Merri
Well-Known Member
Please could I ask for thoughts on the following?
Pony is 10 yo Connie. Our yard has turnout for 3 hours max every other day Nov-May, but we rent a small individual 'pen' turnout, so she's been able to go out every day through winter, and has been stabled overnight. A couple of weeks ago the horses have gone out onto the summer field, which is much greener, and bigger. She's been out each day on there, returning in at night.
Yesterday, she went out at 9, and we brought her back in at 11 for a lesson. Pony was much quieter than usual. I picked up a front hoof, and she went down on her knees. She got straight back up, and I called the vet, who thankfully came out pretty quickly to look at her. Vet says she has elevated pulse in front hooves. She said that pony does not have laminitis, but essentially will have if something isn't done.
Vet has said box rest for 2 weeks, advised us to put her on soaked hay (our yard is haylage, so she was on that previously) & given a course of Bute. She said that the pink mash and handful of chaff we give her 2 x day is fine to continue with. (she also has the Equimins powder concentrate mixed in there.) Vet is back in 15 days to look at how she's doing. She said that hopefully this will nip it in the bud, but if not, then she will blood test and take things from there.
My daughter's instructor has two ponies who suffer with laminitis & recommenced giving pony a little bit of oat straw in a bowl each night as something to play about with. She also said a bran mash with Epsom salts every other day, which we gave to pony last night.
I am beyond worried about this pony. I want to get her sorted out, so could really do with some hope. The thought of her being stuck in the stable is heartbreaking. Are there any ways to make the box rest easier for her?
I haven't had a pony with laminitis before so I've begun to research. My head is spinning. I came across an article on Horse & Hound that advocated the use of Hawthorn for laminitic ponies; has anyone found this to be helpful? Any reputable sources for finding out more about this?
Thank you if you've managed to read this far!
Pony is 10 yo Connie. Our yard has turnout for 3 hours max every other day Nov-May, but we rent a small individual 'pen' turnout, so she's been able to go out every day through winter, and has been stabled overnight. A couple of weeks ago the horses have gone out onto the summer field, which is much greener, and bigger. She's been out each day on there, returning in at night.
Yesterday, she went out at 9, and we brought her back in at 11 for a lesson. Pony was much quieter than usual. I picked up a front hoof, and she went down on her knees. She got straight back up, and I called the vet, who thankfully came out pretty quickly to look at her. Vet says she has elevated pulse in front hooves. She said that pony does not have laminitis, but essentially will have if something isn't done.
Vet has said box rest for 2 weeks, advised us to put her on soaked hay (our yard is haylage, so she was on that previously) & given a course of Bute. She said that the pink mash and handful of chaff we give her 2 x day is fine to continue with. (she also has the Equimins powder concentrate mixed in there.) Vet is back in 15 days to look at how she's doing. She said that hopefully this will nip it in the bud, but if not, then she will blood test and take things from there.
My daughter's instructor has two ponies who suffer with laminitis & recommenced giving pony a little bit of oat straw in a bowl each night as something to play about with. She also said a bran mash with Epsom salts every other day, which we gave to pony last night.
I am beyond worried about this pony. I want to get her sorted out, so could really do with some hope. The thought of her being stuck in the stable is heartbreaking. Are there any ways to make the box rest easier for her?
I haven't had a pony with laminitis before so I've begun to research. My head is spinning. I came across an article on Horse & Hound that advocated the use of Hawthorn for laminitic ponies; has anyone found this to be helpful? Any reputable sources for finding out more about this?
Thank you if you've managed to read this far!