PinkvSantaboots
Well-Known Member
Not bad news at all really the thyroxine really turned my friends pony around the difference after a week was quite unbelievable.
The lami episode I was dreading ...
- Thread starter TwyfordM
- Start date
TwyfordM
Well-Known Member
The cost is insane though ?
It’ll be worth it if it helps, but I do worry what the future holds as it’s not looking like she will be off box rest any time soon. We do have areas on the yard for restricted turnout, indoor school and small bare paddocks. Vet wants her moving as soon as she’s sound but nowhere near grass for foreseeable future. I just question how much quality of life that is. But while she’s still fighting (though preferably not physically fighting the vet next time ???
) I’ll give her all the chances in the world. If her view changes and she’s not happy I’ll probably have to make the call. This pony does not know how lucky she is, I doubt many people in my position would do this all again ??
PinkvSantaboots
Well-Known Member
The cost is insane though ?
It’ll be worth it if it helps, but I do worry what the future holds as it’s not looking like she will be off box rest any time soon. We do have areas on the yard for restricted turnout, indoor school and small bare paddocks. Vet wants her moving as soon as she’s sound but nowhere near grass for foreseeable future. I just question how much quality of life that is. But while she’s still fighting (though preferably not physically fighting the vet next time ???
My friends pony is 17 honestly they were on the verge of pts and when I saw her I would have probably done the same that was the Friday a day after diagnosis, I rode one of her horses on the following Thursday and just put my head over the door and she looked so much better, she had been on thyroxine for 5 days then, by Monday the pony was sound and her kids were walking her around the school so she wasn't on the meds long.
NinjaPony
Well-Known Member
The cost is insane though ?
It’ll be worth it if it helps, but I do worry what the future holds as it’s not looking like she will be off box rest any time soon. We do have areas on the yard for restricted turnout, indoor school and small bare paddocks. Vet wants her moving as soon as she’s sound but nowhere near grass for foreseeable future. I just question how much quality of life that is. But while she’s still fighting (though preferably not physically fighting the vet next time ???
I feel your pain, this was me a year ago, with a 17 year old pony with arthritis. We ended up doing several months of no grass turnout in a school, hand walking twice a day and it was a nightmare. However, a year later he is back out in a paddock in his muzzle, touch wood no episodes for over a year, looking healthy and happy. It was definitely worth giving him that chance and all the hard work. No guarantees obviously but just wanted to share a slightly more positive outcome. It’s clear you have her best interests at heart whatever you decide.
holeymoley
Well-Known Member
Levothyroxin is fabulous stuff.
TwyfordM
Well-Known Member
Nightmare isn’t it, I know we’ve been here before. But it feels all the more frustrating knowing how much freedom she’s been able to have over the past few years. But I’m trying to remember that this pony has not only bounced back from a similar laminitis episode, but also a broken neck and an impaction colic that nearly ended up in surgery. She’s tough as, I’m flagging this time because I’m not sure I can cope again ??
? she however is absolutely making sure I’m aware she’s not going down without a fight ...
PurBee
Well-Known Member
NPK acid salts fertilisers are generally ok, despite them acidifying soil and thus locking out other minerals for plant uptake - theyre terrible for soil health and plant uptake of macro/micro minerals due to PH change, which farmers ameliorate with the spreading of lime…its like yo-yo farming. Do 1 thing to increase growth by adding npk acid salts, have to correct the consequential imbalances that causes to the soil with application of lime.
If the dosage on the field is within guidelines there should be no overt issues.
Nitrate toxicity is the main reported symptom due to excessive fertiliser use in equines and presents primarily as loose stools, apathy, eventual weight loss and can progress to serious symptoms if its a huge dose like accidental exposure directly to the fertiliser.
I’ve encountered it once with a particular brand of haylage widely circulated in Ireland. It wasnt just a one-off incident. Second time using it loose stools again, just that brand. Grasses and sugar levels no different to other brands of haylage they were fine on.
I switched forage and the loose stools disappeared.
You should be ok on the fertiliser front as that stuff is much more expensive than herbicides to spread so most farmers will be stingy with its use!
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
I've never had to give it to a horse, but I'm on it and I agree!
TM, I hope that your lovely pony soon improves.
TwyfordM
Well-Known Member
Funnily enough my Nan was on it too ?
I knew I’d heard of it before but wasn’t sure if she was on it for the diabetes or thyroid issues?
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
It's for my hypothyroidism (under active thyroid).
TwyfordM
Well-Known Member
Ah yep, she had the same. Hers was eventually completely removed as she had quite a large mass connected to thyroid itself.
Errin Paddywack
Well-Known Member
My gran was on it for underactive thyroid too, made a huge difference to her.
Regandal
Well-Known Member
What dose does a horse get? It’s £1.12 for 28 tabs of 100mcgs for humans. And they’re tiny, would be very easy to hide in food or a tiny treat. The liquid formulation is more expensive though.
Casey76
Well-Known Member
Levo doesn’t treat laminitis or increased insulin levels (in fact it can increase insulin levels). It is used as a metabolic boost in order to lose weight.
If your horse/pony is euthyroid I think it is absolutely awful to use levo just as a weight-loss drug. The feeling of being hyperthyroid is awful.
I am trialing Tartine on levo because she is presenting as hypothyroid, with decreased T3 levels, I certainly wouldn’t put her on levo if her T3/T4 were normal.
