Sub-clinical laminitis?

[Frans]

We have an overweight welsh mountain pony who has been “footy” since her hooves were trimmed a week ago. She’s not lame on smooth or soft surfaces but is less forward going and less happy looking than usual. On stony or gravelly surfaces she is limping painfully. I have the vet coming out to take a look but would appreciate any comments/advice beforehand to help me ask all the right questions to the vet. (I’m in France so have to prepare my vocab list!)
As background She is not, and has never been, shod. She was backed last autumn (age 5) before coming to us at the beginning of the winter. Before that she had been permanently at grass and had had one foal. Previous owner has said she has never had laminitis though she does have a weight problem. She was obese when she arrived here and we managed to get her gradually down to a more reasonable weight until mid-April when she regained masses whilst we were away for a week. She had not shown any signs of foot problems this spring before the farrier’s visit but there were a few times in the winter when she looked as if she was being careful how she walked on rough or hard surfaces.
Its easy to blame the farrier’s visit as this extreme sensitivity started immediately after it but I’m wondering, given her weight issues, whether she has sub-clinical laminitis on an almost permanent basis which we’ve ignored as there were no obvious clinical signs but that the trimming has revealed. She gains weight incredibly quickly and easily and I had been feeling pretty pleased with how we’d been managing it (until the holiday anyway) but now I’m full of self-doubt!!! Incidentally a vet that saw her just after she first came over did suggest testing for EMS in the spring.
Any comments?

 

[lcscotson]

We had a welsh pony who sounds exclty like your pony is but he is not overweight at the moment - he is always footy on stones for a week or so after the farrier but is also laminitis prone put him on soft grass and he is fine we also find he can be like this just before the farrier is due - was there any blood in his feet when theywhere trimmed? Our pony is also prone to abcesses in his feet and he presents in the same way for them - could get the vet to check for them also incase there is one brewing.

 

[Frans]

lcscotson: thanks for the reply!

Just to update, the vet found nothing obviously wrong other than slight heat in the hooves. The pony has improved on stones but still looks as if she is walking a little carefully generally.

Decision was to treat for laminitis and step up the efforts to bring her weight down again ie back to regular excercise and most of her time in a starvation paddock to control her food intake.

Now spending all free time reading threads on starvation paddocks and obessing about lipidosis!

 

[pottamus]

Yes, I think if in any doubt...treat as laminitis with box rest on a deep bed, soaked weighed hay etc etc. Always better to be safe than have it develop into a more complicated case.
The changes that may be needed to your horses management to get the weight down and cure the possible laminitis, will be for life though...bear that in mind. since my lad had laminitis in 2009, his management has changed a lot and this is kept up every day of the year at all times in order to keep his weight down, stomach settled and able to cope with the food intake and hopefully...laminitis at bay.
Good luck and hope all goes well...keep us posted.