Laminitis question?

Question

Hi everyone

I've had an ongoing issue with my mini fallabella x where he's been passed from vet to farrier with his diagnosis of sore feet. It seems to increase around the times of the year for laminitis, which caused me to ring the vet as although there was no digital pulse, and him being light in his weight I wanted to be sure. The vet tested his hooves and just told me to box rest him. I called the farrier who said he had blood in his white line but nothing major and so I kept in in box rest with only poor hay. A month later he was still sore and so another visit from the vet and farrier and both said wasnt laminitis, so out he went again but with a muzzle on (just to be sure). That started the 1st week of April and he is still sore now and has not had his muzzle off when out on grass.

What I want to know is if I try him on grass without his muzzle on how quickly would laminitis show (if it is that that is affecting him)? Would it be hours/ days?

Answer 1

I have been treating my own mare with Founderguard for laminitus for many years and I doubt if you pony has it especially as the vet and farrier could not find any symptoms.

Do also bear in mind that the digestive system of the horse can shut down if it does not receive enough bulk to keep it working.

I think you need to look for another reason.  There are many good websites about lameness try some of these;

Answer 2

From what you say, you don't have a diagnosis of laminitis from your vet or your farrier.  Sore feet does not always mean laminitis.  I'm curious as to how long is "ongoing" - months - years?  It doesn't make sense to me that you treat him for a problem your vet and farrier repeatedly says he doesn't have???  Again, curious about "blood in the white line".  Does he have white line separation?  a lamellar wedge?  You indicated that he has bruising on his feet but in and of itself, that  does not usually produce the symptoms you describe.  A bruise can happen up close to the coronary band and it won't show until is grows out to the bottom of the foot 9 months later.  Bruising does not usually produce symptoms.  You talk about him being sore-footed on gravel roads but quite comfortable with normal gaits and behavior in grassy areas.  That sounds like he has thin and sensitive soles.  I have to wonder how he is trimmed.  When he gets trimmed, does he get his sole hacked on and trimmed away?  If he has thin soles and tender soles, a knife should NEVER touch the soles of his feet.  Even if he just packs on some flaky exfoliating sole, it should be left alone to try to protect his feet.  Laminitis is a systemtic reaction to a nutritional or health crisis in a horse.  Your horse can have "minor" laminitic events without having the usual symptoms hot feet and bounding pulses.  Does your horse have a lot of ridges on his hoof wall?  The hoof wall can give you a picture of what has been going on in your horse's system for almost an entire year.  I recently trimmed some horses in the Appalachian area (these were mostly problem horses), and they all had relatively the same pattern of ridges in their feet.  I call these ridges "event lines" because they show you when your horse had an event.  He may not have shown outward signs or lameness, but the changes were there.  Lots of horses will not have overt symptoms.   Multiple ridges indicate multiple events over time.  Especially if your little guy is sound in the pasture, I would not recommend that he be in a stall as this is not good for him.  If he can move around, he should be allowed to do so.  The more he moves, the better he should be as it will help him with circulation and the system of pumps in his feet and legs, not to mention that he will be happier.  If he is happier with his life, it is likely that he will be less stressed and this can only be better for his feet and overall health.  Standing around in a stall can produce more problems or greatly inhibit the improvement of foot concerns.  Perhaps you should consider getting a second opinion from other vets or farriers.  It can't hurt and a different viewpoint can be good.  If your horse has an episode of acute laminitis, there will be no doubt but you have no evidence that laminitis is a factor.  I have to wonder if there is a problem that is not being recognized.  If so, you are not getting any help.  If the problem is sore, thin soles, has he always had them, if not, why now?  What else has changed?  I would not recommend shoes at all, especially since he does well on grass.  If he has no particular job to do, there is no reason to stress him out in any way.  Just let him be a horse.  I'm sorry about your problems.  I hope my comments give you something to think about so you can try to figure out some answers that will allow you to help your horse.  It's just another viewpoint.  good luck to you.  These things can be so difficult and take a long time to resolve.  Don't give up.

Answer 3

If you're trotting him on concrete, could be a form of road founder, BUT it sounds like he just has thin soles.  You may try shoeing him with epona shoes in the front.  Those would help with the rocks and such that seem to be bugging his soles.  Talk to your shoer about it.  Not sure if they make them that small for minis, but you could shoot them an e-mail and ask.

http://www.eponashoe.com/support/contact...

Best of luck.

Answer 4

You didn't offer the vet's diagnosis.  Has the horse been x-rayed?  That might tell you for sure.  Otherwise, he just may have thin soled and thin walled feet that keep him sore.  Without a complete exam with x-rays, you won't know if it's laminitis or not.