@Regandal I’m currently looking for an alternative source of levo, after being charged £240 for 1 month treatment of compounded levo for horses. However the syringe doesn’t give the dosage (very frustrating for a drug safety specialist like me!), only the volume required each day.
If your horse/pony is euthyroid I think it is absolutely awful to use levo just as a weight-loss drug. The feeling of being hyperthyroid is awful.
I am trialing Tartine on levo because she is presenting as hypothyroid, with decreased T3 levels, I certainly wouldn’t put her on levo if her T3/T4 were normal.
@Regandal I’m currently looking for an alternative source of levo, after being charged £240 for 1 month treatment of compounded levo for horses. However the syringe doesn’t give the dosage (very frustrating for a drug safety specialist like me!), only the volume required each day.
Regandal
Well-Known Member
That is shocking. I suspect that one company has the monopoly on the equine formulation, as happened with omeprazole. It really is as cheap as chips.
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
I was wondering why levothyroxine is recommended in EMS cases.
Accidentally double dosing on my usual 100mcg daily dose of levothyroxine does leave me bouncing off the walls and ceilings
.
Accidentally double dosing on my usual 100mcg daily dose of levothyroxine does leave me bouncing off the walls and ceilings
.
Casey76
Well-Known Member
Levo isn’t licensed for horses in the UK; only dogs, unfortunately.
What makes it all the more shocking, is that in the US you can buy a 10lb tub of it, which lasts 10 months, for $175
cauda equina
Well-Known Member
Blimey! I wonder how much of that gets flogged to slimmers?
TwyfordM
Well-Known Member
Yeah vet said it would just be used to hopefully get rid of fat pads that have popped up practically overnight as diet alone isn’t doing it. Considering she’s basically on tiny bit of zero chaff plus tiny amounts of soaked hay and not dropping weight (well you can see her loosing condition along top line but fat pads remain) the hope is that once we are back to a normal weight we have a clean slate to start again and can weigh hay/feed etc until we know the safe limits with her.
We’ve gone almost overnight from a pony that struggles to keep weight on, to one that’s not shifting. Main concern is getting weight down, insulin under control so we can get on top of laminitis before it causes bigger issues at the moment. Because usual Lami routine is doing nothing right now
Shilasdair
Patting her thylacine
I haven't read all the answers so apologies if any duplication.
I found with my mare three things helped with her laminitis;
1. Easycare Cloud boots - instant relief, comfort and they support her pedal bone. Mine loved them.
2. NOT soaking hay, not feeding hay at all - I think last year was a high sugar year and even soaking doesn't reduce it.
3. Feeding low sugar chaffs as hay replacers - I feed a mix of Top Chop Zero, Honeychop Lite and Healthy, and HiFi Molasses Free all dampened in a bucket - and my horses actually like this mix.
Good luck.
I found with my mare three things helped with her laminitis;
1. Easycare Cloud boots - instant relief, comfort and they support her pedal bone. Mine loved them.
2. NOT soaking hay, not feeding hay at all - I think last year was a high sugar year and even soaking doesn't reduce it.
3. Feeding low sugar chaffs as hay replacers - I feed a mix of Top Chop Zero, Honeychop Lite and Healthy, and HiFi Molasses Free all dampened in a bucket - and my horses actually like this mix.
Good luck.
TwyfordM
Well-Known Member
Ffs, we’ve started refusing the bute now ?? Quite a normal reaction for her, but we were doing so well. Question is can I actually use something like sugar free polos or something? As I’ve tried dried mint. Doesn’t appear to be working
Quite a normal reaction for her, but we were doing so well. Question is can I actually use something like sugar free polos or something? As I’ve tried dried mint. Doesn’t appear to be working
TwyfordM
Well-Known Member
Absolutely sums up how my evenings going to a T ??
This pony is testing me tonight ...
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
Ffs, we’ve started refusing the bute now ??
Have you tried keeping the bute in the freezer? That seems to dull the taste, or mix it with water and syringe it in.
Shilasdair
Patting her thylacine
One of mine gets bute for arthritis - I give her a little unmolassed sugar beet with it (not as laminitis-unfriendly as you'd think).
TwyfordM
Well-Known Member
Syringing is last resort, vet agrees. She spies a syringe and goes vertical which won’t help feet
Casey76
Well-Known Member
Keeping medication in the freezer will potentially destroy the efficacy
scats
Well-Known Member
Can you get inflacam? Smaller amount and more palatable than Bute.
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
Or is danilon an option? Even my fuss pots who won't touch bute hoover that up without question.
Harking back a page or so I asked OH about the dessication spray thing. He does a bit of work for a forage merchant as well as making a fair bit for us and other clients. He didn't know of anyone using that for hay/haylage. Just chucking that in in case people are worrying about what they are buying from local farmers etc. By all means ask but I don't think it'll be that common.
Harking back a page or so I asked OH about the dessication spray thing. He does a bit of work for a forage merchant as well as making a fair bit for us and other clients. He didn't know of anyone using that for hay/haylage. Just chucking that in in case people are worrying about what they are buying from local farmers etc. By all means ask but I don't think it'll be that common.
Sandstone1
Well-Known Member
Sugar free apple juice?
suestowford
Well-Known Member
I have a question for those recommending timothy haylage - are you able to buy this atm? I've not been able to find any for sale for weeks, it's all sold out, even the really expensive kind.