Worried about my horse help

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pottamus

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My lad is currently on box rest as diagnosed with laminitis in one foot. He has seen vets and they have advised box rest and strict diet of 6 pads of hay per day only.
This started off ok but he got very bad in the chest with the dust and being in so I started soaking the hay. 4 days into this and he stopped eating altogether and had cronic loose poo's so I popped him straight back onto dry hay in a desperate bid to get him to eat again. He is currently happier in himself and eating the dry better but still only eating the equvalent of 2 pads per day and his poos are still very loose, although I realise this will take a while to get right again.
I am going to put a call into the vets for a sanity check tomorrow morning...but is it normal for him to loose his appetite so much, when he is normally a greedy welshie that eats everything? Could it be the box rest is getting to him?
 
depends on how long you soaked the hay for as when we had some dusty haylage (included in DIY livery) we had to run it under the tap and Pidge wouldn't touch it, he just didn't like it!
If wet when eaten it would make the poo sloppy as if our haylage is on the wet side then I see the results in Pidge's poo, and it does a couple of days to go back to normal.
That's just my experience of the effect of haylage on his poo, god we sound like nutters paying this much attention to our horse's poo
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Hope you get it sorted out, please try not to worry too much x
 
Inactivity has a significant effect on the digestive system, horses on box rest can get obstructed or colicky. Have a chat with the vet but consider bran and other low sugar feeds, or maybe a little oil and if you have anywhere with a very soft surface he might benefit from a gentle walk out in hand for a few minutes each day, if the feet are up to it
 
We had one that lost interest with food after soaking (and had lammi). Would echo OP about seeing if you could turn out for a little while in the school. Ours really enjoyed the change of scene and the sand was lovely an supportive to the hooves.

Also try just leading to a small patch of grass and allow just 5 minutes of grass. It won't make any difference and can kind of 'kick start' their enthusiasm for eating again.

Re the coughing maybe consider changing to some low calorie haylage - we used the blue horsehage but that was a lot of years ago and there are probably other lower calorie options around (maybe talk to vet first before changing)

I wouldn't worry too much about the poos, your horse has had a significant and sudden change of diet and is being permenently stabled, which I imagine wasn't the case before

Hope it goes ok, good luck
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I'm confused as to the quantities being mooted by vets for box rest lamis.

When LL is on box rest, in fact when any of them have to spend time in, if we want to keep the calorie intake down, we soak day hay all night and night hay all day. It's then well drained. Neds seem to like it and their digestive systems keep going. LL lost a ton of weight when on this system when he was on box rest for three months, and he had ad lib hay so it must work.

Hugs hun. Not an easy time for you.
 
Oh dear, poor you and poor horse.

I would recommend the horsehage blue type. Its low cal and hoof kind. My horse has to have it as he cant have dry hay, wont eat wet hay and other haylage gives him the runs. It is recommended that more haylage is fed than hay because haylage contains a lot more water, but check with your vet.

Feeding a probiotic and prebiotic might also be of help. Something like Equine gold or pink powder, but because of his lami, check with your vet first.

You know what it is like when we have an upset tummy, we feel nauseous and dont want to eat, so he could be feeling the same.

Box rest also slows down the digestive transit, again, speak to your vet.

You are doing everything you can and everything right for your horse as well as talking to your vet about your concerns.

Is your horse drinking? He will be fine until you speak to your vet tomorrow as long as he is drinking.

I hope he recovers very soon.
 
Is he on any bute for the pain? Sometimes this can make poo loose. I would ask the vet if you can feed him anything like hi fi good doer or similar lammi friendly feed. and ditto above he may like a little wander on a soft surface.
Also if hes on straw is he eating that?
 
I would recommend something like Pink Powder(double dose), or similar ie pre/probiotics to help settle his gut. It's more likely to be the meds upsetting him rather than the soaked hay.
Alternatively I have used Horsehage (high fibre ,blue I think) on a pony on box rest.
Please do not walk the horse out if he is in the throws of laminitis. Worst possible thing to do[b/]
 
IMHO a horse that has just been diagnosed with lami -even mild, should be on soaked hay anyway... he he is used to being kept out even part time I'm sure it is the change in routine and diet which is having an affect on his apetite and digestive system.

perhaps a tub of hi-fi lite / happy hoof or hi-fibre cubes might help with his apetite and all being fibre based form a good hay replacer...
 
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Please do not walk the horse out if he is in the throws of laminitis. Worst possible thing to do[b/]

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that depends on where the horse is in recovery, surely.....

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I wrote 'in the throws' ie while there is pain/inflammation....any extra movement while the laminae are mending can result in more rotation.
 
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IMHO a horse that has just been diagnosed with lami -even mild, should be on soaked hay anyway... he he is used to being kept out even part time I'm sure it is the change in routine and diet which is having an affect on his apetite and digestive system.

perhaps a tub of hi-fi lite / happy hoof or hi-fibre cubes might help with his apetite and all being fibre based form a good hay replacer...

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I agree our vet recommended soaked hay (def wasn't 6 pads either more like 3 or 4). After 2 couple of weeks introduced hi fi light and top spec anti lam.
 
Thanks for the replies, yes I suspect the bute is not helping...up until today he was on 2 twice per day, but is now on 1 twice per day as per vets instructions. I am under strict instructions for him to be in his box for 2 weeks until the vet can come out for a check up...so I will not be walking him anywhere until the vet says to.
He was out 24/7 so I guess the change has been a shock to him and everything else. He is more settled now and we do not have long until Friday when the vets wants to check him and then we can have a review of things.
 
QR not all vets are experts in treating laminitis, as is demonstrated by the widely differing vets' advice forum members have posted over the last few months. Should I be in the unfortunate position of needing laminitis expertise, I should contact the Laminitis Trust and then discuss their advice with the treating vet. And if s/he disagreed with their advice ask him to contact the Trust himself.

I learned this the hard way, after having had to have a Shire pts when she had foundered.
 
I agree with Pearlsasinger - contact the Laminits Trust - their phone line is open from 10 - 4pm everyday and for £1 a minute thier advice is not only current and up to date but it is cheaper than a vets visit. They will help you with a diet for your horse - with appropraite amounts etc - you will need to weigh it all. Without their advice i would have lost my cob last year - my vets ,a big well know practice, are just not as up to date with laminitis and its treatment as you would think.

At least your vet has told you not to move him - absolute box rest is essential - mine didn't move from her stable for 10 weeks and then was allowed out for 10 mins in hand and slowly built up from there. The Laminits Trust/Clinic will also help you with a rehab timetable - I followed it to the letter and horse is now back in full work so it can be done. Good luck!!
 
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