Winter laminitis - slow recovery. Comments please

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Rose Folly

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MY cob mare went down with acute laminitis in the hard weather over Christmas. Veterinary opinion - and I'm sure it was right, was that it had been brought on by frozen grass and over-rich haylage and mare being overweight.

That was a month ago. She has been on a diet since, and the farrier was very positive about her feet, saying that the pedal bones and soles were as they should be and just a very little separation at the toe. She never had her shoes off, as vet No.1 (emergency callout) said her feet were in beautiful condition and it would be better to keep theshoes on.Vet No.2 (normal vet) agreed. Farrier said the same, and simply reshod her when he did the other horses.

I feel she is making a very very slow recovery, but I wonder whether I'm just being impatient. It's quite hard to get her to pick her feet up (though once they're up she couldn't care a hoot - and didn't mind being shod). She walks very stiffly, and does not like turning at all. In fact, she looks more like an arthritic horse than a laminitic one. The vet and the farrier both said this is common. I just wish she was more comfortable when moving - at rest she seems quite happy and there's no undue shifting of weight or anything. She lies down a bit more than she used to, but she's always enjoyed a good zizz.

So if any of you can tell me of your experiences and how long recovery can take I'd be so grateful.
 
She's been in a lot of pain I guess, and may still be in pain (?), so it may be a case of slowly, slowly. A friend's horse has severe lami during a period of snow, and she took till the spring to be walking better - a good five months.

Don't worry too much, follow your vet's advice, and maybe put her on a herbal supplement if she's not on bute/danilon. And very gentle walking in hand if she can cope with it.

Also try posting this in the vet section. sm xx
 
Well i dont know about you but im becoming obsessed with laminitis :) mine has been stabled for 6 weeks now he also walks stiffly at first, then loosens up but he is still lame in both front feet, he is on 1 danilon a day which suits him, it feels like a life time, im going to celebrate when he can be turned out, and im riding him again :D
 
Laminitis is not a quick recovery job. If your pony is still in discomfort he should be getting pain relief and a vaso dilator like acp. Having had the unfortunate experience of dealing with laminitis (both severe and mild) I would tell you what Robert Eustace told me: stay on box rest for 60 days AFTER the animal is off all medication ie is comfortable to walk and turn without medication. I assume your pony is in a deep bed minimum 6 inches of shavings. Frog supports in the acute phase helps. X rays will show you accurate rotation and sinking (if any). The less the pony moves the better so walking out in hand will do no favours, it will only add to its pain. The longer your pony takes to recover the better. If you try and rush the recovery time you may get a flare up again.
 
My mare went down with very bad laminitis in the autumn and even after being diagnosed with cushings and going onto Pergolide took 3 months to recover.

She subsequntly went down with it again early january but seems to have recovered much quicker. Certainly turning seems to be very difficult for them when they have laminitis and I too noticed that she seemed better after moving a bit (mine was stabled at night for the last bout, but turned out in the school in the day. Being able to mooch about a bit seemed to help her though I am aware that its said that box rest is best (not an option with mine as she won't stay in alone without attempting to commit suicide :D

I think it does take a fair amount of time to recover because (as I understand it) the hoof needs to grow before they can really recover

Good luck with yours, laminitis is evil :(
 
Thank you everyone for your comments and advice. Made me feel a lot better.

She is on 2 Danilon a day. We cut it down to one but she really needs two to be comfortable. For me too box rest per se is not an option - we only have a gated field shelter and she was jumping out! But ironically now she can choose for herself she often comes in and has a lie down - yes, its is very deeply bedded. From what you've all said, there is nothing abnormal in the length of time it's taking - I'd begun to worry that she was taking too long. All I want is to see her comfortable.

The stiffness is obviously common - and it defintiely eases when she walks about a bit.

Thank you again, and good luck with your own laminitics.
 
I would be a bit worried. The first 48 hours are critical. Generally the shoes are removed and sole support are fitted. My OH (farrier) and our vets (specialist equine) use foam pads which crush down under the horse's weight as well as a very deep shavings bed and pain management. The degree of pain suggests that it has not settled. Box rest unfortunately is part of the treatment in the acute phase and as others have said must not be rushed. I'd be considering getting a second opinion. The damaged laminae need time to heal, usually a minimum of a month though it varies. My vet said that the degree of pain and stiffness was indicative of the level of disease process. X rays would confirm what is happening in the feet.
 
Hi Horsemadmum1. I forgot to say she did have the pads on while she was on her - albeit short - period of box rest. Much better news. She seemed to take a great turn for the better about 48 hours ago, and is walking and turning so much more easily. So am keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks.
 
Rose Folly said:
Hi Horsemadmum1. I forgot to say she did have the pads on while she was on her - albeit short - period of box rest. Much better news. She seemed to take a great turn for the better about 48 hours ago, and is walking and turning so much more easily. So am keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear it. Fingers crossed for her.
 
I swear by Global Herbs Laminitis Prone Supplement (liquid) to bounce my mare back from any rumblings. That and soaking her hay for 12 hours. Normally see results ie. turning properly and not like a barge within 3-4 days of being on it. Then tend to keep her on a maitenance dose for about 10 days. I do keep her on Magnesium 5grms daily throughout the year.
She had a scare around Christmas, i done the above, and she responded so well, that she even lived out 24/7 for a week while i went skiing, and galloped across the field when i went to pick her up.
Give them a call and chat to them, they are extremely helpful.
 
Thanks horsesforcourses. I'll certainly give that a try. Unfortunately my mare is severely allergic to hay, soaked or otherwise, but is on some lovely dry haylage that, touch wood, seems to be suiting her well. She is now - I hardly dare say it - picking up really well - and vets say I could be riding her again in 2-3 weeks.
 
You need as a priority to have x rays taken to see if there has been any rotation or sinking of the pedal bones. Only then can future treatment and shoeing be planned.
Get bloods taken to see if anything else is going on. For instance Laminitis can be caused by emerging ecncysted small red wormns which are not detected in a worm count. There are also a number of other causes and it may not be one thing that caused it but several.

You also need to get the weight of your horse gradually down so that you can see it's ribs and haunches. This will reduce the chances of further incidences of Laminitis.

It can take several month for your horse to become sound and until then your horse should be fitted with rubber frog supports (Laminitis Clinic Web Site: shttp://www.laminitisclinic.org/Trimming%20the%20chronic%20founder%20case.htm )

Your horse should remain stabled until at least 4 weeks after it has become sound.

Soak hay thoroughly to reduce the nutritional contect and most certainly do not feed haylage. Your horse should be given a slice of soaked hay every 4 hours.
 
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