A warning to all!

[skye]

Just a reminder,that laminitis is well and truely upon us again.My much loved elderly horse saddly went down with laminitis after the farrier reshod him and trimmed his feet to severely,he made a good recovery but sadly went down with another attack last week.He did start to improve only to take a turn for the worse.He had some x-rays done this morning,and i'm currently awaiting the results.Sadly the vet and i don't expect the results to be goodnews.So everyone please keep a close eye on your horses for laminitis.Its a killer and may have possibly claimed yet another victim.

[Miriam]

Fingers firmly crossed.

[heland]

Thanks skye

Two of the horses at our yard have just been diagnosed with laminitis a couple of weeks ago. They are both recovering very well.

I do hope it's good news for your horse.

[ros]

Oh no! And you were doing so well together.

The Laminitis Trust book does mention various cases where even horses with quite severe problems have recovered and become fully fit again, so it may not be the end of the road. I do hope not. Make sure your vet tells you all the options.

[skye]

Not good news.
The x-rays have shown that he has foundered.The pedal bone has only slightly rotated in his left foot but the bone above it is quite out of line.He has a 1 in 4 chance of making any recovery.The vet thinks he is in with a chance so we are going to give it a go.I'm completely devastated.Its so hard to believe how ill he is when you look at him in the stable eating his feed,and pulling faces at his friend.:( :(

[Mehitabel]

big sympathy - i know how you feel. petal had it last year. but keep optimistic - we had a pony come to us in march for sick nursing with cushings-induced laminitis, he's in his 30s and the owner pretty much thought he was only going to be with us for a few days before the vet came to put him down. he went home almost sound last week. we have another pony for laminitis nursing with us at the minute, and the poor chap gets stomach ulcers from painkillers, so he's not very happy. one in four might not sound great, but remember it's the vet's duty to prepare you for the worst. i really hope your horse recovers.

[ros]

Damn!

Still, they say you can do wonders with correct frog support and trimming - just make sure your farrier is all genned up about laminitis.

Keep us posted, please.

[Miriam]

All fingers crossed for him.

[Caz&Irena]

I hope that he makes a full recovery. Don't give up yet.
Wishing you all the luck in the world.

Regards

Gillian

[Ambrossia]

Could someone tell me what the 'warning signs' are for laminitis, and if laminitis and founder are the same thing? Thanx in advance

[Mehitabel]

founder is the term used when the pedal bone in the foot has rotated, it's a symptom of severe laminitis.

laminitic ponies are usually fat - look for a solid (not muscle) crest on the neck, and pads of fat on the shoulders - you'll see a bulge in front of the saddle on either side.
at the beginning of laminitis, the hooves are cold, as the blood vessels are constricted, and as it gets further on, the hooves get hot as the laminae separate. there is a pulse (normally called a bounding pulse) in the heel. check for this and the temperature of the feet regularly, as all horses are different, and hot feet for one can be normal for another, and the pulse in the heels varies as well. it's usually in both front feet, so if you go to get your horse and it doesn't want to move, but doesn't look lame in one foot, then think about laminitis.
it can also be caused by shock after an injury, from an infection after having a foal, and by cushing's disease.

[skye]

thanx for all your help,i really appreciate it.He was fitted with heart bars shoes this morning,and there is already a huge improvement.The x-rays shown that he has had pedal bone rotation in the past,before i had him and although he only had slight rotation now the damage was untreated in the past.The farrier is excellent.He had 2 students with him ,which all worked on punch ,alongside the farrier.I can't believe how well punch coped with it all.He is obviously in pain and then to have all his feet pulled about ,hammered and trimmed without fuss is excellent.The best bit was when he walked out the stable alot more comfortable.
thanks so much for all your help the vet is coming back in afew days to see how he is doing,i will let you know how he gets on!

[heland]

Oh that's great new skye:) and I'm pleased Punch is more comfortable.

[ros]

That's wonderful news! Punch is very lucky to be so well cared for when he most needs it.

[skye]

Hi guys ,
the vet came back today and said there was some improvement.He is allowed some turnout now he is more comfortable as his joints and COPD make it impossible for him to live inside permanently.We are hopefully going down on to milder pain killers next week so fingers crossed!

[doris]

Have you heard of the Cytek shoeing system? They have a web site. It is quite new and controversial but I've heard some good reports. I believe they can help in cases of lameness, even lameness through laminitis in some cases. Give them a look up!