Laminitis & rolling help please

Bryndu

Bryndu

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Hi ,
One of my ponies has had a probable laminitis diganosis...but I should just like to ask...he is a compulsive roller in the field...and very rarely lies down in the stable.....but since coming in very lame on Monday he has laid down a lot...and has not rolled since.
Just a long shot......but could we be jumoing on the lami wagon when there may be a back problem? Slip in the field perhaps? Pulled muscle?
Mrs Vet and farrier have been out and although not presenting classic lami symptoms...it is the only suggestion we have come up with.
He was on 1 bute after monday...Friday it was withdrawn to see if the symptoms worsened...and they did not.
Mrs Vet and farrier coming back on wednesday....but I would welcome any suggestions you might have.
(He is unshod, only has a palmful of Top Spec Top Chop Light to put his Equimins Pro Vits in and hay in a trickle net. Out 7 pm to 7 am.. (although not now obvoiusly with the lami threat). He was in full work the day before he went lame)
Thank you in advance.
Bryndu :(
 
He's probably lying down to get the weight off his feet, but still could be something else .. In the days/weeks leading up to him going like this did you notice him getting slower and looking more lazy? as that was the only sign before my mare went down with acute laminitis :( might be a good idea to get the vet to check for any other problems for your peace of mind :)
 
montyforever said:
He's probably lying down to get the weight off his feet, but still could be something else .. In the days/weeks leading up to him going like this did you notice him getting slower and looking more lazy? as that was the only sign before my mare went down with acute laminitis :( might be a good idea to get the vet to check for any other problems for your peace of mind :)
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Thanks for this.
No he went...bang lame...and actually the day before...I had the perfect ride....The trouble is he is not presenting with the classic signs of lami....so frustrating...if only there was a defo test we could do.
I already have one lami horse...and tbh....if this one has lami too...I shall be going down the pts route....as that is going to be too distressing to manage.
Bryndu
 
What symptoms is your horse showing? My mare went down with what the vet called "weird laminitis" a few weeks back. She was out 24/7 in a flooded field which the vet said had stressed the grass causing the lami. She was very lame and on box rest for a week on bute. She's now 100% fine but will now be on bare grazing as I cannot risk it. My yard owner is not convinced it was lami, and Im having the trimmer out Wednesday so I am hoping they can shed a little more light.

I wish there was a definitive lami test too, as laminitis only means inflammation in the laminae, doesn't say how or why! Its such a horrible confusing problem!

I hope your horse makes a speedy recovery xx
 
emmahaywood1 said:
What symptoms is your horse showing? My mare went down with what the vet called "weird laminitis" a few weeks back. She was out 24/7 in a flooded field which the vet said had stressed the grass causing the lami. She was very lame and on box rest for a week on bute. She's now 100% fine but will now be on bare grazing as I cannot risk it. My yard owner is not convinced it was lami, and Im having the trimmer out Wednesday so I am hoping they can shed a little more light.

I wish there was a definitive lami test too, as laminitis only means inflammation in the laminae, doesn't say how or why! Its such a horrible confusing problem!

I hope your horse makes a speedy recovery xx
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Hi emmahaywood,
Hope your girl continues to improve.
he came in from the field at 7 am walking very stiffly but defo lame on the near fore...he has never been lame before so I had nothing to compare it to.
He was also making a sort of deep intakes of breath noise...and he had his head practically touching the floor. At the time I thought foot abcess and poutliced and Mrs Vet came out to have a look and really....like me didn't know so we decided to poultice and give hom 1 bute. He is 13.2 so one but was sufficient to get hiom comfy and sound.
After 4 days...nothing on the poultice.....bu the horse was lying down...legs under him..a lot...and he is not a lie down horse. He stopped rolling in the field which is very unusual as he is the sort who is barely through the gate before he rolls.
He was on the bute for 4 days and Mr Farrier came....and although he was sure it must be lami....he would not commit to it 100%. So we decided to take him off the bute and see if he worsened. He didn't..and weirdly he has now rolled...but also weirdly...he loves to scatch with his mates...he wants themm to scratch...they start and before they have done 10 seconds....he REALLY chases them off big time....flat ears and teeth!
He marched up the field to me last night (out for 4 hours 6 - 10pm). and the bedding suggested he had rolled in the night! Not colic bed just a bit disturbed.
Have a Bowen treatment booked for hom on wednesday...as well as Mrs Vet again...and possibly Mr Farrier.
I am at a complete loss to understand this....but he may well have hurt his back/shoulder (muscles I am thinking...not bone) as his back was very tight and straight..and since the rolling has gone back to being soft.....so am keeping everything crossed it is not lami.
Best wishes
Bryndu
 
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have x rays been done? most vets have portable devices now, and it is very very important to find out if this is lami or not and how bad (the breathing etc would make me suspect it but the x rays should at least show if it is significant lami).

that would be my next step rather than searching in the darkness for lots of other things, need to eliminate the lami first....
 
As with a lot of the diagnosis in horses, there is quite a lot of supposition and speculation until someone makes a definate decision where some overwhelming symptom either becomes obvious or test results prove conclusive. Often though this takes time, and with some illnesses like laminitis time is something you don't have.

