Possible Laminitis Update

[Ranyhyn]

Vet has been out to Ed today.

Thankfully she has deemed it might only be the very early stages of laminitis. He had a normal pulse, wasn't sore when she got the hoof testers out, trotted up stiff but not lame. She confirmed he needs to go on a strict diet (poor Eddy Teddy) and has prescribed him bute for a week, to help with the shortness of stride/stiffness.

How does this sound to you guys?

He will now be in by day with soaked hay and out by night with a muzzle in the hope that will start to bring his weight down.

Hope this helps as a lesson to anyone wondering 'might it be?' - better to be safe, than sorry

Thanks for your help everyone

Kit

 

[samstar]

Glad you know what it is now and can treat accordingly

 

[f_s_]

Thankfully you caught it in time!

I personally wouldn't turn him out at night even with a muzzle on. I'd keep him in on the same routine for at least ten days, then gradually let him out,maybe ten minutes the first time, slowly building up to perhaps half a day. Then it would be either in all day out at night, or out all night in during the day.

 

[samstar]

F_s_
Then it would be either in all day out at night, or out all night in during the day.

isn't that the same

 

[Ranyhyn]

I could do that FS the only problem with Ed is he really isn't happy in the stable (he has quite bad stable aggression issues) I can keep him in, but its something we both dont enjoy!

Is a muzzle really no good for limiting his intake? I will keep him in if thats what everyone reccomends though - whatever is best for him is the main thing!

 

[f_s_]

Yes it is!!!

I meant once the horse has been introduced slowly, so, 10 days in on bute and soaked hay, then 10mins first day, 20 mins 2nd,40mins third and so on leading up to half a day out, either day or night depending on what suits the owner!

Sorry, I really didn't explain that very well, did I?!!!!!

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Well done for being quick in taking action

- sounds like you got there just in time. The best advice I can give you is not to rush his recovery - the bigger the horse the more it hurts and the longer it takes to get right. I would keep him in 24/7 for the next few weeks do not even bring him out to muck out - muck out around him and do not be tempted to lunge him - it puts to much strain on the hoof capsule and the damaged laminae which can in turn cause long term damage.

My coblet followed the diet from the Laminits Clinic (and will stay on it) and it worked really well in shifting her weight - you can just see her ribs now and she no longer has an apple bottom (ironically when she got her lami she was the lightest she had been since I got her 8 years ago - had lost a massive 15 inches of her girth!!

) the diet has helped her shift another 3 -4 inches of her girth and there is no sign of any crest. Call their helpline ( between 10 - 4pm) and they will talk you through a diet for him according to his size. you will have to weigh his feed and hay.

It is hard work to start with but once you get into a routine it gets easier - and its worth it to get your horse sound and back into work. My coblet spent from April - Sept on box rest because of lami but is now back in full work and out 24/7 again!!

Let us know how you get on with your boy

- if you want to ask anything just PM or ask on here - happy to help!!

 

[f_s_]

Do you have a school you could turn him out into?

I know it's not always possible, but at least he's nowhere near grass until he's over the worst of this. I do think they need at least ten days box rest when laminitis has been diagnosed, to start with.

IF you can't do this, ask the vet for some ACP, it will calm him down, and it's good for laminitics.

I really feel that they should not have any grass until they are moving properly without any drugs in the system.

 

[f_s_]

Agree with Slinky here, ring the Laminitis helpline, they are really good.

Also, I'm going through this with my mini at the moment, so I do speak from experience, and he is also the lightest he's been for a long time. So, it's not just fat. The grass is awful for laminitis and therefore he is off and in now until he is better.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

You might also find that as it will be hurting him he is quite happy in his stable for a bit. I thought my mare would be a total pain

- in on her own etc but to start with I think it just hurt so much she didn't care (had to be nerve blocked so we could get her in from the field

) and spent most of her time lying down to get the weight of her feet and then as she got better she got naughtier

- learnt how to undo all the stable bolts........

 

[Ranyhyn]

Ok - can do that - we have a school he can have some turnout with once I ok that with my YO.

The vet didn't tell me anything about not turning him out at all and said he could have ad lib soaked hay - so I guess its worth giving those people a call and getting some solid advice to move on with!

Thanks

 

[Tallante]

With my pony's recent light bout of laminitis the vet (and later also the farrier) recommended that, if the pony was comfortable enough, that he be given the opportunity to walk around somewhere where there was no grass. He suggested the concrete stable yard initially although we were able to set up a small dirt pen (approx 30 m sq) under the trees in the field. He was turned out the day after he tried to escape from his stable (he hated box rest), so we judged then that he was sufficiently comfortable to be moved.

The view was that movement and exercise improves the circulation and thereby improves the condition. Box rest is clearly necessary when an animal is in pain or the condition is severe, but my pony was lucky, he was only indoors for 4 days.

A school would be ideal and much softer on his feet too. Perhaps he could go out on it all night?

 

[Donkeymad]

When my pony got laminitis, the vet did not like her to be stabled. His first choice was out in a sand school, with soaked hay, or on restricted grazing.

 

[Honeypots]

My recommendation would be box rest until he is at least pain free on no painkillers for a month. If the horse is feeling pain then the laminae are inflamed and will have lost some of their strength which is why you shouldn't move a horse with laminitis as this can lead to the pedal bone dropping.
It is explained alot better on this site which is the one I use for my laminitis pony who came to me with laminitis but has been free from it ever since (so far)..
http://www.laminitisclinic.org/Timescales.htm

As for weightloss as I'm sure you know its just work and soaked hay and very little grass.

Good luck

 

[Flame_]

Whenever my driving ponies go creasty and footy they immediately get a week's total box rest on a deep shavings bed, bute and ACP. Then after a week, stop the bute and if totally sound I do short walks in hand for a few days, then light lunging or an hour's turnout muzzled.

If still sound after 2 - 3 weeks, back to work.

 

[scally]

Cannot recommend contacting the laminitis clinic enough, there is no room for error on this disease, they are very very helpful.

Well done for spotting it so early, and so quickly and I really feel for you in the long road you have ahead for getting the poor chaps weight off, laminitis kills simple as the more people that restrict grazing and weight the sooner suffering will end.

It is actually great the amount of people that are now questioning there horses weight, word is getting out there.

Wishing you all the best and a very quick recovery.

 

[Ranyhyn]

Thanks everyone- I will be contacting the lami clinic today to see what they advise regarding turnout etc. He is definitely feeling a bit low because he let me cuddlehim yesterday and this is a horse you cannot cuddle for fear of attack!

We do have square pens at the yard, with a surface down and shelter- I may mention this to the clinic and see if they say I can put him in there as a halfway house.

Thanks again for all the help,my tubby toad will never be tubby again (much to his disgust I'm sure!!)