Angelwings200688
New User
Hi all
I'm perplexed and, after having horses of all types/sizes/shapes/breeds, I can honestly say......I'm perplexed. I rescued a QH mare (Venus) about 3 1/2 years ago after loosing my 1200 lb best friend. I knew nothing about this mare except what her previous owner told me (she's a parade horse, very gently, easy rider...blah, blah, blah). She was undernourished, would not let me ride her and terrified of humans! We brought her home and gave her love, proper food, much needed medical care with the full battery of tests and visit from the farrier. We had a 19 yo Paint/QH gelding and he helped acclimate his new "buddy" to her new home. All seemed awesome until she started limping one day. She got put in a stall and immediately called the vet. "Laminitis" was the diagnosis and I was devastated!! After 8 weeks of constant care, IV therapy, medication and "casts" on her feed and a new pair of shoes, Venus was as good as new. Throughout the 3 1/2 years, Venus has been diagnosed with laminitis more times than I can count. We've done everything imaginable.....changing feed, adding supplements per the vet's direction, watering down hay, limit pasture time, a new farrier who specializes in treating horses with this condition......you name it, we tried it and she came down with laminitis.
3 weeks ago, Venus went from walking normally to limping again! Back in the stall she went and the vet was immediately called. We've moved so we had to have a new vet visit her. He didn't want her previous records with all of her treatment, which I thought was odd but I'm not a vet, so who am I to question him? X-rays were taken and he prescribed Bute and Prescend. I immediately questioned that medication because I know it's used for Equine Cuhsings (I'm a human Biochemist). The vet stated "most horses her age have Cushings so that's what she has and the laminitis is because she's had Cushings for years and it was never treated".
Am I being naive? Venus has none of the signs/symptoms of Cushings except chronic laminitis so why would a physician prescribed medication for something that was never confirmed via blood test? In fact, he never drew blood! I've taken Venus off this medication because she became extremely aggressive, wouldn't let me feed her without charging me at the barn door, rearing up and trying to bite when the farrier put her custom shoes on her.
My apologies for a long post but any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
I'm perplexed and, after having horses of all types/sizes/shapes/breeds, I can honestly say......I'm perplexed. I rescued a QH mare (Venus) about 3 1/2 years ago after loosing my 1200 lb best friend. I knew nothing about this mare except what her previous owner told me (she's a parade horse, very gently, easy rider...blah, blah, blah). She was undernourished, would not let me ride her and terrified of humans! We brought her home and gave her love, proper food, much needed medical care with the full battery of tests and visit from the farrier. We had a 19 yo Paint/QH gelding and he helped acclimate his new "buddy" to her new home. All seemed awesome until she started limping one day. She got put in a stall and immediately called the vet. "Laminitis" was the diagnosis and I was devastated!! After 8 weeks of constant care, IV therapy, medication and "casts" on her feed and a new pair of shoes, Venus was as good as new. Throughout the 3 1/2 years, Venus has been diagnosed with laminitis more times than I can count. We've done everything imaginable.....changing feed, adding supplements per the vet's direction, watering down hay, limit pasture time, a new farrier who specializes in treating horses with this condition......you name it, we tried it and she came down with laminitis.
3 weeks ago, Venus went from walking normally to limping again! Back in the stall she went and the vet was immediately called. We've moved so we had to have a new vet visit her. He didn't want her previous records with all of her treatment, which I thought was odd but I'm not a vet, so who am I to question him? X-rays were taken and he prescribed Bute and Prescend. I immediately questioned that medication because I know it's used for Equine Cuhsings (I'm a human Biochemist). The vet stated "most horses her age have Cushings so that's what she has and the laminitis is because she's had Cushings for years and it was never treated".
Am I being naive? Venus has none of the signs/symptoms of Cushings except chronic laminitis so why would a physician prescribed medication for something that was never confirmed via blood test? In fact, he never drew blood! I've taken Venus off this medication because she became extremely aggressive, wouldn't let me feed her without charging me at the barn door, rearing up and trying to bite when the farrier put her custom shoes on her.
My apologies for a long post but any assistance would be greatly appreciated.