Alternative Laminitis prevention treatments

[RiderRos]

Does anyone have any alternatives to Laminaze, Lamishield, etc? Fat pony hasn't had laminitis but, although on poor turnout and minimal feed, is still likely to be a prime candidate. At £40 ish a month though, I'm willing to try alternatives if anyone has had success.

His old owner just had him on Magnesium tablets last year, from the supermarket, but as with all supplements I guess you don't know if it is working only if it's not!

Anyone have any ideas or advice?

[marieb]

Hi, have a look at this, if you are interested please Pm.

http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?t=185576

[texel]

The only way to prevent laminitis in a horse of pony is good management, I have tried various supplements to no avail and I probably inadvertently triggered another attack becauses of it. You need to ensure;

1. the animal has plenty of exercise - this is so important
2. restricted grazing in the summer months but plenty of hay
3. a mineral lick
4. water
5. No grains or legumes
6. no haylage
7. isn't pumped full of supplements and chemical wormers
8. you can feed various fruits and vegetables in moderation
9. Dandelions and nettle is very good, mine will only eat cut nettle.
10 regular trimming especially during the summer every 4 weeks as opposed to 6 in the winter


it is all to do with management - I got it wrong and my pony paid the price and had an acute attack one summer oddly enough after worming. Fortunately my mare was barefoot at the time and so had healthy thick soles which prevented founder.

[rocklanenancy]

I feed magnesium to my horses which is supposed to help with metabolic issues which can cause laminitis. I used to have an insulin resistant laminitic pony and I use to buy her little sachets of something to prevent laminitis, worked out at £1 per sachet, then I found out it was mostly magnesium. I now use cal mag which can be bought very cheaply as it is used for cattle, (fed to my non laminitic horses)About £10/10kg, lasts for ages. you can buy it in purer forms too which is a bit more expensive but you use less. My farrier also recommended the mag to keep the feet healthy, mine and his are barefoot. I think theres a thread somewhere on here about it. The advice above is good too, keep an eye on the weight,more exercise, restrict grazing but dont starve them, less grain and sugar, more forage foods such as hay and frequent trimming. I used to soak my ponys hay overnight to reduce the sugar content as even hay would set off laminitis as it was caused in her case by insulin resistance.

[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

I feed a mix of hay and straw to my lami prone pone, with access to a mineral lick etc. I also only give her up to an hour a day on grass, the rest of the time she is wandering around the yard.

I once tried Prolamin from Feedmark, but found that general good management was as much a key as any supplement I fed her.

[martini55]

I personally think the likes of laminaze are a waste of money. You can be giving it to them but if the management is not right then they will still get laminitis. So save your money and ensure you keep their weight down, restrict their grazing and feed only high fibre, low starch/sugar feed plus give them plenty of exercise. If needs be feed a general vit/min supplement and feed something like yea-sacc to help with their digestion if you feel the need.