Supplements for Laminitics - do they work?

I can't vouch for them as yet as mine has only been on one for a couple of weeks but I spoke to my vet today to discuss my horses blood test results and they recommended my horse being on a laminitus supplement. They didnt specify which one.
 
I think that since the majority combine intestinal tract support with magox, some form of antiinflammatories and circulatory/cleansimg herbs they can be very useful particularly when you are reworking diet and your care regime around a newly-discovered lami problem, but really like most supplements they probably only 'buy you time' while you sort out what improvements can be made in a horse's basic diet and exercise plan. They certainly helped me in that respect last year but it took me a while to pluck up the courage to discontinue use and rely on the dietary and regime changes - which touch wood have held good. Will they categorically prevent an episode? Strongly doubt it.
 
Have a look at the ecir horse website for really good information on insulin resistance and laminitis (and diet). My pony is laminitic and cushings and apart from prascend and minerals (zinc, copper and magox) and a joint supplement for her arthritis she isn't on any supplements. She isn't on a laminitis supplement.
I tried them in the past (laminaze and blue chip lami lite) but honestly her feet are much better now that I am just feeding her properly. The best thing about the supplements was that she really enjoyed eating them, piggy! However fortunately she also really likes speedibeet and it is much cheaper and better for her.
 
Hen said:
I think that since the majority combine intestinal tract support with magox, some form of antiinflammatories and circulatory/cleansimg herbs they can be very useful particularly when you are reworking diet and your care regime around a newly-discovered lami problem, but really like most supplements they probably only 'buy you time' while you sort out what improvements can be made in a horse's basic diet and exercise plan. They certainly helped me in that respect last year but it took me a while to pluck up the courage to discontinue use and rely on the dietary and regime changes - which touch wood have held good. Will they categorically prevent an episode? Strongly doubt it.
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I think if you break this information down and combine it with careful reading of the ingredients of whatever supplement you are thinking of trying you will find you can get it much cheaper DIY! I pay £3/kg for magox which lasts me a month. I'm not actually convinced cleansing herbs actually do anything, but there are plenty of sites you can buy them from for about a fiver if you want them, and your horse will enjoy the variety. Mine gets herbs from time to time, usually live ones from tescos in a pot which cost about a pound.
Micronised linseed is safe to feed to laminitics (don't give much if your horse is fat, only about an eggcup full, but it is full of nice omega 3s and 6s and healthy anti inflamatories and is about £20 for £20kg. I give 2 mugs a day to a skinny pony and it lasts for months.
I keep my pony barefoot to help prevent episodes as a sort of early warning system - she will tell me if her feet are beginning to hurt so I can get her off the grass in time which she wouldn't be able to in shoes.
I completely agree with Hen that the supplements wouldn't prevent an episode of lami. Apart from that my pony thinks they taste nice, so if I had pots of money to throw at supplement manufacturers I might give her them for that (I don't think they do any actual harm), I think they are a waste of time.
 
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