What to do with my horse?

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Nepenthe

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I have a Tb mare in her twenties, who suddenly came down with laminitis 4 weeks ago - no previous history, and no changes in management. Became very sore, very quickly and was sent in to vet clinic where X rays showed mild pedal bone rotation, and bloods indicate Cushings.
She was returned to me 3 weeks ago - with heartbars in front, no shoes behind, and advised to give Danilon morning and evening, and Prascend 1mg evening, and to box rest her on a deep bed, soak hay for just 1/2 hr.
The trouble is, that she's not coping too well with box rest - weaving, sweating, screaming to her friends in the field, etc.
So, two questions:
1. How long until a horse goes sound after mild pedal bone rotation, with Cushings?
2. Should I keep her on box rest, or should I turn her out in a small enclosure beside her friends where she wants to be, then bring them all in together at night so she doesn't have separation issues?
Thanks! :D
 
I think the trouble is the laminae themselves have been weakend in the attack, hence the rotation, so if she goes out and charges around on non supportive ground they may rotate further.
Can frog supports be put on? Or could you put a turnout pen in an area like a school with a soft supporting bed. She really shouldn't have any grass either.
Weaving and stressing can't be helping. Some lamis get ACP as it increases the blood flow to the hooves, it also sedates them so they lie down more, maybe some would help her?
 
Clodagh said:
I think the trouble is the laminae themselves have been weakend in the attack, hence the rotation, so if she goes out and charges around on non supportive ground they may rotate further.
Can frog supports be put on? Or could you put a turnout pen in an area like a school with a soft supporting bed. She really shouldn't have any grass either.
Weaving and stressing can't be helping. Some lamis get ACP as it increases the blood flow to the hooves, it also sedates them so they lie down more, maybe some would help her?
Click to expand...

She doesn't charge around - she's actually probably too lame - and is too old to bother with that nonsense anyway :D.
She has heartbars so has frog support - and she is getting gradually sounder.
I don't believe you can give ACP with Cushings medication - I tried it last week and the end result was a very colicky horse and a vet visit. :(
 
The stressing will be adding to her laminitic condition, if she would settle in a small pen that would probably be better than weaving in a stable, the heartbars should support the frogs and the ground is now softer so that should also help. I would contact your vet and get the ok from him, but he may not be so keen, most seem to think box rest is essential, although quality of life is important also.
Could the others take it in turns to stay in with her so that she always has company.
 
Really sorry to hear about your mare. I always think it's difficult putting them on box rest. Could the others take it in turn to stay in with your girl to stop her stressing because stressing won't be helping her either. I certainly wouldn't be turning her out without OK from your vet.

Hope she continues to improve and can soon be out again with her friends.
 
I've just been through something similar with one of mine. She remained unshod (has never been shod) and her soles are always flat so I made her a stable sized pen immediately outside her stable so she could then see her friends who were out, and touch noses with them and used softish rubber mats on the floor.

As her feet are flat and we have peaty ground she went in an area about the size of six stables next to her friends after a week when she was showing signs of being more comfortable and mobile. Everyone comes in at night.

Both the above solutions were ok'd by the vet but of course my girl isn't shod so keeping her soles supported is easier.

Can you get your farrier to fit pads or can you knock up a temporary test solution by filling her feet to level with her shoes with, say, bath sealant and then a good binding of duct tape?

FWIW ours went from reluctant to move to happy to potter out of her stable and stand on the mats after about 24 hours on bute. She got to happy to walk a bit stiffly out to her bigger pen after about a week. After two weeks when I fetched her in for the vet she offered a little trot (unintentional on my part!). After nearly four weeks she was into "oh look you've stopped concentrating while you're leading me out to my pathetic little pen so I shall piss off in canter and buck and cavort round the field" mode. She is a child's pony and normally pretty perfect so she must have been feeling very well!

She is now on half an hour walking with five minutes of trot and seems very happy and well.

I strongly suspect that had she been kept on "box rest" she would not have recovered so well, she alternates between stressy and just downright miserable and withdrawn on box rest.
 
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