Experience with Glue-On Shoes for Laminitic Horses?

[hackneymama]

I have a laminitic pony that’s having a hard time on the frozen/rough ground that is a plague in upstate NY this time of year. He recently burst three abscesses at once and had a bout of laminitis as a result. Ugh! Winter laminitis is very much a thing for him.

Traditional nail-on shoes are not an option for him because the nails themselves would be too traumatic for his already damaged feet. He will not keep on boots, and I feel they’re less healthy in the long run because it doesn’t allow the hoof to “breathe”, therefor not being a 24/7 solution.

My farrier and I have discussed the possibility of a thermoplastic glue on shoe as an alternative. It looks good, but expensive. I’m hoping to hear from anyone who has experience specifically with glue-on plastic shoes for laminitic horses/ponies as well as any other alternative shoeing options for these situations that have been successful?

Do know that I’m working closely with my farrier on this as well as doing extensive personal research - looking for anecdotal advice!

TIA!

[NaturallyHappy]

We had a very elderly mare that did well in those glue on “clog” shoes. I know that’s not the same shoe, but the glue worked. We had another elderly horse who did wear cavello (so) boots during the day. Those were game changers for him. He would even canter on frozen ground. Both horses were laminitic. Hope this helps- good luck!

[ASB_Stars]

When Sigafoos was designing and perfecting the most popular glue on shoes sold in this country down at new Bolton Center, I was in and out of there with a friend’s mare who had a resection due to laminitis, And I had the opportunity to see firsthand exactly what went into the design and testing.

they are expensive, due largely to the labor involved with putting them on, but they are absolutely fantastic for your laminitic horse or pony. It’s amazing how much more comfortable they come with those particular type of shoes.

Are They perfect? No. There are different things that happened during the application process that I’ve always kind of questioned. But they keep a sore foot up off of the ground which is very helpful.

[S1969]

My first question is why is the pony laminitic? Laminitis is the symptom - what is the cause? I would at least suggest testing for Cushings if the “pony” + “winter laminitis is a thing.”

When I got my Cushings pony (without knowing he had Cushings) my farrier glued shoes on him for several cycles because he was actively laminitic and needed the extra support. In our case I think he used aluminum shoes and acrylic, which worked well enough because the pony wasn’t really moving around because his feet hurt.

A few weeks in shoes, Prascend and change of diet made him much more comfortable, and then we took the shoes off and he is still barefoot (but still on Prascend).

While the pony might need shoes for longer than a few cycles - it doesn’t change the fact that you need to identify the cause of the laminitis and try to prevent it instead of just support the feet during a flare.

[Sansena]

I worked at a vet clinic where 2 cases were severe enough to live there for several months. We tried everything under the sun to get these horses more comfortable. I will say that glue on shoes were tried, and my only complaint was that they did a lot of damage when they came off. Especially if the horse took them off on their own.

Honestly, after having lived through the treatments of resecting the hoof to relieve pressure, then severing the DDF, corrective shoes, lidocaine blocks administered by catheter several times a day… there’s no one protocol that works for all laminitis cases. As said above, a ton depends upon what caused the laminitis in the first place. Until you get ahead of that, success will be dubious regardless of what you put on their feet.

If your primary concern is getting pony off the frozen, cuppy mud, your best bet is any kind of physical barrier. I see your pony won’t hold boots (love SoftRides!), so I’ll offer a wing-nut treatment that has worked well for me personally in the past:

Head to your auto parts supply store, or Jegs.com and find auto sound insulating material and cut it to roughly the same size as pony’s hoof/ sole. Leave extra on the end, then cut 2 flaps to create a panel off the heel that can be folded up. Then, use elastikon (duct tape or others won’t be durable enough) and tape it physically to a clean and dry hoof. Lastly, you’ll use duct tape, toe to heel with a slight over lap on the edge to slow down wear.

These home made boots stay on, and offer enough of a physical barrier that pony can walk around those rough surfaces with the soles of their feet protected.

It’s a Frankenstein looking remedy, but it will make the pony more comfortable. At least in then short term.

