When do I know when my horse is sound?

Black_Horse_White

Black_Horse_White

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 February 2008
Messages
2,229
Location
Staffordshire
Visit site
My horses has had his first attack of Laminitis. He has been on box rest now for 2 weeks. He is on 1 bute a day now for another 8 days. The vet has only been out to him once when he was first diagnosed. My farrier was due the week he went down with it. The vet advised against him having his shoes done yet. He has had no x rays or anything just bute ACP and box rest. He was very lame on the 1st day, he was lifting his hinds of the ground. He was much better within a couple of days. How will I know if he is sound if I can't take him out of the stable? The vet just seems to have left me to it, just said if he is no better to call him. Should i just wait until he has finished on the painkillers then get the vet back out? I've just never had a horse with Laminitis before and i'm very scared and don't know what to do next.
 
Modern day thinking is that the horse should be sound without painkillers for a whole month before you take him out of his box. i.e. if he is walking around ok in the stable a month after he finishes the painkillers then it is ok to try walking him outside. Long old haul, but it's worth it if he is to recover fully.
 
Has your vet shown you how to check for digital pulses as these should be monitored on a daily basis so that you get a feel for how things are going. You will get a fair indicator of how your horse is doing when he turns in the stable and if the feet are still sore then he/she will pull away when you tap the underneath of the sole with a hoof pick handle around the toe area.
As OP said you are usually advised to keep them stable for a full month after they have become sound off the bute...but it depends on the horse and how they are coping.
My lad could not cope with being stabled 24/7 and ended up box walking, eating the wood inside his stable and shedding weight like no ones business through stress...he was still on 1 bute twice a day but the vet said enough is enough as he was doing more harm box walking than anything. So she advised me to fence off a pen area around his stable so he could be outside and get some sun to divert him from being so stressed. The area was the size of his stable and I bark chipped it for him, but he was a lot happier and started to recover better too. They are all different but it is early days for you and I would keep your horse in for as long as possible.
 
I'm checking his pulse twice a day. Takes me ages to find, I can still feel it but it has gotten weaker. He is moving very well to be honest he now crosses over his hinds when he turns. Being in 24/7 doesn't seem to bother him, yet. He doesn't seem to be in pain and is only on 1 bute a day. I've tried to pick his feet up but he snatches them away. Which for him is not unsual as he has always been funny about his feet. I'm just so worried he isn't going to be sound after this, although he is improving. Just can't stop stressing about him.
 
He will be absolutely fine, in time. You are doing EVERYTHING by the book for him, as per your vet's advice.

It's a horrible and daunting experience for you and him to be going through but I have every faith that his recovery from here on in will be text book and straight forward.

(((Hugs)))
 
I agree.... once he is sound on NO painkillers then keep him in a further month. Then slowly introduce turnout and or exercise.
It'll feel like forever but don't be tempted to do anythng too soon or you could be back to square one or worse. Its really only a month or two out of his life which in the grand scheme of things isn't very long at all.
That extra time in his box after he is pain free is crucial. all the time he is pain and for a while after his laminae are weakened and therefore the structures in his hoof (that the laminiae are supporting) are at risk. You need to allow plenty of time for these to heal properly.
Good Luck.
 
I guess what im gonna say may be quite different (and maybe irrelevent to shod horses) but recent findings show that movement actually helps laminitics heal. With laminitis, the best thing for them is to get the shoes off, because the wall is seperating from the lamini, and if the horse is walking on the walls via the shoe, can actually hinder recovery. May be something worth talking to your vet about.
The foot needs the circulation to aid recovery, and if the foot can function well without the shoes and be allowed freedom of movement, circulation will improve, and so will healing. You dont want to make the horse move, just allow him if he wants. Maybe in an arena or yard. Most lamis who come out of shoes need hoof boots for support, so it may be worth looking into it. Hope this helps
 
This reminds me of a friend's pony many, many years ago. It had really bad laminitis - it was a (small) JA pony. It was sent to a local farmer (yeah, I know.....!) who was an "old horseman" and the first thing he did was remove its shoes and it never had shoes put on again and remained sound to continue a long and successful career jumping.

When I say many years ago, I mean in excess of 40.....!
 
Why don't you ring your vet for a chat rather than get him back out. Most vet's i've dealt with are more than happy to discuss worries over the phone at no extra cost.
 
To be honest I rang him on Monday and he kept relaying messages backwards and forwards via the receptionist. Same on Thursday when it was time to reduce his bute. Seems he is very busy. I just sit at home thinking the worst as i've never had to deal with this before. He's recovered quite quick so i'm hoping thats a good sign.
 
Read up on the chain reaction that is laminitis and then decide if he's recovered!

You must not begin to put stress on the hoof by exercise until the disruption stops and the separated regions have been compensated for by stable regrowth and the hoof capsule is capable of supporting the weight of the horse through the leg bones.
 
Jennyharvey said:
I guess what im gonna say may be quite different (and maybe irrelevent to shod horses) but recent findings show that movement actually helps laminitics heal. With laminitis, the best thing for them is to get the shoes off, because the wall is seperating from the lamini, and if the horse is walking on the walls via the shoe, can actually hinder recovery. May be something worth talking to your vet about.
The foot needs the circulation to aid recovery, and if the foot can function well without the shoes and be allowed freedom of movement, circulation will improve, and so will healing. You dont want to make the horse move, just allow him if he wants. Maybe in an arena or yard. Most lamis who come out of shoes need hoof boots for support, so it may be worth looking into it. Hope this helps
Click to expand...

when my daughters 1st pony took laminitis i was told by a very experience person to walk it up and down a road to promote circulation, i thought it was cruel but did it anyway ~(please dont shoot me, she was way more and still is more experienced than i ever will be x) however they do this in holland and probably more countries, and it did work x
 
There is eveidence to suggest that both can be useful. However in the acute stages I would go with boxrest on a deep bed. If you have a deep enough bed then emoving the shoes can be helpful, or else get your farrier to place eggbars but you should have your horse x rayed first if you are to shoe him.
I would expect that you should book a revisit with your evt (inluding possible x rays) next week. Our practice always makes sure to revisit after approx 5-7days if there is improvement, earlier if theres none. Then there is usually at least one follow up visit before retunng to normal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top