Quest update - any thoughts/comments please

[harveydales]

Quest has now been stabled 24hours. Still no raised pulses or laminitis indications from that point of view and the sole bruising is less obvious (because he feet aren't as clean as they were when he was on the frosty ground). The bruising is still definately there but if I hadn't known beforehand, I would have missed it.

His feet are still very hot and now the fetlocks are thickened due to being stabled and his age/arthritis. I'm going to keep him in over the weekend, see how he goes and then make some sort of decision on Monday.

If he appears to be moving better, I can't decide whether he would be better off going back to living out, but on more restricted grazing (just in case). Or whether I should go back to my old system of having him out through the day and in at night.

he certainly has been moving better these last few months he's been living out. But it is still a worry that he could be more at risk of lami aswell as the bruising now he's barefoot. On the other hand, there are lots of other health benefits of living out, not to mention my own health benefits of not having the mucking out work!

Any thoughts please?

[SuzieP]

Perhaps you could try putting him out during the day on restricted grazing and in at night for a few days and see how he goes?? Then if all seems OK he could go back out again full time.

It's such a worry for you - I do hope you can get it sorted. X

[harveydales]

Thanks Sue. Yes, at them moment I'm thinking that if his seems OK on Monday, I'll turn him out just for a few hours and go from there. I can't decide it he would be better off on the restricted grazing which is short green looking grass or the bigger area which is longer but dead looking grass. Decisions!

[Rowndan]

oh pam. bl**dy lami is such a worry!! i think resticted grazing is the only way with them. maybe start with a really small square say 10 by 10 or what ever you feel comfy with. When dan first went out his little bit was as big as his stable!! then just make it bigger and bigger as the days go on that way he never gets to much grass as it will always be eaten off and maybe supplement with a little soaked hay ( i soaked dans all night so all the goodness was gone from it) dan is having happy hoof now too twise a day which he seems to be enjoying.

im so sorry your going threw this pam is so cr£ppy sending you a big hug x

[Debbie]

What a nightmare! Is there any way you can tape something to his hooves so they help to cushion his feet on the frozen ground?

From everything I've read, the longer stuffs has less fructans in it, so less chance of lami from it. Apparently its also not as palatable as the short green stuffs....so less sugars?

[knight]

Poor Quest, Topaz can sympathize fully as she's quite footy right now also. However I do agree that living out and keeping moving keeps her healthier & feeling better most of the time. Topaz seems to do well with a pair of Boa boots & a set of cusioning inserts inside. She bruises when the clay mud dries hard, like Quest's bruising from the hard frozen ground I think. Boots are a though anyway and you have the control to use them only when they're needed, rather than shoeing. Our grass is mostly dead so like you I'm thinking Topaz is bruising, not having lami - knock on wood.

[harveydales]

Nancy, that's interesting about Topaz and the Boa boots. I do have a pair I got for Harvey when he first went barefoot but I think they will be too big for Quest. I might give it a go though. I anticipate Quest having similar problems in the summer when our heavy clay soil dries. I did try taping pads on but they didn't stay on long. They say you shouldn't use boots for long periods but maybe it is worth a go - my gut feeling is that Quest does better overall living out.

[nars]

I thought longer, 'dead' grass would be safer than short sweet grass, so maybe he would be better on the old grass living out. Can he be muzzled at all. Pam?

I would think if his legs are swelling so much after a short stay in then being outdoors would be easier for him. What a worry for you.

[knight]

To keep from having the boots on for long periods I tend to put Topaz on in daytime only and off at night when she's less active anyway since Knight likes to lounge around the barn most of the night. Again just an idea. It is always a worry with our lami prone ones, but I agree with you that I think they do better living out, despite the constant worry about the grass.

[harveydales]

thanks Nancy and Jacqui. I'm going to put him out today and then make a decision later on whether to bring him in for the night or leave him out. I will try Harvey's boots for size but I can see I will have to get a smaller pair for Quest. I think 2nd hand ones often come up on the EE site so that might be worth a look.

Jacqui - I can't muzzle Quest because he is a head shaker with a very itchy nose and I know he would get himself into trouble trying to rub the muzzle off. In fact, how Quest has managed to survive to the age of 25 with all his problems I just don't know.

The hay paddock grass is really looking very ropey now and I can't see it would pose a risk. Trouble is, the only access to it is through the other paddocks but at the moment they are looking pretty dreadful too - mostly a big lake!

[greydales]

I would also stick to the longer grass Pam, if your short grass looks anything like mine, resembling spring grass! If I were you I'd definitely try the boots with pads and see how he goes. The pads I had in mind were Sole Mates: www.equinepodiatry.net/Hoof%20Care%20Products.htm

[harveydales]

Thanks Gill. I will try and get hold of some pads then. jane is coming Tuesday week so hopefully she will have some suggestions too.

I turned him out this morning and he shot out of the stable, was fine on the concrete but a bit hesitant on my hardcore area. then he shot off into the paddock, had a good long roll and trotted round loooking 100%. I'll keep and eye on him through the day and then make a decision at tea time.

[bevbob]

Poor Quest, how is he now Pam? Im wondering if it is just bruising of the soles. Bobs is absolutely sound on soft ground and flat hard surfaces and I am thinking he has bruised his soles as they are quite flat. The barefoot trimmer said she would like to see more concavity in his fronts. The back ones are fine.
Anyway, I hope this is just the case for Quest.

[harveydales]

Thanks for asking Bev. Yes, Quest's front feet are also fairly flat since his original Lami attack and I'm hoping it is just bruising from the frozen ground and not lami. He really hasn't shown any lami signs such as the raised pulses and I'm neurotic about feeling for pulses. I've got him living out again and he is fine, except for when he crosses the short stretch of hardcore to get to his stable.

My trimmer is due on Tuesday so I'll discuss it with her. It doesn't bode that well for staying barefoot when the ground goes hard in the summer. I think you did try Bobs barefoot and found he couldn't take it. Was that before or after his first lami episode? It is such a worry knowing what to do for the best isn't it?

[knight]

How's Quest doing, Pam, better or still footy on the hardcore? I'll be interested to hear what your trimmer thinks. Topaz is worse & I will have to get the farrier back out. Our poor lami prone ones.