis. If it ever happens again unless there is an obvious and treatable cause, I will PTS. Even with a treatable cause if there is sinking I will PTS.

I stupidly thought you took them off the grass and they recovered but actually thats not true at all for a lot of cases, and their quality of life afterwards is never what it should be.

Of course all that is easily said now, sitting here with no hard decisions to make!

 

[_HP_]

Is the pony overweight? Have you had xrays to find out if there is any rotation because if there is some, and you leave it uncorrected,you're fighting a losing battle.
Definitely get a second opinion on the Cushing's. Any late in the year laminitis screams Cushings.
You won't go far wrong by reading The Laminitis Site and following their advice, along with a supportive vet and farrier.
Laminitis is not a death sentence but it does need a bit of commitment to get to the other side.

http://www.thelaminitissite.org

 

[splashgirl45]

from what i know the levels should be under 47 this time of year to be normal., and in the next few months the level drops to under 29 anything over my vet would have treated. i dont understand why your vet wont let you at least try before the final decision is made. i would have his feet x rayed as well to see if there is rotation because that could be the decider.

 

[meleeka]

from what i know the levels should be under 47 this time of year to be normal., and in the next few months the level drops to under 29 anything over my vet would have treated. i dont understand why your vet wont let you at least try before the final decision is made. i would have his feet x rayed as well to see if there is rotation because that could be the decider.

Exactly. When it’s life or death like this you really have nothing to lose, as most vets would agree.

 

[Suby2]

Which Cushings test did the pony have? Mine showed normal on the standard test but on the TRH test her levels were very high. She is now doing well on Prascend but has to have the TRH test every time to avoid false negatives.

 

[Tiddlypom]

The seasonal rise is pretty much over by now. Nowadays the cut off limit is assessed by Liphook on a day by day basis, as a further refinement. In the 50s sounds high, depending on when the bloods were taken.


Vets like the OPs who faff about and navel gaze with laminitis really pee me off. Not the OP's fault, but echo others who say she should change vets asap.

 

[splashgirl45]

thanks tiddlypom, that graph shows what i was trying to say, makes it very clear....perhaps it should be shown to OP's vet!!

 

[ester]

I'm honestly gobsmacked that a vet with a clearly symptomatic and struggling pony and a score of 54 at any time of year wouldn't at least do a prascend trial.

 

[PeterNatt]

You need a specialist equine vet that understands Laminitis and will test for Cushing's and Equine Metabolic Syndrome and then treat accordingly.
Despite what has been said above further episodes of Laminitis can in many cases be prevented with careful management, shoeing and the correct medication.
My cob had Cushing's for 12 years and with careful management we prevented further incidents of Laminitis and she was ridden until she was 27.

 

[_HP_]

Once you find the cause and work out the management that works for your horse, there's no real reason why he shouldn't make a full recovery.
I have two laminitics that made full recoverys and live alongside my non laminitics for most of year and out 24/7/365 on grass.