Hoof Gurus: Xrays Laminitis

[JLR1]

Help hoof gurus. Trifecta of bad things this week for my mare: Laminitis, and diagnosed with Cushings and IR. She is currently on Soft Ride boots. What do you recommend in terms of hoof care once she is out of the acute stage. She has been barefoot for 3 years, but I am open to any and all trimming and or therapeutic shoeing options. Thanks very much for any input.





http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo346/JLR1/BaileyReynoldsRF-2.jpg

http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo346/JLR1/BaileyReynoldsLF-1.jpg

[FatPalomino]

What'd your vet recommend?

[grayarabpony]

Poor thing has some serious rotation! She looks like she's going to need sole support for a while, so whatever the trimming protocol, she will appreciate boots and pads...

[JLR1]

The vet said we'll discuss what to do with her feet in 6-8 weeks...In the mean time I'd like to be gathering as much info as possible from as many different sources to make a sound decision.

[grayarabpony]

Is it typical to wait 6-8 weeks? I guess the vet is waiting for the foot to stabilize...

The only thing I would recommend is backing up the toe some and keeping her soles well supported with boots and pads.

Later on I would try to get her heel back some -- that would involve lowering it a little, so that would be a ways down the road.

[JB]

Why is a discussion waiting 6-8 weeks? Honest question - what does the vet say to do *now*?

[Katy Watts]

If pergolide dose and dietary NSC are properly addressed, cases can stabilize in 2-3 weeks. If it took 6-8 weeks, I would think diet and dose need tweaked. Proper application of frog support and better foot loading and breakover can be a large factor in getting a horse stabilized, so I also do not understand why one would wait that long.
Katy

[Tom Bloomer]

The feet should be "managed" by a farrier that is experienced in the mechanical aspects of dealing with founder. Your vet is not the mechanic. You should not have any expectations that your vet is trained and experienced (real hands-on) in trimming or shoeing.

You have not mentioned anything about who is providing the actual hoof care for the horse. In 6 to 8 weeks the growth in a foundered foot can be as much as 3/4". With a laminar wedge, that growth is "disorganized." Do you have a professional involved?

[LMH]

When my horse Polo foundered he did not have near the rotation that your horse has...

I treated him barefoot, trimming him FREQUENTLY to keep his heels low and his toe relieved. I used boots and pads for comfort.

[matryoshka]

My concern is that he may have sank in both. That's likely to be more of a problem than rotation.

I'd want a farrier who is very experienced in dealing with founder, preferably one who works with a vet on a regular basis.

[LMH]

I agree with Matry---

I am also confused by the delay of 6-8 weeks.

[rcloisonne]

Ditto. Both rads show significant sinking and should be monitored closely (re-x-rayed once/week at a minimum).

I too am totally baffled by the vet's wait and see advice. Is this an equine vet? :no:

[JLR1]

Yes, my vet is from the Equine Hospital here in town. We are having a recheck next week, so I will verify the 6-8 week wait for a farrier. It was my understanding that she wanted to wait until she was out of the acute phase to put shoes on. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. As of today, she seems quite good. I walked her in her soft rides down the barn isle and back and she was moving a whole lot more comfortably. She has never stood in the classic founder stance and is not laying down. She is on 2 grams of Bute a day.

[Androcles]

The Soft Rides are a great boot for foundered horses except that the pad is elevated at the heel. Since you have so much rotation this will exacerbate it. I would suggest planing the pad so that it is level, this will allow a better connection to start growing in right away regardless of what you do about the 6-8 week wait. I know someone who did this for their foundered horse and her results were extremely successful.

[Patty Stiller]

Since you have so much rotation this will exacerbate it. I8disagree horses with 9rotation often are rotating in part due to the pull of the deep flexor tendon. Elevating them in the early stages is critical to help STOP the rotation . It is not something done long term, but can make or break the recovery if done in the early stages . On the other hand horses who are sinking but not rotating do NOY need elevation, nor are they comfortable with it, The horses stance is a huge giveaway as to if they need elevation. basically if they stand camped forward, wedge them, if they stand straight or behind themselves, do not wedge them. ,I would suggest planing the pad so that it is level, this will allow a better connection to start growing in right away regardless of what you do about the 6-8 week wait. See above. I know someone who did this for their foundered horse and her results were extremely successful.Then her horse didn't need a wedge. Every laminitis/founder is individual and should be treated as such.

[Androcles]

I8disagree horses with 9rotation often are rotating in part due to the pull of the deep flexor tendon.

Ah, yes. The mystical, undocumented and unmeasured 'pull' of the deep flexor tendon.