Update on my lami case

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RachelB

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Just got back from the yard... J finally caved in this morning, it got to the point this morning where I told her I wouldn't be involved unless she got the vet and I she had a think whilst mucking out her stable. She came to me as I was about to leave and said she would call the vet, and I offered to be there with her because I can imagine how scary it must be for her (she is a total novice). Vet refused to send anyone out until 1.30pm, by which time she was very, very bad. She's obviously been down a lot and when vet arrived was stood (just) with the classic lami stance, her whole body was shaking, she was sweating like crazy and breathing loud and fast as if she'd just galloped the length of Britain. I made a pointed remark along the lines of "this is exactly why you don't mess about with horses and vets" and I know J understands now that she should have got vet out yesterday.
Anyway vet pointed out a large oedema on Kit's belly that we hadn't noticed before, he was generally very worried about her and said not only is this the worst case he'd seen in a very long time but the oedema was also very worrying and could indicate something more sinister going on. He had a good look and feel, took pulse/resp/temp etc. and gave her the largest dose of painkillers and ACP I have ever seen. once they had kicked in he managed to get her feet off the floor long enough to put some frog supports on, and in five minutes she was looking a lot better. She is now in with a tiny bit of well-soaked hay (luckily I had some already 24-hour soaked from my horse) and is looking much perkier. Vet wants to know in 24 hours how she is and if no better (or the second she gets any worse) he wants to x-ray her feet as he thinks there is quite a chance of her pedal bone rotating. J was in stunned silence throughout most of this, she's definitely learnt her lesson but hopefully not at the expense of her beautiful horse.
So fingers crossed please that Kit feels better in 24 hours!
 
I suspect that if it's the worst case the vet has ever seen the pony will be euthanised within the next 36 hours (if anyone has any sense).

Makes you mad eh??
 
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I suspect that if it's the worst case the vet has ever seen the pony will be euthanised within the next 36 hours (if anyone has any sense).

Makes you mad eh??

[/ QUOTE ]
Oh god, don't!
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It isn't the worst case he's EVER seen, just the worst for a long time. He said he has seen a hell of a lot of mild cases this year (footiness mostly) but Kit was full-blown leaning back, shaking, heart rate through the roof.
I'm trying to look on the bright side TBH.
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Oh sorry, misread.

Even so, pony sounds incredibly distressed and in an enormous amount of pain.

I've known at least one pony destroyed on the spot with lami - so sympathise. And if there was no improvement within 24 hours - I'd have it destroyed.
 
That is my thinking too. She improved enourmously within a very short space of time though after having the bute, ACP and wedges on so hopefully this time tomorrow she will have improved. If not then I am pretty certain the pedal bone will be rotating and although the vet said to J that can be helped with farriery, she is a big hefty coloured cob and I don't think she'd survive long.
I wonder what would have happened if vet had arrived last night? Or even if they had sent someone out as an emergency this morning instead of faffing around (
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there's a good reason I am not with that vet practice any more!
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)
 
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Or even if they had sent someone out as an emergency this morning instead of faffing around

[/ QUOTE ]
To be fair, they may not have had anyone available........

Can't imagine that any farrier would bang nails feet so painfull though (nor a vet recommend that they do so) - so presume the wedges will have to wait. As long as the bed is really well bedded down with shavings though, that should give the support to the frogs needed.

So, so sad.
 
Oh when I say wedges, I mean she has these wedge-type things duct taped over her frogs. Farrier was due Friday but as Kit can't stand on three legs for more than about a minute that will wait.
As for the vets, sorry yes I realise they may not have had anyone available. I have had past issues with the practice though, hence the comment
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Thank goodness the vet came at last. I have a pony with Cushings - he was diagnosed after an acute attack of laminitis two winters ago. Although he was never as bad as your J's cob, he was in a lot of pain. At the first sign of him being pottery, he was in on a very deep shavings bed on top of rubber matting, vet was called immediately and he was on bute & ACP and wedges. His feet were xrayed and the pedal bones had rotated. After discussion with my farrier and vet, farrier fitted imprint shoes (website here ) and they brought him almost instant relief. They are stick on shoes, so there is no discomfort to the horse at all when they are fitted. In fact my pony still has them fitted now because of the pedal bone rotation. He was kept in for a total of 11 weeks, during which time Cushings was diagnosed and he is now on Pergolide. He has not had laminitis since, but can never be ridden again.
The Imprint shoes are not cheap (£100 for a pair of fronts) but may be a way forward for J's cob.
My other little pony had terrible laminitis when he came here and after 5 months, the vet advised that PTS was our only option.
 
Jaylen, thanks for that I shall bear that in mind as hopefully I shall be able to be part of the proceedings, seeing as everyone else has disgraced themselves on the advice front.
wormhugs, thanks and I will
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Thanks to everyone else who has posted here and in the previous thread, too
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Well, what a bloody shame.
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I'm not hopeful and I can't believe the owner wasn't even slightly disturbed by the sight of her horse in obvious agony
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She should be forced to stand on nails whilst holding a breeze block
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and you can tell her I said so. Also, to be there holding the poor creature when the vet euthanises it.
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Well done you for not giving up, even though it sounds as though it may be too late for this unfortunate (to have her as an owner) animal.
 
TBH it's not entirely the owner's fault, IMO. She admits she is a novice and one condition of mine and N's livery is that we help her care for Kit. Mrs-know-it-all obviously still thinks she has her foot in the door and, well, thinks she knows it all. J hadn't a clue who to turn to, and sadly the one person talking total sense (me
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) was the newbie, youngest, despite being similarly experiencedto the others and also having studied horses at uni for three years...
Kit wasn't in obvious agony until vet arrived, she was just getting increasingly uncomfortable. When J saw her she was in total shock, I feel for her a bit as she hadn't a clue it would go this way this fast and she thought she was doing the right thing and following more experienced people's advice.
TBH J is going through a rough time at the moment and I'm not sure she would be able to go through with "it" with Kit if it comes to that. I just hope N can do it because I adore that horse and would hate to see her leave
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but I think I would do it if I had to
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I am hoping and praying (literally) that she improves.
I am also hoping that I bump into mrs-know-it-all to give her a piece of my mind
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I have to say I fail to see why there was no welfare agency/etc. involved last night rather than the poor thing suffering all night.
Hope she is not too sore now.
 
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