long acting sedative...or something else

[0ldmare]

My mare is recovering from a bad and lengthy bout of cushings induced laminitis. She's been in the school since the 1st September, so its been a very long time.

A combination of her feeling a whole lot better and the hunt passing close by and the fireworks have made her very unsettles and DESPERATE to get out. She's now spending 90% of the time marching endlessly up and down the fence. The other 10% is spent trying to do the splits to reach the grass on the other side. She's rubbed her neck raw doing it!

This morning I gave some sedalin when I turned her out in the school and that worked well until about 2pm and then obviously wore off and so she resumed the endless walking. Stabling her doesn't help, she's box walked all last night judging by her box

She is sound in the school in walk on no painkillers, but not in trot or when she is first led out of the stable in the morning so can't start going out yet

I've got to somehow get her to just relax and eat her darned haynet, but can't think how to acheive it. Is there a longer acting sedative than Sedalin? I'm a bit at a loss as to what to do

 

[glenruby]

I believe there is a relatively new product called Zylkene (also used in dogs and cats) that has been developed for stressful situations such as box rest, travel breaking in etc so may be of use. Can be used long term and is a sachet added to feed daily.
There are some other options - Modecate, potassium iodide etc. A chat with your vet should help find the best answer for your horse.

 

[0ldmare]

Thanks glenruby, I'll call the vet in the morning. The mare has really been a nightmare this weekend, she's starting to go totally stir crazy I think.

 

[amandap]

To be honest I'd be worried about giving a long acting sedative in view of her cushings and fairly recent laminitis. What does your vet advise?
Is she alone in the school? If she is could she have a companion?

Oh I see you're ringing your vet tomorrow. Hope he/she has something to suggest.

 

[rsc]

I feel really sorry for you and your mare, its really hard to see them so restless and un-happy.

I am not sure if their is a british equivilent but Rakelin is a drug used in Australia it works by blocking the Seratonine (sp !) release in the brain, seratonine is what causes adrenalin to be made so therefore stops them producing too much adrenalin and they remain calm. It is not a sedative so it does not make them drowsy but works by them not getting excited or stressed.

It is worth speaking to your vet to see if their is anything in the uk eqivilant to this a it may be just what she needs.

All the best, hope you find something that works.

 

[0ldmare]

Thanks, Rackelin sounds exactly the sort of thing I need. If I can just get her to chill out I think she'd recover so much quicker. She's nearly there! This perpetual walking can't be helping (wish I could explain it to her!)

I had trouble catching the mare this evening, not because she was running away, but she won't stop endlessly marching up and down.

Hope the vet can come up with something useful tomorrow