When some unexplained behaviour, footiness, or lameness presents as it has with the horse subject of this thread it is perhaps wise to consider lamanitis first and take appropreate measures for this immediately. I say this because, taking steps at this early stage may save yourself a whole heap of trouble, heartache and worry. Lets face it by treating as a lamanitic you will do no harm whatsoever, but, by leaving things as they are it may be too late. If it turns out that it is some other problem, bruised soles or abscess 'so what', these things can be sorted, also it gives your vet time to make some proper investigation before being presented with an acute lamanitic attack as an emergency.
 
^^ agree with pale rider. You wont do any harm treating him as a lami horse & could stop it becoming worse.
Id be getting another vet out too!
 
lachlanandmarcus said:
have x rays been done? most vets have portable devices now, and it is very very important to find out if this is lami or not and how bad (the breathing etc would make me suspect it but the x rays should at least show if it is significant lami).

that would be my next step rather than searching in the darkness for lots of other things, need to eliminate the lami first....
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Hi and thanks for your thoughts....
We are xraying on weds.....to look at the pedal bones....and I hope I havn't come across as not taking the lami diagnosis seriously...I am looking to see if any one else had these symptoms with lami....as these do not present as typical lami symptoms.
I also hope I didn't make out that the breathing was in any way that whcih you see in a horse with acute pain...the noise came and went quickly with no signs of rapid, pain wracked breathing....and if there was any suggestion he was in pain he would be back on the bute.
Thanks again,
Bryndu
 
Pale Rider said:
As with a lot of the diagnosis in horses, there is quite a lot of supposition and speculation until someone makes a definate decision where some overwhelming symptom either becomes obvious or test results prove conclusive. Often though this takes time, and with some illnesses like laminitis time is something you don't have.

When some unexplained behaviour, footiness, or lameness presents as it has with the horse subject of this thread it is perhaps wise to consider lamanitis first and take appropreate measures for this immediately. I say this because, taking steps at this early stage may save yourself a whole heap of trouble, heartache and worry. Lets face it by treating as a lamanitic you will do no harm whatsoever, but, by leaving things as they are it may be too late. If it turns out that it is some other problem, bruised soles or abscess 'so what', these things can be sorted, also it gives your vet time to make some proper investigation before being presented with an acute lamanitic attack as an emergency.
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Hi,
Trust me when I say I am taking the threat of the lami seriously....I hope that I havn't made you don't think otherwise....because his very life is in the balance as I write.
I have ...unfortunately...too much experience of lami...which is why this horse's presentation of symptoms are a puzzle.
Fingers crossed tha xrays will confirm/deny......and thanks again for your input.
Best wishes
Bryndu
 
BlackVelvet said:
^^ agree with pale rider. You wont do any harm treating him as a lami horse & could stop it becoming worse.
Id be getting another vet out too!
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Hi BlackVelvet,
Thanks for your thoughts....and see post above re treating it as lami...
Mrs Vet will be xraying on Weds and if she has any doubts....he will be referred to a specialist lami vet....so I feel he is at present in safe hands....

As I write....he is standing 4 square, munching his hay with a big smile on his face.:)

P.s..he has an Easibed deep litter bed to support his feet...

PPs....sorry if I sound defensive.....I really do appreciate everyones comments......I just feel I know....but may not want to hear..... the final diagnosis.....

Best wishes
Bryndu
 
Bryndu said:
Hi,
Trust me when I say I am taking the threat of the lami seriously....I hope that I havn't made you don't think otherwise....because his very life is in the balance as I write.
I have ...unfortunately...too much experience of lami...which is why this horse's presentation of symptoms are a puzzle.
Fingers crossed tha xrays will confirm/deny......and thanks again for your input.
Best wishes
Bryndu
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Hi Bryndu,

Not for one minute suggesting that you are not taking the threat of laminitis seriously, my post was mean't more of a generalization. You hear people saying things like, it cannot be laminitis, he's not fat, which is always worrying.
The more you read some of these threads, it just becomes a catalogue of disaster in some cases.
Hope you get some definitive answers soon.

PR
 
Pale Rider said:
Hi Bryndu,

Not for one minute suggesting that you are not taking the threat of laminitis seriously, my post was mean't more of a generalization. You hear people saying things like, it cannot be laminitis, he's not fat, which is always worrying.
The more you read some of these threads, it just becomes a catalogue of disaster in some cases.
Hope you get some definitive answers soon.

PR
Click to expand...

Aw Thanks....:)
Some part of me just wants it not be lami....so although treating it as such....am still clutching at any straws....
Will let you know the outcome....good or bad..
Bryndu
 
Thank you to all who took an interest in my thread.
Thankfully the xrays revealed the pony does not have laminitis. :)
He is practically sound...and we continue to investigate.
Best wishes
Bryndu
 
Hi Bryndu,
Good news that there is no sign of laminitic change on his xrays, but I wouldn't take this as a guarantee that laminitis wasn't the original cause of lameness, particularly in the absence of another diagnosis. Was he nerve blocked? An abaxial nerve block is a quick and fairly simple way of ruling dorsal hoof pain out. In the meantime I would treat as though he has had a minor episode of laminitis (which it sounds like you are doing) and treat it as a bit of a warning. Also 2 weeks of box rest is a great opportunity for a bit of a diet if he is at all overweight; 1.5% of his body weight soaked hay or haylage/day. Fingers crossed for an uncomplicated recovery, but in my experience if it looks at all like laminitis it most often is.
 
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