This is one example of the product I’ve used:

https://www.amazon.com/Noico-Insulation-Self-Adhesive-Deadening-Material/dp/B07TKXMPH7/ref=asc_df_B07TKXMPH7/?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=&hvpos=&hvnetw=o&hvrand=&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583589108624772&psc=1

[hackneymama]

Thanks everyone! His laminitis this round was a secondary reaction to bruising from frozen choppy ground and abscess. His previous bout was due to him escaping during a storm and eating lots of nice green grass overnight - obviously not a normal. Hence why winter laminitis is “now a thing” for him. He’s well taken care of. He does not have cushings. We’re working hard to keep him comfortable and prevent future flares. We know the cause. Simply looking to help his damaged feet.

Thanks, Sansena! Exactly what I was looking for.

[S1969]

@hackneymama

Thanks everyone! His laminitis this round was a secondary reaction to bruising from frozen choppy ground and abscess. His previous bout was due to him escaping during a storm and eating lots of nice green grass overnight - obviously not a normal. Hence why winter laminitis is “now a thing” for him. He’s well taken care of. He does not have cushings. We’re working hard to keep him comfortable and prevent future flares. We know the cause. Simply looking to help his damaged feet.

Thanks, Sansena! Exactly what I was looking for.

How do you know he doesn’t have Cushings? If you haven’t tested, I wouldn’t be as confident that the sole bruising/abscesses was a result of the ground versus a metabolic issue. Tender feet and abscesses are a primary symptom of Cushings. It’s not an issue of being “well taken care of” or not - some horses have metabolic issues, regardless of their care.

If you have tested and the frozen choppy ground is still a problem, I might consider shoes with pads in the winter. This is one of the main reasons I have a retired TB in shoes - the fall/spring mud that freezes into ruts is just too painful for her to walk on and results in very sore feet if she spooks or feels like she needs to run.

Obviously at this point you may have to put him in boots or make some sort of protective shoe. But going forward it may be more useful to just shoe in advance of the weather. Duct tape boots will work but not great in the wet weather. I would probably opt for glue-on shoes until he’s more comfortable.

[Nevada10]

My horse has foundered twice. Both times we put him in Sigafoo shoes for a few months with a pour in pad around his frog for support. It was incredible how he’d go from crippled to walking comfortably.

My concern, in your case, is that the pony is abscessing. That won’t work well with glue on shoes. I think I would find boots that fit him properly for the daytime and bring him into a thickly bedded stall at night where he can be named. I really like Cavallo Trek boots.

My horse wears ceramic infused (Back on Track style, but a knock of brand called LUX) bell boots and quick wraps to help with circulation in his front legs during cold weather at night while he’s stabled. It seems to help. i also have him on a supplement called Laminox which helps increase circulation. Be sure to address the cause of his laminitis (Cushings? Metabolic issues?).

[hackneymama]

He has been tested for cushings - we are absolutely positive that his laminitis is a response to abscess and the hard/choppy ground, as is typical in winter laminitis cases around here. Cushings/lyme was our first test. His blood panels are fantastic, he tested neg for cushings/lyme.

He has blown his abscesses and did great for a couple of weeks - now our ground is frozen again and we’re back to square one. No abscess this time, just good old fashioned laminitis… and bruised heel bulbs. Can’t catch a break! The only way to address the cause of his laminitis would be to change New York’s weather patterns. I’ve looked into it. Isn’t possible. So, shoes or boots it is.

Nevada10 - I have considered cavallo boots, but I’ve heard that they can be tricky to fit to ponies. I’ll reach out to the company. Thanks!

[S1969]

So, it sounds like he needs boots or shoes all the time in the winter months. I’m still not sure I would call “feet being sore from the frozen ground” to be laminitis. I suppose the word “laminitis” can be generically used for a variety of foot sore issues, but typically laminitis is used to describe inflammation that is coming from within. If the cause is hard ground and bruised soles, I would doubt it is the same thing.

It’s a pretty easy fix, then. Protect his feet. Even less than perfect boots will be better than no boots. Measure and order what looks to be the best fit. And then when the farrier is there - measure again after the trim. If you have a pony that needs boots all winter - you will need more than one pair anyway.