Theoretiically speaking

[PucciNPoni]

Is it possible to misdiagnose azoturia for laminitis?

Eg a horse that has been out competing low level dressage on a *really* hot day, maybe refusing to drink water, hard ground. Two classes entered, but doesn't feel right (thinking ground too hard, and too hot out) so scratch from second class and try to find shade, but there isn't much relief.

Horse observed on lorry camera struggling to stand and appears to almost sit down on turns (but chalked up to slightly too large a space in box). Feeds are with liquid electrolytes but horse just picks at them.

Turned out at night as usual, in the following day and just doesn't seem RIGHT. Then 2 days on, a bit pottery, but can't determine why - definitely lame but might look like one leg one minute but then look like a different leg the next. Horse better on soft sand than hard ground, but definintely lame. No real pulses but slightly raised coronary band. Farrier check feet but no real soreness. Vet finds raised heart rate. Horse does not want to move forward or backward, so reckons lami in all four feet and treated as such, including 30 days box rest....

 

[Nailed]

Sounds like Laminitis to me.. Not Azoturia... Azoturia has a more acute onset.. the horse would stop dead literally and refuse to move as his muscle would have tied up..

I think your looking at Laminitis here.. sorry.. This horse needs box rest.

Lou x

 

[Donkeymad]

Sounds more like lami to me, who diagnosed as Azoturia?

 

[GreedyGuts]

Yes, could be confused quite easily actually, as can appear to have the same weight-shifting painfulness. Laminitis in all 4 feet is fairly uncommon and when it occurs is usually severe.

Assaying bloods for muscle enzymes (CK and AST) is the way to distinguish, but if this happened a while ago would be too late by now. Did your horse have dark, browny pee after this? Again that would suggest a myopathy.

 

[PucciNPoni]

The horse in questions was never diagnosed with azotoria, but it was merely a pondering of mine several months later. It was something that another recent HHO post said that got me wondering, really.

To be honest, the mare didn't really tick any boxes that would scream laminitis, the vet and farrier were wondering if the mare was coming in to season and pinning it to onset of hormone induced lami. Another vet wondered if there was maybe EMS at fault, but to be honest this was a vet that never saw the horse until 4-5 moths after her initial diagnosis.

Intially, after the first diagnosis the attending vet was happy to stable her for one week (satisfied that the pain/lameness had abated) and handwalk her out and start light work after 2 weeks. I contacted Laminitis Clinic and followed their advice of strict box rest for 30 days/reduced sugars/strict diet etc.

I've recently watched a friend's horse with azotoria who didn't show the classic tying up - the owner / instructor / vet didn't know what it was til he had bloods done. So it's not always acute in every case.

The reason I'm questioning it now, five months on, is that my horse is scheduled to go in to the horspital for something (seemingly) unrelated. I wonder if it's worth mentioning it to the surgeon there -- she's never had x-rays done on her feet and I don't know if pre-op bloods would show anything anyway.

I never looked at her pee at the time -- so don't know the color...shame really.

Yep, it's too late - I can't undo several weeks of box rest etc. But if it wasn't laminitis, it DOES make a difference to the mare and how she's is managed in the future, with respect to turnout etc. The mare only had limited turnout before the diagnosis - and had in previous years gone by she'd had 24/7 t/o on much more grass and never had an issue - this year she was being stabled more and weight kept much more consistent etc and we were all shocked by the diagnosis. I know that the onset of lami can be brought on by more than just greedy natives on lush grass-- but I've wracked my brains for months over this and honestly, this is still a bit of a mystery. (and there's some huge qustion-marks why there are other horses and ponies on my yard, grazing the same grass, that ARE OBESE, that are managed much less carefully and never had Laminitis).

I may be clutching at straws here - but thanks for your comments. I'm still unsure though whether it's worth speaking to the vet about it.