Recovering from Laminitis and Walking

[Daphnelia]

My mare has been on box rest for laminitis for about 4 weeks. She is not quite 100% sound yet IMO, I feel she still could do with a couple more weeks rest, but I have a YO, 2 farriers and livery advising me to start walking her in hand now. She is very energetic and paces around her stable. I was sure that ponies recovering from lammy should not be walked until they are 100% sound, but who's right?

 

[Nailed]

Get her walking!

She is not going to becoem 100% sound with out some work..

Your farriers are right.. get her moving as soon as possible.. if she is pacing around her box she is obviously well enough to walk.

Lou x

 

[Daphnelia]

Really? gosh

Have you had a laminitic then Nailed? I was sure that no movement before sound was correct.. ah well

 

[scotsmare]

Exercise will increase the blood flow to her feet and help her recover.

 

[Nailed]

Nope.. i trained as a farrier..

Yes well said scots.. you need to get her moving.. the sooner the better to be honest.

Lou x

 

[Daphnelia]

Right well thats fantastic news

Thanks!
I assume she shouldn't be ridden until 100% sound, and is it correct that grazing shouldn't be allowed for a 2 weeks after that?
Always had nice skinny hot bloods before, so never been through this - cheers guys

 

[Honeypots]

This may help...
http://www.laminitisclinic.org/What%20not%20to%20do.htm

and this...
http://www.laminitis.org/emergency%20treatment.html

no wonder you're confused!!!

 

[Nailed]

If it was me i would do a few weeks in hand and get on them and get them into work.. I would not be turning out until the horse has lost weight (if the laminitis is caused by this) is working well and getting fitter and i would definatly be limiting grazing to a couple of hours a day.. You need to be extremely vigilant as laminitis does occur ocne the original damage is done!

Lou x

 

[Daphnelia]

Cheers Honeypots

Yes exactly why I'm confused, just had a read and first link says not to walk, second gives a 30 day minimum before they go back on grass, my vet says 14... argh

Backs up what I thought but opposes everyone else's advice. I don't mind what I have to do to help her recover - I just don't want to make it worse

 

[Daphnelia]

She is a nice weight at the mo, and was only plump when she succomed to it. I think the clincher had been no work for two weeks while I had exams and final assignments. To be fair I had no time to sleep let alone ride, but I feel really bad that she got it.

 

[tabithakat64]

Mine was on box rest for a month before I was allowed to walk her in hand and let her have some restricted grazing. She was sound, had a remedial trim, off medication and I'd had the results of her x-rays first.

 

[Nailed]

trust me... work her
Lou x

 

[Flame_]

I'd stick with the vets on this one. You can't do any harm by resting the horse a bit longer. You could set yourself back a mile by rushing things. Plus, only begin with really short walks in hand on a soft surface, don't turnout until the horse is pretty much back to normal.

 

[angiebaby]

I wouldn't move her, if she is not sound. Is she on any painkillers? If so then definately don't move her.
IMO laminitics recover better and go on to have good feet the longer they are on box rest.

Lame = pain so why would you walk her?

 

[ruscara]

I agree, jakesmydog. I understand that Laminitis causes inflammation and changes within the hoof that can be made much, much worse by any strain on them. Therefore to 'walk' a horse who has still got pain in their feet would inevitably do damage.
I have a horse with this and I was advised by my farrier and my vet not to even let him out of his stable until all the inflammation had gone and he was completely sound without bute.
It's just not true that walking helps by encouraging the blood supply to the feet. All it does is torture the poor horse.

 

[Daphnelia]

[ QUOTE ]
Lame = pain so why would you walk her?

[/ QUOTE ]

She is, of course, not on any pain killers. I'm not stupid. And, if you read my post correctly, you would know that I have NOT walked her, and was against the idea for the reasons you described. Go read it again, and please don't get on your high horse with me for asking a perfectly reasonable question.

 

[Daphnelia]

Thanks JMD, that was what I thought. I don't agree with torture though, jeesus. She WANTS to move (like the NERD song..

) and is going nutty being cooped up. I would no more torture my pony than you would, so I am extremely offended that you would insinuate such a thing.

 

[angiebaby]

Nobody is saying you would torture her, just stating the fact that walking her out of her box would be if she's not sound.; and neither did I say you had walked her! I also didn't say you were stupid.

And I definately am not on my high horse, if you don't want opinions, then don't ask. I have had laminitics for years, and I'm just telling what worked for me.

 

[Daphnelia]

Forgive me the second post should not have been directed at you, but I still stand by the first one

 

[Honeypots]

SP..I do think you've misread Jakes post. I'm pretty sure they weren't being rude..I certainly didn't read it that way..

I have to say that I personally would stick to your gut feeling. As someone else said..it surely can't do any harm but the other way round could..as it states here:
http://www.laminitisclinic.org/Timescales.htm