Laminitis Help/Advice Please

TheresaW

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I wasn't sure whether to post this in here or in veterinary, but probably more traffic in here. Apologies if this is the wrong place.

I am posting this on behalf of a friend who's horse went lame on Thursday last week. He's a 14/15yo gelding, lives out 24/7. He has had a few abscesses over the last 18 months, been tested for cushings, negative result. Last Thursday eve, he was lame in front, on inspection, some blood coming out of the bulb. Vet came out Friday morning, suspected stone puncture or abscess. Friday afternoon he deteriorated, vet back out and x-ray taken and laminitis was diagnosed. He's off the grass and in stable, has been since Friday. This is his front left hoof. X-ray showed a 15deg rotation, and the sole is soft. They couldn't get an x-ray of his right hoof Friday.

Vet was back yesterday and x-rays of both fronts taken. He is showing pain in his right foot, but x-rays not picking up any damage at all. The left was no better or worse than the previous x-ray. My friend is feeling that the vet thinks she should PTS now, but would like as much advice as possible before she makes the decision. I offered to post on here to see if people had been through similar and could tell us what the outcome was for their horses.

Meds wise, he is on 4 finadyne, 40 tramadol, and 40 paracetamol a day. 6 Bute didn't touch him apparently. He has also been started on Prascend.

He is also barefoot, has supports on now. Any other info anyone needs I can get from my friend.

Thanks in advance for any help.
 

bonny

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I don’t understand the rush to pts ? Lots of horses have laminitis and recover and it doesn’t sound like he is a lost cause at all. It takes time and patience that’s all
 

Sandstone1

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Is he overweight? Has he been tested for Ems? Could you try metformin?
Whats his diet? Needs low starch and sugar.
Hoof boots might help.
 

be positive

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I think it may be a bit soon to call it a day but it depends on the individual and whether they can a) cope with a long period of box rest, that includes the owner as well as the horse b) what the future would hold for the horse and whether ongoing management will prove tricky for whatever reason, there are other considerations but these would be my main ones at this stage.
I would think if the vet has suggested pts then they are extremely concerned about the long term outlook, it is rare they suggest it so I would be having a frank talk with them and seriously considering it may be in the best interests of the horse to do so, if the pain cannot be managed easily this could be a very long road ahead with possibly the same outcome.
 

TheresaW

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I don’t understand the rush to pts either, one of the reasons for posting on here. I have never had to deal with lami myself (touch wood) so don’t know if the rotation he has is mild/severe, soft soles are normal etc.

I personally don’t think it would hurt him to lose some weight, but I wouldn’t say he is obese. He is a very big lad though, around 18 hands.

Will find out what feed he’s on.
 

meleeka

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If he’s started on Prascend and obviously if the cause is Cushings, then recovery should start pretty quickly. Is he bedded on a deep shavings bed, all the way to the door? If your friend doesn’t feel that she can trust vet, get a referral to a vet hospital as soon as he is able to be moved. They will have a specialist farrier on board who can look at Imprints, not cheap but very good.

I also think pts is a bit hasty.
 

DD

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I have ahorse who was diagnosed EMs in April , had mild lami. became quickly sound and on very little bute compared to this horse .turned out at night onto very bare paddock, had metformin lost loads of weight,in during the day fed soaked hay. all fine until last week when the lami has flared up again. am considering PTS as its difficult to manage any flush of growth in the grass or frost can trigger it and i'm not into keeping horses stabled or in little bare paddocks all the time its not feasible to do a track system there would still be more grass than he was on. given the symptoms of your friends horse I would PTS and save a lot of continued heartache and expense.
 

Sandstone1

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Ah. Hes very big. Dont think big horses tend to do so well due to the weight on their feet.
That may well be why vet is thinking pts.
 
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southerncomfort

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I'd be retesting for Cushing's using the TRH test. Lots of false negatives using the standard test and he sounds like a prime candidate.
 

be positive

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Ah. Hes very big. Dont think big horses tend to do so well due to the weight on their feet.
That may well be why vet is thinking pts.

The only big horse I know that was in a similar state ended badly with a complete sinking and pts despite every care being taken, he was not overweight.
 

paddy555

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It would depend quite simply how much pain he is in and how he is coping with it. That is a lot of painkillers. Having been in a similar position I would be seriously considering PTS. I ended up having to and it was a horse of half this weight also BF. Mine had cushings induced laminitis. Prascend was given but it didn't help, he had to go onto a full dose very quickly and that can cause problems. There is no point in the TRH test if he is already on prascend.
Most people on here PTS far more quickly than I do, I believe in giving a horse every chance but in this case I would be seriously considering it on welfare grounds to deal with the pain.
If you keep going you may resolve the problem but that is a lot of pain to put a large horse through to get there.
 

Pearlsasinger

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I don’t understand the rush to pts either, one of the reasons for posting on here. I have never had to deal with lami myself (touch wood) so don’t know if the rotation he has is mild/severe, soft soles are normal etc.

I personally don’t think it would hurt him to lose some weight, but I wouldn’t say he is obese. He is a very big lad though, around 18 hands.

Will find out what feed he’s on.

Vets know that when a big horse gets laminitis, it is almost bound to end badly, They are too heavy for their feet to be compromised. The horse's own weight almost pushes the pedal bone through the sole if the laminae aren't up to supporting the structures.

In your friend's position I would very sadly pts now to save the horse further unbearable pain.
 

TheresaW

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My friend has asked my to ask if any of you know of Andrew Bowe? She says he’s a barefoot trimmer who got a Clydesdale through lami.

I think right now she just needs to know she’s tried, thought about, and done all she can.
 

Leo Walker

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With the degree of rotation and his size I would PTS now. I didnt and tried to save mine and its something I deeply regret now. Horses do get laminitis and recover but once you get sinking they dont very often, combine that with his size and he chances of recovery are very small sadly. Lots of people dont realise just ow many horses die from laminitis. I certainly didnt until mine got it.
 
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