What is going on with my horses?

Question

My gelding has had laminitis since May. He has been doing very well the past week and 1/2. I decreased the Bute and now he is showing signs of tenderness. My mare, who has been great, now is lame and displaying signs of laminitis. They have been on stall rest and receiving the same food/hay. What is going on? I'm about at my wits end. I gave the mare an injection of Banamine this afternoon and she is a tad better tonight. Any suggestions, instructions any help, please. I'm very frustrated and unsure what to do. Thanks.

Answer 1

If they both have it, look for the common denominator.  Something in what they are eating is the most likely place to start.  I'd go over the pasture with a fine tooth comb to find out if you have a new weed.  All of the treatment in the world is worthless if you don't identify the cause...my time and energy would go into that.  Have everything tested if that's what it takes.  Nothing is more heartbreaking than to see your horse suffer only to find out it could have been prevented.

Answer 2

Are they kept in stalls normally or out in pasture?

What are you feeding them?  What amount of feed (Hay and grain) are you feeding them?  

IF you haven't dropped the quantity of feed down since the founder started, it could be a food founder.  Right off the bat, you drop ALL grain and back off on alfafa hay.  They are going to drop weight, but then that's expected.

You can put shoes on them to help eleviate the pain.

http://www.eponashoe.com/

These shoes really help sore footed horses.  Of course there's always the old fashion way of taking a shoe and putting it on backwards...

Answer 3

If your horses are still sore and you do want to give them something for it you could try some herbs that you can put into their food  Devil's claw is good as an anti inflammatory and white willow bark is a good pain killer. I use these on my old guy for his arthritis  and it does seem to help him. You can get these from a health food supply store and most are willing to discount when you buy in bulk.  In the meantime make sure you are not giving your horses any forms of protein especially any oils as this will aggrevate the situation Horses take a long time to break down proteins and any excess usually ends up affecting their legs and hooves  similar to a human getting gout.

Good luck  hope all goes well.

Answer 4

Get a vet and farrier out there. Bute is basically pain-killers for horses - so yes, taking him off of pain killer, would make him sore again.

Answer 5

The only thing i can tell u is that u really should call a vet

Answer 6

Check for any toxic weeds in your fields. If their isn't enough grass they'll eat anything green, and stuff they normally would avoid. Some of the weeds are like poison to a horse.

  If they're stalled a lot look for buildup of chemicals in the ground from urine and poor ventilation.

  Check and see there is no mold in any of your buckets or feed bins or where any of that stuff is stored.

  I'm grasping at straws here trying to think of something the Vet may not have though of.

Answer 7

CALL YOUR VET!

Answer 8

I think its time for you to evaluate your feeding program and the nutritional content of your grass. Are any of your horses are over weight? I'd call your feed company and ask to speak to a nutritionist.

Answer 9

Often what happens when the laminitis  comes an abscess. Have your farrier or vet check for this.