Is My Horse Founder? Symptoms and Treatment?

Question

I board my horse @ a friends ranch. Just recently we started noticing something was wrong w/one of his horses. He had been given a 12yr mare from his boss b/c his boss couldn't afford her anymore. When she breathes, it sounds like she has asthma or something. It sounds like she has a hard time breathing and when she breathes in she makes this deep weezing sound. I refuse to trailride her b/c I'm convinced it's not good for her lungs, but they all say she's fine and that a vet had checked her out and found nothing wrong, but my gut instinct keeps me from riding her.

Just recently (the same time he had her hooves trimmed) she started limpong. Now she walks as if she can't bare wait on her front hooves & today she started stiffening her hind quarters as well. They thought it was justthe trim being too short, but now their saying that she's founder. What are the symptoms and can u treat it? I figured he'd have to med her up to ease the pain. He's considering putting her down?

Answer 1

I am not an expert, luckily I have never had a horse founder, I thought it usually affected there back feet? I may be wrong, but I do know it can be fixed, with meds, a good ferrier and corrective shoeing, if it is a very good horse he may want to consider saving it. It will cost alot of money. My vet also wanred me that they can founder several times before you notice any symptoms a good ferrier or a vet will know most though!!

Answer 2

Founder should be treated immediatly and with some careful care they are not usually put down. Easy boots with styrofoam will help keep her comfortable until the worst passes. The symptoms of founder are digital pulses, heat in the hooves, a rocked back appearance, they move stiffly and carefully. If she wasn't breathing well first she may have gotten in to something toxic which caused the founder. You will need a trimmer that is familiar with treating laminitics and in most cases is more important than even the vet. You do need to resolve why she foundered first. They founder for many reason, Insulin Resistance, Cushings disease, high starch/high fructan diets, toxic reactions. There are several yahoo groups online I would encourage you to get online and get some support and help from those folks. Good luck to you and the mare.

Answer 3

I can't say without pictures and handling the feet.. but if a farrier's trimming short enough to make a horse sore, then he should get another farrier.

My recommendation, is to get a vet and a different farrier out there to take a look at a horse. It'd be a shame to buy $550 shoes for a horse that isn't really foundering..  But on the other side, if the horse is foundering, I'd hire someone who specializes in foundered horses. Too short trimming = REALLY BAD for foundered horse. :(  Sorry.. good luck

Answer 4

The breathing and the foot problems are unrelated, but both can be serious problems. Her feet sound like they are in really bad shape. If she's foundered and in a lot of pain, it may be best to have her euthanized. It takes at least a year to fully re-grow a hoof, and when you're having problems with all of the hooves, the regrowth process is too long and painful. It does sound like founder, and her breathing problems may be associated with dust or illness. If the vet says it's nothing to worry about, then it's nothing to worry about.

I'm just worried about those hooves. Horses who founder that badly don't tend to recover well, and many who survive can never be ridden again due to damage to the coffin bone, and joint problems from standing in odd positions, trying to stand so it doesn't hurt.