laminitis

[LisaD1]

Hi all..

My DD's pony has had a laminitis attack and I could use some words of experience/comfort please.

She was very mildly lame 3 weeks ago, I immediately called the vet who said it was laminitis, she put some pads on her feet and gave bute. About 4 days later she was sound so vet said (over phone)to remove pads, stop bute and she could go back out in small area. I've not had any experience of laminitis before so just did as she said. Within 48hrs pony was hopping lame on off fore, especially on a circle, called farrier who said no way should pony be out, so we put her in on a deep bed and he came and put some frog supports on and I restarted the bute. She is more comfortable but still not right.

Farrier says no way should pony have gone back out so soon and laminitis trust website says 30days, same as farrier. Am shocked vet didn't say same thing.

Anyway, have any of you had any similar experiences and did the pony come sound again? Roughly how long did it take? I have a very upset 10yr old DD.

Thanks.

Go with the farriers advice on this, possibly talk to a feed supplier as well, regarding nutrition - there are loads of things out there. Apart from pain relief there isn't a huge amount you can do while she's so sore although I think you can walk them a little to ease stiffness - but check with farrier.

I looked after a pony for a friend once who had it so badly all he wanted to do was lie down. I walked him very short distances a couple of times a day (her advice), and it took about 2 weeks. He was very prone to it, but always came sound in the end.

I'm sure someone with more experience will be along soon.

Try finding a barefoot trimmer - modified shoes are not the way to treat laminitis. On saying that, I fully agree with your farrier that the pony should not have been put out to grass - however, it can go in the sand school (not much in the way of carbs in sand ). Stood on four painful feet in a stable isn't going to be nice either.

Watching this with interest as my horse ,16 year old ,came down with mild laminitis ,in that he could walk ,we kept him in and gave bute for a few days ,then let him out on severley restricted grazing ,he is sound as a pound now ,although he isnt going to be happy with my new present , a nice shiny grazing muzzle !!!
I have heard that this year has been particularly bad re laminitis , my friend keeps her horse on quite a large livery yard and at least a third of them have come down with it .

When i say severly i mean a paddock the size of a hankerchief ,which we flymowed within an inch of its life. We have him on happy hoof horse food now too ,which is reccomended by the laminitis society .

Dd1's New Forest pony had laminitis in January this year, during the snow . She is now sound and turned out with a muzzle on but she has had a couple of "footy" episodes since. When that happens she is straight back in the stable and on soaked hay (to remove the sugars).

There is a Yahoo group The Metabolic Horse which is full of good advice from (sadly) experienced owner and also has lists of "safe" feeds. I also found good advice on the Horse and Hound forums. Topspec and Baileys are very good re nutritional advice, be careful with Laminitis Trust approved feeds, some are actually still too high in starches and sugars, I think that may have been a well-known brand of high fibre cubes that triggered the episode in our pony.