Treatment for laminitis

[Chianti]

It's been a few years since I had to deal with laminitis. My horse has just had a mild attack and the vet advised stable rest for a week. When he was seen again after that he had improved and is allowed out for a very short period of time am and pm in a bare paddock. He'll be seen again in a week and turn out will increase depending on how he's doing. I'm happy with all that as it was what I had to do before. However, I've had a couple of people tell me that he needs to 'keep moving' - the implication being that he should be out for much longer. I've also heard of a horse that developed it after a steroid injection and the owner was told to start riding him out at walk when he was still not completely sound. So - has the advice in certain circumstances changed? I always thought that during the acute phase you kept they as still as possible or you risked more damage to the laminae.

 

[Tiddlypom]

The hardcore barefoot brigade are insistent that lami horses must be kept moving. Maybe that is the source of the alternative 'advice' that you have been given.

They are deluded and wrong.

Stick with your vet's advice, and I hope that your horse recovers soon.

 

[Chianti]

The hardcore barefoot brigade are insistent that lami horses must be kept moving. Maybe that is the source of the alternative 'advice' that you have been given.

They are deluded and wrong.

Stick with your vet's advice, and I hope that your horse recovers soon.

Thanks. Yes. Some of it was from the more free thinkers among us. The horse with the steroid injection was told to ride by the vet. I just find that a bit strange and wondered if it was because of what caused it.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

Gosh, yes definitely stick to vet’s advice. Hope you are seeing further improvements soon. We have one prone to it and it is a terrible thing.

 

[Chianti]

Gosh, yes definitely stick to vet’s advice. Hope you are seeing further improvements soon. We have one prone to it and it is a terrible thing.

Thanks. I hate it because it's always with you at the back of your mind.

 

[meleeka]

The (incorrect, as far as research goes) theory is to keep them moving to increase blood flow. Take your vets advice, after all, you are paying for it.

 

[Casey76]

Free choice movement, yes; not forced movement.

If the horse is happy enough to potter around in a bare paddock, that’s absolutely fine, let him do that.