Poor old Pop...laminitis (in back legs...) & colic all in one day

[doris2008]

My friend has a 28yr old section d mare who is currently living at a friends as a companion to her golden oldie. They had a call from friend yesterday saying Pop could barely walk. She was also showing colic signs. Vet spent much of yesterday on the scene, she was given buscopan for the colic & a high dose of anti inflammatory. We got there last night & she had apparently improved over the course of the day but did get worse when we were there so vet came back out. Colic signs were showing again so more buscopan given. Apparently previous vet had already given max dose of antiinflammatory so she was given painkillers, analgesic & a low dose of sedative. I cant believe how uncomfortable she was.
It is much much more pronounced in her back legs which I havent seen before? Vet says its unusual, has anyone had this before? He put frog supports on them & will be back this morning. The various drugs injected did seem to settle her alot.
What makes me really cross, is that I believe it was a totally avoidable situation. She has always been a good doer, and will live on fresh air. Friend looking after her has been letting them on lush grass during the day & then in a paddock with hay overnight, plus feeding 16+ every day! Not to mention the state of her feet. We discovered she has not been trimmed since before xmas despite being told it had been done.
My friend is furious with herself for not checking on her before, and really blames herself. But they trusted their friend who has had horses for all of her life.
Poppy has always been healthy, never had laminitis before & is as much my baby as theirs really! She taught be to ride when I was little and I spent many years bombing around the countryside on her & taking her to driving trials. She even came out of retirement 5 years ago to drive me to the church on my wedding day! It breaks my heart to see her in so much pain, and for it to possibly have been an unavoidable situation.

I havent much experience of laminitis, what are the chances in an old gal that she'll make a full recovery from this? Needless to say owner will be finding room at home for her as soon as she is comfortable enough to travel.

Vibes guys please that she makes a good recovery.

 

[Clodagh]

My old Poppy gets lami only in her back feet. Shes got it at the moment as well. Not for the same reasons!
If the mare is fit and well and is stabled on deep bed, fed soaked hay etc etc and managed appropriately she should make a full recovery. Good luck, its a horrible thing.

 

[touchstone]

I've seen laminits in hind feet before and even in just one foot. Hopefully the mare will be feeling more comfy. Worth bearing in mind though that with older horses it might be a metabolic issue as much as a management one and if the laminitis doesn't resolve in a reasonable timescale or the mare has recurrent attacks then using pergolide or trying vitex might be worth doing. It is a horrible thing though and I hope she recovers well.

 

[Lotty]

Sending you ((hugs))

My warmblood x was diagnosed with laminitis in her left fore last month. She is a good doer & I watch her weight like a hawk, but something went wrong & I feel so guilty.

She has imprint shoes on, is bedded on deep shavings, has bute & sedaline, soaked old hay and happy hoof twice a day.She has been stabled a month now and the vet is due out to do 3rd x-rays.

 

[MochaDun]

We've got a horse at the yard came in last night very uncomfortable, tucking both back feet up under him. Vet been but I don't know what the outcome was but very sore on back feet still but that may be because he might be trying to take the weight off his front.

Lots of vibes for the lovely Poppy having to contend with lami and colic at the same time and hope it can all be resolved and she can then continue to enjoy her retirement back at home.