paranoid about laminitis

dwi

dwi

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I've had to put Daisy's strip grazing out a bit because she was getting crabby as h~ll and actually dangerous to handle on her starvation paddock. She got plenty of soaked hay to eat but she knows the grass is there and she's snapped after four months on soaked hay. I've decided to put her out at nights only for the first week with her muzzle on while she eats the new strip down and then in during the day with a soaked net so that she doesn't eat too much. I'm petrified that she'll gorge herself and go laminitic. OH brings her in in the mornings and says that she's been a bit slow walking down the track but then she's been footy for the last few weeks anyway because she needs to have back shoes put on and we're waiting for the farrier. She's not lame at all to exercise when I see her in the evenings, although still footy on the stony path. Am I just worrying about nothing? I can't find a digital pulse but then I don't know if thats because I'm not feeling in exactly the right place or because she hasn't got a digital pulse. She is slightly overweight but not hugely, she was 593 earlier in the year after a break with a sore back, at the moment she's 511 which isn't bad for a 15.2 mw cob. You can even see her ribs when she's working hard although she still has a slight fat pad on her shoulders.

What do I do?
 
I think you're worrying about nothing to be honest. Yes be vigilant. If you can see her ribs then I wouldn't think she's that bad. Has she had laminitis before?

I would say if she's only footy walking on stoney ground then that is probably more to do with her not having shoes than anythig else as, if she's not used to it then she will be more sensitive.

I definitely think you should relax more. From the sounds of it she's not turned out on 10 acres of lush grazing or anything, she's still on strip grazing so i think that'll be more than enough restriction.
 
I would be sooooooooooo cautious ATM as the grass is so lush and it can be seen to be growing
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If you are worried at all I would be pulling her off the grass and not giving her a bit more, sorry
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I would be wary about increasing the grass just until farrier has been and confirmed your thoughts about reason for footiness since it is something that hasnt always been the case

My mare is unshod and she can be a little footy on sharp stones but she always is not just the last few weeks as in your case, this is normal for her and farrier checks regularly for any lami signs.

Once farrier gives the all clear I would go ahead with the plan.

BTW I had to use 2 energisers and 4 electric tapes to keep her in her designated paddock, as she wouldnt drink anything with the muzzle on!
 
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If you are worried at all I would be pulling her off the grass and not giving her a bit more, sorry
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I wasn't worried until I put the grazing out a bit but now I'm worrying that its too soon. problem is that she was stupidly hungry and dangerous to handle because she just wasn't getting enough from the soaked hay
 
I think what you intend to do sounds quite sensible - as long as you aren't moving your fence too much in one go.

My friend started putting her gelding out at night so he could have a bit more grass, (rather than 4-5 hours during the daytime) but found that he was quite cold and dropping weight as the nights are cold now. You may need to put a lightweight rug on if your girl has been stabled at night all summer.

The grass here is actively growing - we have had an awful lot of sun and rain, and any vet will tell you that they now see more cases of laminitis in the autumn than they do in the spring, so do be careful.

I thought I'd got away with it this year, but my mare went a bit pottery 2 weeks ago. I was moving the fence about 2 feet every week, but have stopped now as there's more than enough grass on the bit she's got anyway.
 
If she's had Laminitis before, you are right to be over cautious. The grass is dangerously lush at the moment and there is nothing wrong with being paranoid.

Otherwise if she hasn't had Lami before, I would just keep an eye on her weight, putting her out at night is better than in the day because the levels of sugars in the grass are lower however 12 hours overnight is still a long time. Use your own judgement and if you think for a second that she is pottery, bring her in straight away and call the vet.
 
she's never had it before but when she was overweight the vet said she was at real risk of it. She's much slimmer than some of the horses on my yard. I just worry because I'm so used to seeing her on a completely bare paddock eating hay I feel faintly ill at the thought of her eating grass
 
The secret is too keep her weight well down so that you can see her ribs and haunches.

It is also important to excercise her regularly each day. At least a nice hack each day.

Do you know what set off the incidents of laminitis in the past?

Also take great care to worm her regularly especially use a wormer that is effective against emerging encysted small red worms as these are not detected in a worm count and can set off laminitis.

I would ask your vet to pop in and check the digital pulse and also show you how to take it.
 
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