Horse starting to look laminitic - what next?

[Harley_s_mom]

If I were you, I’d get his metabolic profile done when the vet comes out. They’ll draw blood, and will be able to tell you how well his metabolism is working. They can test for IR, signs of Cushings, and thyroid function. Our Arab is an easy keeper, and put on weight at the end of show season last fall. We did a metabolic profile test (I think it cost something like 60$) and found out his thyroid gland is underactive. He went on a thyroid medication for most of the winter, and I cut back on his hay and beet pulp and he is looking great now. He is off the meds, and I actually increased his hay slightly because he’s being conditioned for show season now.

I agree with everyone that laminitis is terrifying and should not be taken lightly even if there is the shadow of a doubt. My neighbors nearly lost their horse to laminitis. You don’t want to let it get that far. Get your hay tested (also a very cheap test), soak it for now, and do not let him have any grass or any sugar of any kind (including treats). You’ll be glad you took extra precautions if he turns out to be at risk of laminitis, and if not, then there is no harm done. Good luck!

[Sansena]

OP: Understand that untreated laminitis will lead to the eventual sloughing of the hoof capsule. The coffin bone will punch through the sole of the hoof causing excruciating pain and systemic infection. This is why everyone is saying this is an emergent situation.

This vet is a bit wordy but easy enough to listen to and pretty informative.
typical gait of a laminitic horse

[S1969]

@gahorseygal

Neither my vet or farrier felt it was an emergency, so I’m assuming the farrier was referring to the horses body condition. He was seen less than two months ago by my vet for his annual and my equine nutritionist. They agreed that he was a tad overweight then and my nutritionist wanted me to continue the feed plan she has set up for him with the plan to re-evaluate if started look like he was gaining weight. (The horse has only been with me about 2 months)

Recently I noticed he was looking like he was indeed putting on weight, I mentioned this to my farrier, along with his stiffness to the right when circling. She noticed he was walking short strided. She said he was starting to look laminitic, to take him off grain and grass, and keep an eye on it. Because she was so casual about it I didn’t think much of it - but thought I would check in here since I don’t have any experience with laminitis, and don’t really know what to look for!

My nutritionist suggested a ration balancer to replace the grain.

He is off grass until my vet comes (per vet request). He is not visibly lame to my eye but I may try to get a video for those of you who have a better eye.

I could feel the tiniest digital pulse in his right front, but none in his left front. However I have never felt for that before so take that for what it is!

How much grass was the horse getting?

Spring grass is really difficult for many horses to tolerate. It’s just so high in sugar and they want to eat it so much.

How much grain/what type was the horse getting?

Bottom line if the horse is overweight, they are a candidate for laminitis. If any horse (overweight or not) is eating a lot of spring grass, they are a candidate for laminitis. The two together aren’t usually a good combination.

It won’t hurt anything to take the horse off grain entirely and soak your hay until the vet comes to evaluate. It would probably do any overweight horse some good - so that’s what I would do.

In the future, it might be in the best interest of the horse not to give it grass turnout, at all. Or, limit it or muzzle the horse, or both.

[Harley_s_mom]

For the record, my neighbor’s horse foundered on hay. No grass, just hay. He was overweight for a long time, and the vet and trimmer told the owners that he needed to lose weight, but he never did. I don’t know what triggered it, but it wasn’t grass, so if the OP, or anyone else is thinking a horse can’t be laminitic unless it has had access to large quantities of fresh grass, that is not the case. They very nearly put him down, but he recovered, and has finally lost the weight, but he may never be ridden again.

[gahorseygal]

Good news! Vet said everything looked good, no lameness and negative hoof testers. His concern is the clover in our pasture so he did recommend keeping him in the dry lot until the clover burns out and hand grazing for 20 mins/day. He is fine to go back to work.

The horse is on a low NSC grain but we are switching to a diet balancer which the vet approved of as well. He scored him at a body condition of 7 but thinks with the diet balancer, adjusted turnout (only 3 hours once the clover dies out) and exercise he should maintain a good weight.

[gahorseygal]

Thank you so much to everyone for your responses and advice as well as information. I’ve learned a lot about laminitis and feel better prepared in the future!

[candyappy]

@gahorseygal

Good news! Vet said everything looked good, no lameness and negative hoof testers. His concern is the clover in our pasture so he did recommend keeping him in the dry lot until the clover burns out and hand grazing for 20 mins/day. He is fine to go back to work.

The horse is on a low NSC grain but we are switching to a diet balancer which the vet approved of as well. He scored him at a body condition of 7 but thinks with the diet balancer, adjusted turnout (only 3 hours once the clover dies out) and exercise he should maintain a good weight.

We have clover in our hay fields and it never burns out?? The small white ladino clover that causes slobbers( in some) might , but that will be a long while down the road.

Have you thought about a grazing muzzle? I just started using a Green Guard on my mare and it is a huge improvement ( 100%) over basket muzzles. She still hates it but she spends her days with her head down trying to get as much grass as possible and doing a lot of walking in the process.

At least that way he can be out and get his little bit of grass that way. Better than hand grazing and it keeps them moving.

[gahorseygal]

@candyappy

We have clover in our hay fields and it never burns out?? The small white ladino clover that causes slobbers( in some) might , but that will be a long while down the road.

Have you thought about a grazing muzzle? I just started using a Green Guard on my mare and it is a huge improvement ( 100%) over basket muzzles. She still hates it but she spends her days with her head down trying to get as much grass as possible and doing a lot of walking in the process.

At least that way he can be out and get his little bit of grass that way. Better than hand grazing and it keeps them moving.

Our clover is the white clover. I’m in North Georgia, and when it gets hot and dry it will die down. Our grass is also grazed down at the moment, but as the grass comes back up it will choke out the clover as well. We are currently fencing another pasture to allow for better rotation but right now we are letting the grass rest. I don’t mind the hand grazing! They have a large dry lot that allows for plenty of movement.

I asked about a muzzle but the vet didn’t feel it was necessary.

[Haylter]

Glad you got some good news!

[candyappy]

@gahorseygal

Our clover is the white clover. I’m in North Georgia, and when it gets hot and dry it will die down. Our grass is also grazed down at the moment, but as the grass comes back up it will choke out the clover as well. We are currently fencing another pasture to allow for better rotation but right now we are letting the grass rest. I don’t mind the hand grazing! They have a large dry lot that allows for plenty of movement.

I asked about a muzzle but the vet didn’t feel it was necessary.

It might be something to keep in the back of your mind, especially if he is an easy keper.

If you enjoy hand grazing than go to it!!

[gahorseygal]

@candyappy

It might be something to keep in the back of your mind, especially if he is an easy keper.

If you enjoy hand grazing than go to it!!

Definitely, CandyAppy!

Life is busy with a full time job and two young children so it’s nice to have an excuse to go spend 20 minutes with the horses after the kids are in bed.