Was Foot sore, now worried about laminitis

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shantie

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We have recently had a loan pony that had laminitis in the past (12 months ago) , everything was going well, booked him in with the farrier for a new set of shoes, he had his feet done and then he was foot sore. I contacted the owner and said he was foot sore, she said that he had taken too much sole off (the owner didn't tell me to tell the farrier that they never take anything off the sole!) the owner said to pad his feet out, we have done that and have had no improvement. We have now put him on a course of bute and also applying kertex hoof harder. I have now noticed that he has heat in his feet, and now worried that the trimming has caused laminitis! I can't tell if there is any bruising to the sole as he has black feet. Before he had his feet done, he was 100% sound, is all on laminitic feed and soaked hay. Do you think that the trimming could have trigerd the laminitis? Any info much appreciated x
 
Have you had the vet and/or farrier back out.

Roughly half the horses I deshoe have nails either through the white line or actually through the foot itself. Particularly common in horses that have lami type issues.
 
Hi, have you checked if you can feel an increased pulse? Also if your hay is getting frozen when soaked that can be a problem, hope its not lammi x
 
If it is simply from the shoeing then I would say get your vet and farrier to have a look, but taking the shoe off and reseating it would be very tough for the poor chap at the momet.

It may be best to find a good UKNHCP trimmer or AEP in your area and get a second opinion. Sorry - if he has trimmed the sole then you can't fix this one, you have to provide pain relief, a supportive surface and let it grow wiht proper dietary support.

Myself - unless the sole is peeling, would never touch the sole of a known laminitic with a knife - they need all they have between them and the ground.

Bear in mind the simple process of being shod, hammer blows, rasping etc., can often be enough to send a sensitive lami over the edge.

When are we ever going to learn that shoes are not really the answer for laminitics! Might be worth thinking of investing in a pair of Easy Bares or Gloves depending on foot shape - and pads. Again a good UKNHCP or AEP will be able to advide.

Hope he gets better soon. It's no fun for the poor chap.
 
brucea said:
. Again a good UKNHCP or AEP will be able to advide.

.
Click to expand...

Lol - other brands of hoof trimmers are also available...

see here:

http://www.aanhcp.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=141&Itemid=122


Trimming alone won't trigger laminitis but may highlight footsoreness that was already brewing. If it is lami then it's more likely been triggered by the recent frosts. Frosty grass is a known trigger for lami.

Shoes really aren't a good thing for lami horses. I've taken shoes off quite a few who were lame with them on but came sound with them removed (and diet managed properly). A lami hoof is a sick hoof which needs to heal. Having shoes removed increases circulation in the foot which promotes healing.

Most importantly though is to keep him off the frosty grass, or rather grass that has been frosted and then thawed. Keep an eye on him but I think it's definitely worth calling the vet - a previous bout of lami within 12 months means he is high risk.
 
Has he been out in the field with all the snow and ice? I've been told by my vet never to put my laminitics out on the snow - not only because of the dangers of eating frozen/stressed grass & snow, but also the fact that the temperature/hardness of the ground can trigger laminitis as well.
 
brucea said:
Yes sorry Mr Darcy, I should know better

But we all agree on one BIG thing.....shoes are bad for laminiticas, and all want the same thing, happy and sound laminitics.
Click to expand...

Absobloominlutely!

Would love to know the logic behind shoes on laminitics. Take one sick, inflammed foot, bang six to eight metal nails into it to fix on a shoe that cuts off the circulation and stops the hoof flexing as nature intended and don't mention dietary changes. Rinse and repeat every four to six weeks.
 
Thanks to all the replies evryone. I have the vet coming out on monday also organising Jim Blurton to come and have a look at him. I don't put shoes on my laminitics but he isn't owned by me and the owner said that he must be shod. He hasn't been out on any grass since the frost has arrived and when he is out it's 2hrs with a grazing muzzle on, he is also on all the correct top spec feed. x
 
Might be worth considering Cushing's as a cause/factor to bear in mind - especially if he's an older pony. If it IS laminitis, pergolide is what you need to turn him around on top of the accepted laminitis 'special measures'...
 
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