Posted by Patty Stiller on August 07, 2003 at 10:58:10:
In Reply to: Re: Laminitis with no rotation posted by joel dudenhefer on August 07, 2003 at 09:39:07:
: : : My horse got laminitis 4 weeks ago. Hadn't done so hot. No rotation though. Vet wanted the Vettac gel with screen stuff put on. Horse went dead lame as bad as the first week with it on. Horse has been on full dose bute and ace the entire time and could not back off on it - horse was in too much pain. Took horse to another vet who said to cut it out and just put lilly pads on. Horse started doing great - no drugs now.
: : : Questions are
: : : 1. How long to keep lilly pads on - how do I know when to not use them. One foot has mild heat in it.
: : : 2. Horse is now wanting to run around and buck and kick - is it OK - vet said I could turn him out. I don't mind putting the pads on after he tears them off
: : : 3. I hear about using hoof supplements, but don't they contain the bad protein the vet does not want me to feed my horse. He's only on 2 lbs straight oats.
: : : 4. Say he continues to improve, at what point can I start riding him again. another month - 2 months, or what. How do I know it's safe and he's ready
: : : Thanks for your help
: : What caused the laminitis in the first place? If the cause is not known, and not properly addressed, putting this horse to grass might be a mistake. Also, feeding grain to laminitic horses is generally not done. Protein does not cause laminitis except perhaps when in extreme excess. It's more about carbohydrates.
: : My website might be of help. www.safergrass.org
: :
: : Katy
: Bad feed from a mill north of New Orleans. 6 horses so far have founded or gotten laminitis from it. Only letting him graze a couple of hours. Was told by a couple of horseshoers not to give him the supplements yet because of the high protein level in some of them. It's not a grass thing with him.
: Still need to know about rest of questions - Anyone???
Protein is usually NOT the problem.In the majoprity of laminitis cases in recent years, blood tests are revealing hormoinal and mineral imbalances in the horses which create a variety of problems, usually some amount of "insulin resistance"(typr 2 diabetes) ,or low thyroid, or both. Insulin resitance crreats an inability for the horse to properly process sugars in the feed(natural grass sugars and addded mollasses etc)
Go to Yahoo.com, click on "Groups", and join EquineCushings. It is free. Even if your horse does not have 'cushings syndrome', there are deep discussions and references to resources there which will help you and your vets understand what to look for in the underlying cause of the laminitis. Much of this research is new and many veterinarians are not aware of it
Also a terrific new book to help you understand laminitis better ,and learn some good ways to therapeutically shoe the horse is "Equine Laminitis" written by Dr Chris Pollitt, BVs, PhD. You can find it on Amazon com, and in most horse book catalogs.
Patty