Muzzles and lami

[juliecwuk]

My friends horse suffered LGL prob about 3-4 weeks ago, she was in on box rest for a week until she was no longer sore then back out 24/7 with muzzle on at all times, comes up for net in the eve then back out in muzzle.

Anyway, we are now debatin how and when to stop the muzzle?

Her weight has dropped significantly, from about 490kg when she arrived down to 410kg last week, I assume a bit less this week.

We feel she needs to lose a little more but then what do you suggest is the best way to wean off the muzzle?

Is it better to do a few hours without it then back on, or on during day off night, or vice versa?

There's two horses in one paddock of about 0.75 acre, grass is short but also it's pretty rich in our area.

Thanks!!

 

[notpoodle]

depends on what state the pony is in. if he's overweight, keep muzzling (remember, they can still eat with the muzzle on!) until he's lost weight and grass flush is over. mine spent a whole summer muzzled once (with a greenguard) in a 40 acre field - no lami, happy pony.

in future, i'd recommend muzzling for around 48 hours if there's eg sun after rain and suchlike.

box rest for just a week sounds very short to me btw. i'd leave in for a bit longer to make sure its def settled and any painkillers are well out of the system.

 

[juliecwuk]

Th pony only showed the early warning signs of LGL, it wasn't full blown lami. Only noticed as she didn't have shoes on. She wasn't footy on gravel within 4 days but stayed in for a week.

She will keep muzzle on until a little more lost but she isn't far off a good weight - pic from hack yesterday ok not ideal as rider on her!

 

[clashnoir]

I am in the get them out and moving camp.
Had bouts of laminitis and then small flare ups and this seems to keep them at bay. Muzzle and let out after the initial withdrawal from grass.
I tried muzzling for periods i.e during day but found she gorged with out it on and probably ate as much.
I personally muzzle during day and stable overnight at present but hope to be able to graze her son strips as the summer progresses but we havent got the same growth as last year so might need to rethink.
I may just muzzle 24/7 if I have to but she gets breaks for exercise and what not.
I'd stick with muzzling and feed hay and maybe some fibre food, I just use kwik beet and thats all my lot get

 

[Innocence]

I box rested mine for a week, then put him back out on my bare paddock, he is ever so slighlty footy on one white hind but i feel the wet weather hasn't helped him. Not lame when i lunged him last night but need to keep him moving as with my surgery i haven't been fit enough to exercise as much as i could do.

He doesn't have lami though which i am pleased about, i am however considering a muzzle as my summer field is very lush at the mo but waiting till it gets longer and less attractive before i move them over and strip graze.

 

[clashnoir]

You cant take away but you can give more is the saying I go by for grazing anything that is lami prone.
Mine just had an episode but cresty as opposed to footy which would have been next and I'd rather play safe and have a lean pony than chance it and end up with a poorly one.

 

[juliecwuk]

Ooo just remembered years ago when mine were fatties we had an extra muzzle which we had cut a bigger hole in, we used that to wean them off the muzzle....we could do that as an option. I worry she will gorge on the grass. In a few weeks when she at a leaner weight think we will use a bigger holed muzzle and perhaps then begin giving an hr or so without the muzzle and build it up.

 

[clashnoir]

I use 2 types of muzzle for this.
The rubber bottom ones generally wear out over time but they make them work a bit and the Dinky ones seem to really limit their intake.
If out for a while I use the rubber bottom one and if all day I tend to use the Dinky.
Are you going to be strip grazing or doing any other restrictions?
I find if I have an incident of LGL early on there will be more as the summer goes on.