Lammie experts, opinions please

[lisan]

Newish pony on the yard, suffered previously with Lammie,you can see it quite badly in his feet. New owners know about it, but have been told it will be 'ok' to turn him out and leave him out

Why they have listened to other people I don't know. This pony has not had more than an hour on grass for I don't know how long.

So how long do we reckon before he starts to show signs, and will the first signs but pottering and warm feet?

My mare had been out all winter, yet she is only out half days on new grass- why do people not listen

 

[Jane_Lou]

Check for digital pulses, they often appear before any other symptoms become apparent. I had a laminitis prone native pony before so have always checked this daily on any horse/pony I have had since as a matter of routine. If a pony has had it before the risks are higher and the current growth rate of the grass will make this pony at high risk of re-occurrance. Can you maybe refer them to one of the many websites that discuss laminitis as it may be that they just don't know about it and in their ignorance are happy to take advise from "the experts" (you know the type!)

 

[lisan]

Good idea, I will print some info off tonight for them. They honestly do not know any better, its other interfering people

I'll also nip and check his digital pulse in the morning.

Thank you

 

[DuckToller]

Honestly, some people should be shot for advice like that! Is it the old owners who have said that, or just other numpties on the yard?

Warm feet no longer considered a sign, as temperature of feet fluctuate, so definitely look for digital pulse. Apparently its ok to have a slight pulse when they first come in, but if it is still there after half an hour, that's a problem.

By the time he is pottery it can already be serious, esp as he's had it before. How about directing them to the Laminitis Trust website too?

Are you in a position to be really forceful with your advice? Be brave and tell it to them straight if you can!

 

[Flame_]

To OP - The only experts are the vets!!! Tell the owners, if they are novices, when it comes to health questions to give their vets a call and they should give reliable, trustworthy advice.

 

[Foxford]

I found the very earliest sign to be slight tripping in front when being ridden. This was on a 16hh horse who'd never had it before. A few days later he was hopping lame, and then the vet came and diagnosed laminitis.

Utterly terrible, and I'm still worried about him for this spring. Is the pony currently overweight? If they really won't be told, I'd try and get them to speak to their vet. Good luck.

 

[louise1967]

My daughters pony developed lami in Dec and is still recovering from it, as he just ready to go out now and its spring, I have done him a starvation paddock in the main field, he hates it, but I think after going through the last 5 months, this is going to be a permanent thing for him, I never want to go through all that again, he still isnt able to be ridden or walk on the concrete for any distance, anyone with a high risk laminitic is mad letting them out on the spring grass for more than an hour or two without a muzzle on, mad!!!

 

[lisan]

The pony came from a family friend of mine, and was bought for a ladies neices - but the neices mum and dad have no idea at all, so I help them, give them some advice and give the kids the odd lesson. My neice also comes down and rides the pony too.

They were told when they bought this pony, he was not to have more than 1 hr a day, or be in a completely bald paddock. He had even had lammi in the winter.

I've printed some stuff off, and will tell them to ring thier vet for advice too, hopefully they won't take it the wrong way.

I'm just going down now, will go and check the poor pony and hope tis not too late

 

[louise1967]

I dont think people realise how serious Lami is. I have known quite a lot of horses and ponies have to be put down because of it, I also keep our pony on the same site as the equine vets, so I hear all the stories. Obviously now being through it with our pony, and knowing how carefull we were trying to avoid it in the first place and seeing how easy it happens, I am even more paranoid than before.

Our pony has realised in the last couple of days that the tape around his starvation paddock isnt electrified, hence leaning over and getting the good spring grass, I have been up today and put a charge around it, cant allow for him to be getting anywhere near the spring or summer grass, especially as he has just recovered from it.

Oh dont some people annoy you when they wont listen, good luck!!!! Poor pony with ignorant owners...

 

[lisan]

They brought him in this morning (I have'nt managed to catch them to speak to yet), but I checked him in the field, then again at lunchtime in his stable and this evening, and he seems fine so far. I will see them tomm to have a chat.