steroid hock injections led to laminitis, now diagnosed with EMS, help & advice please

[SEL]

We've got 2 EMS horses on the yard who aren't fat (one is ribby) but have that crest which seems to come with the disease. One came in with it rock solid after just a hour on grass pickings in the warm weather the other day. Your vet should have seen that as a warning.

I've got an arthritic good doer and we run insulin levels and cushings tests before any steroid jabs. We also went for gel injections in her hocks last time to reduce the risk.

Hopefully with no rotation he'll bounce back. I have found feeding a magnesium supplement helps with the crest and my friend with her "lami even off grass" mare swears by herbs which support the mare's gut

 

[BronsonNutter]

Sorry this has happened to your horse OP. I medicated a friend's horses hocks with steroid once and he subsequently developed laminitis around a week later - he was lean, negative for cushings etc. but the grass was rich at the time and he was out of work. Thankfully it was only a mild bout in terms of severity but it did take a while to get over it.

I would recommend icing his feet as often as possible (in a clinic setting we would ice every hour, day and night) as well as the dietary management you have hopefully instigated already. It sounds positive that there is no rotation on the x-rays, fingers crossed for you both!

 

[brighteyes]

A friend has just had her 8yo Welsh D injected with something and HA. Her vet (and the packaging (not sure why she retained or was given this, except she likes to be informed about stuff) did mention the risk and this pony isn't what I'd call lean. Friend says she is 'keeping an eye on her'... I hope that is sufficient!

 

[JEZA]

An update, I would like to thank everyone who commented. Sadly we lost our beautiful horse. If only I’d known this risk, the laminitis was horrific, after a 10 month nightmare, we had him put down. Apparently steroid induced, is much more difficult to manage that other laminitis.

 

[catembi]

So sorry to hear this. (((hugs))) to you. I do understand the struggle - my Dartmoor has EMS & had a lami attack a couple of months ago despite not being overweight, being fully muzzled while on grass etc etc & I very nearly lost her. It's horrible to see them like that & I was 24 hours away from making 'the decision' at one point. Very sorry.

 

[Lurfy]

So sorry to read this JEZA, hugs xxx

 

[brighteyes]

An update, I would like to thank everyone who commented. Sadly we lost our beautiful horse. If only I’d known this risk, the laminitis was horrific, after a 10 month nightmare, we had him put down. Apparently steroid induced, is much more difficult to manage that other laminitis.

Oh no! I’m really sorry. I wasn’t expecting to hear this very sad news.

 

[rextherobber]

So sorry for your loss

 

[Birker2020]

My friend lost her 17.3hh Irish boy due to laminitis following a steroid medication for a bad cough.
He was overweight and was warned she should keep him in for a week, which she did - I think she kept him in even longer to be on the safe side. He was in a herd situation so the grazing couldn't be controlled.
Sadly and unexpectedly, he went down with laminitis and despite best efforts couldn't be saved. It was heartbreaking.

So sorry Jezza x

 

[maya2008]

It happens. Not common, but it does. I had my EMS TB’s hoof injected with a tiny bit of steroid and HA many years ago, and had to sign a disclaimer. It was that or pts because she was dog lame, but the risks were made clear. She was fine, got another 5 years of retired life as a result, so the gamble paid off. But it was a gamble.