missy2
Well-Known Member
my poor girl has been stabled now for nearly 7 months due to laminitis vets say many months lay ahead how sad for her 
when will my box rest end
- Thread starter missy2
- Start date
DunOver
Active Member
Whats the story behind her being on box rest for that long and now longer? is thier hope of a more normal life for her in the future??
Eaglestone
Well-Known Member
I feel for you
I must admit that she looks quite content ... please do not despair ..
If she has only been on Pergolide since January, then it is still early days. Can I ask you how come it took the Vets till January to diagnose Cushings, if she has been on box rest since September, especially when the horse is a 24 year old .... sorry if I have misunderstood your previous posts though?
My horse (Motor in my sig) went down with Laminitis at 24 (he is nearly 30 now) and he was prescribed Pergolgide on clinical signs alone ..... age, curly coat, fat pads, orbital dips disappearing and the dreaded Laminitis.
He went on it at the end of the October (a week after going down with Laminitis) and by December I thought I would have to give up! He was at his worst Christmas Eve, however as we progressed into the new year, he became less sore each week.
Initially he had special shoes on, but after discussions with the Vet and the Farrier, in the December, it was decided he was better off without them and the lovely thick (about 8 inches) shavings bed took the pressure off his feet.
In the 5 months, he only came out of the stable for Vets and Farrier visits.
However my Vet and me had a plan, which was if he was not out having a nibble of grass, by the Spring then we would have to reassess the situation.
Well after 5 months of box rest, my Vet felt it was time for him to run the gauntlet across the very wide yard to a little grassy patch. If I recall rightly, I had asked the Farrier to put some stick on shoes on, as I did not want a nail near him. It was a very slow and painful process and I was so excited and happy and anxious (every emotion) that we had made it across the yard and Motor, as always, was a star 
From then on we progressed very very slowly, until I could make him a little pen in the field out of wood chippings and I bought a lovely field shelter and the rest is history.
Obviously each and every horse copes differently, but there is hope.
Please let us know how your horses progress goes and please feel free to PM me.
I must admit that she looks quite content ... please do not despair ..
If she has only been on Pergolide since January, then it is still early days. Can I ask you how come it took the Vets till January to diagnose Cushings, if she has been on box rest since September, especially when the horse is a 24 year old .... sorry if I have misunderstood your previous posts though?
My horse (Motor in my sig) went down with Laminitis at 24 (he is nearly 30 now) and he was prescribed Pergolgide on clinical signs alone ..... age, curly coat, fat pads, orbital dips disappearing and the dreaded Laminitis
.He went on it at the end of the October (a week after going down with Laminitis) and by December I thought I would have to give up! He was at his worst Christmas Eve, however as we progressed into the new year, he became less sore each week.
Initially he had special shoes on, but after discussions with the Vet and the Farrier, in the December, it was decided he was better off without them and the lovely thick (about 8 inches) shavings bed took the pressure off his feet.
In the 5 months, he only came out of the stable for Vets and Farrier visits.
However my Vet and me had a plan, which was if he was not out having a nibble of grass, by the Spring then we would have to reassess the situation.
Well after 5 months of box rest, my Vet felt it was time for him to run the gauntlet across the very wide yard to a little grassy patch. If I recall rightly, I had asked the Farrier to put some stick on shoes on, as I did not want a nail near him
. It was a very slow and painful process and I was so excited and happy and anxious (every emotion) that we had made it across the yard and Motor, as always, was a star From then on we progressed very very slowly, until I could make him a little pen in the field out of wood chippings and I bought a lovely field shelter and the rest is history.
Obviously each and every horse copes differently, but there is hope.
Please let us know how your horses progress goes and please feel free to PM me.
binkymerlin
Well-Known Member
wow she is a big girl! my lad had laminitis nearly 2 1/2 years ago now and has only just come sound *touch wood* he was in his box non stop for 18 months, we nearly lost him :-( he had slight rotation and separation in one front. the vet wanted to section his foot but because he is pigeon toed it would of been a disaster< be aware of this. also try and keep her bearfoot if you can its better than banging nails thru her now delicate feet. and above all get some weight off her! soaked hay and a tiny bit of food to put her meds in. good luck it is a very long haul but please dont give up.
missy2
Well-Known Member
hi, there was no signs of cushings not to me or the vet but we decided to have the test done just to rule it out really, it came back positive much to our surprise, after 6 weeks of taking 1 pill we increased it to 1 and a half now she is on 2 pills a day as there was no inprovement in her condition, she has rotation in both front feet and is having corrective trimming, vet says about 9 months she should be right as rain, one good thing is she has lost weight and still has a bit more to loose but vet says she looks just right.