Laminitis now?

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RhaLoulou

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Any ideas please? Horse came in very lame two weeks ago, she had been fine three hours earlier, couple of hours after coming in she was still lame but only slightly, slight amount of heat in near fore hoof but mare quite happy standing normally. Called vet, diagnosed possible laminitis and tested for Cushings (she is 21). She has been on box rest and bute although no bute now for three days and is sound. Cushings test normal. We have no grass growing, she gets baileys Lo-cal and a bit of speedi beet and 16 pounds of hay a day. She is 14.2 and in great condition (confirmed by vet) no crest, slight show of ribs, and is ridden three to four days a week. What else can I do prevent laminitis if indeed that was what she was suffering from?
 
Sorry to hear about your horse. Unfortunately the grass is probably packing a punch even though we can't actually see much. When things are about to burst into life after winter the level of fructans will be high.

Here is an excellent site led by a retired vet. Lots of videos and advice about rehab and prevention of laminitis.

http://www.ahf-laminitis.org/

Best of luck. If you try to follow what the animal health foundation suggests you will be doing the best you can for your horse.
 
Stressed grass is almost worse than knee deep in the green stuff. It is still photosynthesising and producing sugars, but not using the sugars by growing, so as Native Pony says, very very high in fructans. It is the same thing in a drought.
For a horse as susceptible as yours sounds, the only real answer is a grass free area (even apparently bare paddocks are producing tiny amounts of growth which are eaten almost as soon as they grow but better than a larger area) and forage, soaked or not according to the horse's weight. And try supplementing with magnesium, it helps the structure of the feet.
It can be a real pain, but is manageable. Good that you have tested for Cushings, Prascend might be the answer long term but in any case you could start by feeding a low sugar/cereals diet - unmollassed beet pulp, alfalfa and/or grass pellets for example.
 
Yep my lami-risk had one warm foot on Weds and a different one was warm on Thurs... So he's in today for checks and will be muzzled once he goes back out. This is despite his winter of skinniness! I will be shopping for his 'summer' feed regime too! I am thinking top spec calmer as it gives the extra magnesium plus bacteria for the gut. And fast fibre, a handful of chaff and his usual rosehips.
Late March, despite the weather and I think it's time for us all to be vigilant.
 
Sunny days and cold nights are going to cause the sugars in grass to rise. Take care everyone, even though grass isn't growing atm it can still produce sugars.
Even though sun has been in short supply the length of this cold snap will build sugars with the cold nights.
 
RhaLoulou said:
What else can I do prevent laminitis if indeed that was what she was suffering from?
Click to expand...
Prevention centres around treating any metabolic condition if present, dietary changes that are maintained and take account of high risk grazing times for eg.
Basic low sugar and starch, high forage/fibre diet supplemented with appropriate minerals and vitamins. Linseed (micronised) is a good supplement if grazing is restricted.
Salt and magnesium are routinely supplemented but vitamin E is also often found helpful especially if grazing is restricted. Getting your grass and forage tested is the best way forward for mineral supplementation but if this isn't possible/practical a good iron free balancer such as Pro Hoof. Equimins meta balance or one of the Forage Plus ones is a good start.

Imho, it is better to avoid compound feeds as they can tip horses over the edge or make it difficult to be precise when trying to find sensitivities to individual ingredients.
 
My mare is just recovering from laminitis as well. Steroid induced variety, following treatment for COPD. And she isn't overweight, doesn't have Cushings. Insulin resistance of Metabolic syndrome (blood tested negative).

Can I ask a relevant question?
Is Dengie Alfa Lite an acceptable feed? I've heard several times, not to trust the 'Laminitis Trust Approved' mark on feed sacks. and was wondering why.
 
Thanks for the replies perhaps I have underestimated what may be in our very bare paddock. She has tested normal for Cushings (10) so not even marginal. I have stopped her baileys Lo-cal so she is just getting hay and speedi beet at the mo. I am going to get her some formula 4 feet instead. I had stopped her Alfa a lite because I was seeing if alfalfa was aggravating her sweet itch and general allergic state but I may have to go back to it as she is starting to look quite ribby. She is sound on her front feet so she has gone out in tiny starvation paddock which will probably where she will be spending her summer turn out! The joy of old horses eh!?
 
RhaLoulou said:
I had stopped her Alfa a lite because I was seeing if alfalfa was aggravating her sweet itch and general allergic state but I may have to go back to it as she is starting to look quite ribby.
Click to expand...

Why don't you up the speedibeet and use linseed instead? :)
 
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