laminitis recall?

[UKa]

Hi, this is further to my recent posts about my TB mare who was diagnosed with laminitis last week. Had vet out again this morning to take some x rays - this was a different vet from before as last week was replacement vet - and he said he could not see that she would have laminitis after all she was probably just foot sore ...

I am so happy but at the same time don't know who to believe anymore. Farrier will take another look tomorrow just to be on the safe side in the meantime I feel massive relief but have spent a week agonising over the whole meaning of her having laminitis and feel rather drained... wondering if I should ask them for a refund on the vet bill?!

 

[AmyMay]

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wondering if I should ask them for a refund on the vet bill?!

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Why? It's quite possible the diagnosis could be correct. Either way, sometimes a little investigation is needed to get to the route of a problem, and an original diagnosis may not be the right one. Doesn't mean that the vets have been negligent in anyway.

 

[Tia]

Crikey! You have really been put through the mill here. To be perfectly honest, having followed your story, I would be definitely looking for another vet practice to take over the care of your mare. The ones you have at present appear to have made blunder after blunder - yes you still have to pay for the blunders I'm afraid, but you can do something for future call-outs.

My first reaction would be to find another practice with highly qualified vets and start from the very beginning. Sorry you are having such a hard time right now.

 

[AmyMay]

Have they been making a mash up of it generally then???

 

[Tia]

In my opinion, yes. I would be very unhappy (if it was me) with the level of care which this practice has given UKA's mare. Misdiagnosis happens from time to time and we all accept that, but I really think her vets have gone beyond this level of acceptability now.

Just my opinion though.

 

[AmyMay]

Ah, haven't been following the posts - sorry.

No offence intended UKa.

B

 

[kerilli]

did she have a digital pulse? did you feel it? that's the biggest indicator of all, as far as i know (other than the classic rocked-back-on-heels stance, and i'm guessing she wasn't that bad, if the vet now thinks it might not have been the dreaded laminitis.)
in light of the possible misdiagnosis, confusion etc etc, you can ask for the bill to be reduced. i've done this before and have always received a reduction. if you don't ask, you won't get! ask for it in writing if you think you'll get too upset or angry on the phone!

 

[UKa]

Thanks, no worries AmyMay - I must say I am currently just generally relieved that my horse will be ok but I was in a state of shock all week panicking about how to manager her etc etc. see what my farrier says but when I first spoke to him last week he asked whether she was not just foot sore -

Plus after recommendation from the first vet I would have got some remedial shoes on as we thought she had laminitis) if I hadnt insisted on the x ray call-out she could have ended up with those for no reason!!!

Anyway, the relief is high - and to answer the other question, she did not have a particular digital pulse back when the first diagnosis was made but she was very sensitive around the feet in general. However, vet who came today had seen her before and knows how she fidgets about when you do her feet and her reaction today was not pain related ...

 

[AmyMay]

Had she recently had a foot trim when she initially went lame??

 

[UKa]

yes, a week beforehand. and not done much work during the week after so did not detect any footiness earlier ...

 

[AmyMay]

Ah, ok. I ask, because I had a horse that could get very sore after being trimmed.

I had taken his shoes off (big mistake), and would have to bute him after a trim from the farrier.

Do you think this could have been the cause of the lameness perhaps??

 

[bensababy]

I would definatly get a second opinion from another vet - i dont this with my Lammi pony a few years ago because he was not improving. £5000 in insurance later and still nothing. Its a long story and i wont bore anyone with details. I got another vet and farrier out to look at him - they were gobsmacked.. never used old vet or farrier again, it took new vet and farrier a few weeks to have him back to a resonable state. Funnily enough a few weeks after changing vets my old vet went bankrupt.

 

[UKa]

I did not notice any problems before but who knows, the trim may have just been slightly gone too far or something, plus it was the week when it was just raining resulting in lots of stones being churned up in our fields making the grounds potentially uncomfortable ...

 

[mrsbloggett]

I can sympathise - my NF mare was diagnosed with a 'strain' then a week later when she was showing no improvement, 'pus in the foot', so I poulticed religously for a week. Still nothing and then two weeks after the initial lameness when x-rays were taken it became apparent that she had had an acute attack of laminitis and her pedal bone had rotated!

When I first called the vet out & queried if it could be lami, his response was "ponies like this don't usually get it" - Maisie was a fat native pony - for goodness sake, she was a prime candidate!

If I thought I had a cat in hells chance of suing the practice I would have, but the vet concerned is supposedly the 'best' around. I'm sure they would have just closed ranks. Needless to say I won't have that particular vet attending Maisie now, I always ask for anyone but him from the practice!