metabolic laminitis or grass related

S

sanchob

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 April 2011
Messages
320
Location
essex
Visit site
My pony has got laminitis and has been on box rest since march 7th following a steroid injection for an inflamed stifle. I'm still unsure if the steroid injection caused it or if it was waiting to happen . He he not overweight ,has his hay soaked for 12hrs ,3-4 hr turnout per day (although the pasture is fertilized),in med-hard work. The x rays were good and he now has some pads in his front feet, and the last 4 days has looked really good ,although he still has the laminitic gait he is much happier to walk round yard . He had a blood test done yest to establish if his laminitis is metabolic or grass related. I understand that if it is metabolic they are put on a drug called metformin which lowers the sugars in the blood,and that keeping him in work is the key. If it is grass related obvious care times of year sun frost etc ,probably going to muzzle him even though i think he will absolutely hate it. Any suggestions for muzzle types please as don't want to rub his face also any one in the same situation would love to hear please
 
if he has not had prev lami, and is not fat and was in work I would say that it was the steroid injection that induced the laminitis. There is always a risk when injecting steroids that it will induce laminitis. your vet should have pointed out the risks before injecting steroid.
 
If he is still walking with the laminitic gait, I wouldn't contemplate any grass at all in the near future, especially when it has been so wet and we get warm sun in between.
If I were you I would postpone the turnout until he has been walking normally for at least two weeks, but the recommendation is to wait a month after he has become fully sound.
Oh and I would be looking for another vet TBH
 
i wasn't planning on turning him out yet was just forward thinking . iwas made aware of the risks of the steroids but unfortunately something had to be done as he was struggling to work properly behind on right side . He had a steroid injection before when his throat swelled up and was fine. Thinking back he has always come in glandy off grass as do a lot of the others at yard but he also had bulges above his eyes the week before this happened. will find out blood results tuesday then will know more .thanks for imput
 
muff747 said:
If he is still walking with the laminitic gait, I wouldn't contemplate any grass at all in the near future, especially when it has been so wet and we get warm sun in between.
If I were you I would postpone the turnout until he has been walking normally for at least two weeks, but the recommendation is to wait a month after he has become fully sound.
Oh and I would be looking for another vet TBH
Click to expand...

*shudders* Having my mare with laminitis, and been on box rest since July. I wouldn't even contemplate turnout and grass. Until off bute for a month and given the all clear from the vet.

The way he is standing should be a warning that he is still in pain or discomfort and should still be on box rest.

Any turnout while he is in pain (unless he wont stable and you fence of a minute area which is bald) could make his feet a whole lot worst
 
Last edited:
ofcourseyoucan said:
how old is your horse?
Click to expand...

he is a 6yr old welsh cob x . . Just to answer the confusion i am not planning on turning him out in the near future. he has been drug free for over a week now,and i can see huge improvement every day. On tues he is going to start walking in school for 5 mins which i'm sure he will enjoy as so fed up with stable. there seems to be a great debate now about turn out weather to do it for longer but muzzled as when they go out for short periods they gorge ....
 
tbh, I would try to think about a grass free area with soaked hay first.
I think the worries you are hearing are prompted by the sense of "running before he can walk" if you'll forgive the pun;).
You seem to be thinking too far ahead IMO, and it looks just a tad impatient. If he still has the lami gait now, it seems too early to be even thinking about grass.
For those who have struggled with lami prone horses/ponies for years, the very thought of green grass gives you the shivers and to some, Dr Green has become Dr Bad!
So forgive the perhaps sharp responses. Maybe in time, you may have these "shudders" at the very mention of the GG words:p - I really hope you don't have to, but I would take things very slowly. If there is any sign of pain (i.e. the lami gait), there may be a risk of tearing still fragile laminae if you start the exercise too soon.
If you have come this far it would be a shame to possibly compromise any healing for the sake of a couple more weeks.
Good luck with the rest of his recovery :)
 
thank you. i'm no where near thinking of turn out just trying to glean as much info as i can .i will know tuesday weather metabolic or not and i believe that means he is better off kept moving slowly obviously. think the plan is to lead him for 5 mins in school. my vet is very pleased with him and he was towing my daughter around the yard this morning...His x rays were excellent there was no rotation or inflamation and his soles were good .i know it's going to be a ling slow road and am in no rush ...i just want him well again
 
Have just got blood results and he is borderline metabolic so having a glucose blood test weds morning. He has had a 5 min walk in school today( at vets recommendation )sedated and he looked great. i never thought i would see the day.:D
 
Glad to hear he's doing better. I've no experience of it personally, but while looking for info on Cushings I found http://ecirhorse.com very useful, with lots of advice on management of horses with insulin resistance/metabolic laminitis.
 
Hiya,
I have a 14.3hh mare irish 17 year old cob who is also metobolic lami, its started in nov 2010 after having to be stabled 24/7 for four weeks no ridden work as the horse next to her came down with strangles so isolation for us to :( she was very overweight as well at the time and the no work or exercise at all I think send it over the edge.

Anyway we went straight to deep full shavings bed and didnt test for this until jan 2011 (firstly thought it may of been stress). I nearly lost her a few times and it was a tough road however. She is been back in full work since sept 2011, and all day turn out since jan this year. she is on 12hr soaked hay at night, top spec anti lam and dengie healthy hoof, I check her weight every week and her pulses every few days. I never be able to just change her field or leave her out 24/7, she NEVER go in a paddock unless is been grazed previously and when she does change fields I have to limit intake for the first week on any new pasture regardless of it being grazed firstly (different types of grass etc)

BUT exercise, and diet is the key with this form of lami. she has lost a massive 160kilos and now weighs about 430kg. Low starch and sugar diet, I started leading her out in hand in the school whilst she was still on bute, and turn out started once I was able to ride for 20 mins a day. (only half hour and again in a small paddock with grazed down grass) this was all advised by my vet btw I did exactly as advised. she was sound 100% sound apart from her turning.

She is now in full work 6 days a week ridden and one on the walker for a hour as also I was advised this helps with the metobolic syndrome.. Keep up the good work hun, its hard and stressful and I worry now every day but I dont care as she still here, and I wouldnt have it any other way

I heard a very good saying about owners with lami: we can NEVER relax or take our eyes off the ball for even a min its soo true!

Keep us updated :) xxxxxxxxx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top