Laminitis symtoms

[greydales]

I am aware of the usual lami symptoms but so far (TOUCH WOOD) none of mine have succumbed - considering the grazing I have!

However I noticed yesterday that Olivia's neck is rock solid, and will be moving them all out of the field pronto (thank goodness we've had a spell of dry weather).

Is this a classic symptom or warning sign? She shows no lameness at all. Evn Dan who is much fatter, does not have this hard crest.

[harveydales]

I think it is indeed an early warning sign. The first time Quest got laminitis his crest went solid several weeks before he started to show even the slightest normal symptom. At the time I had no idea and so did nothing to prevent him developing Lami but thankfully you've spotted the signs early on.

A while back someone posted something on the old board about how the crest changes when they are verging on laminitis. I also check pulses religiously this time of year.

[bevbob]

Bobs crest wasnt particularly hard at the time or even before but what I have found consistent in laminitic ponies is the digital pulse is always stronger in the affected feet or foot.
I have felt every horses pulse who has had laminitis on our yard and the pulse is always thumping. Not neccesarily fast just a lot stronger than the other legs.
There hasnt been any heat in the feet I have ever felt either.
I hope its not Gill, fingers crossed.

[jet]

Jodie has had a solid neck for years but(touch wood!) has never had Laminitis. Perhaps it just stays in her neck and doesn't make it's way down to her feet!

[Rowndan]

dan has got a big crest too, but hes wearing his muzzle all day then of at night. how do i take the pulse in his legs?

[bevbob]

I take Bobs in his fetlocks on the inside.
Its quite frustrating at first to know if you are in the right spot and it sometimes takes me a while to locate it. Its good if you can hardly feel it.

Copied from a web site.
Step 1: Squat down on the side of your horse's left front leg, and place your index finger around the left side of the fetlock joint at its lower edge.


Step 2: Apply pressure with your finger, and strum (run your finger from side to side, as though strumming a guitar) around the fetlock joint, until you feel a cordlike bundle (consisting of vein, artery, and nerve) "snap" underneath your touch.


Step 3: Apply pressure to this bundle for 5 to 10 seconds until you feel a pulse. (Note: If you can't find a pulse, adjust the amount of pressure you're placing on the bundle. If you press too hard, you'll cut off blood flow-therefore the pulse. If you press too softly, you won't create enough resistance to feel the pulse at all. Don't get frustrated-practice!)


Step 4: Now here's the tricky part. You need to determine whether your horse's digital pulse is throbbing abnormally. It helps to know what a healthy pulse feels like-but you can't always find a pulse on a healthy leg/hoof. It might be too faint. On the other hand, you'll know he has a problem if you can easily find his digital pulse. (If you're not sure, consult your veterinarian or knowledgeable friend.)


Step 5: Repeat Steps 1 through 4 on your horse's other three legs.

[akehurstannabel]

I was told by my farrier that once they have gone lame the damage has already been done. You really need to catch it at the neck/hot feet/pulse stage. Also be really suspicious of any more lying down than usual even if there is no obvious lameness.

[harveydales]

Yes, I found that too. Quest came down with laminitis in May 7 years ago but in the January of that year he was resting his hind legs/feet more than normal, so much so that I made a note of it but never thought for one minute it might be a precursor to laminitis. Now I'm nurotic about itwhich isn't much help either!

[Biggerside Benwell]

Dannys neck definatly changes with the fructans in the grass, if his goes harder than normal then he gets a extra couple of scoops of NAF D-Tox for a few days which brings it back down. I am also nurotic Pam, but its better to be safe than sorry.

[akehurstannabel]

How does naf dtox work?. I am finding holly's neck hard at the moment. It has been for the last week so I have played it safe and taken her off the grass and into a sand school with hay, but it is taking a long time to go down. Also she really played up being shod three weeks before the onset of acute laminitis. In hindsight this could have been a sign. She also started bucking when asked to trot the last time I rode her before this acute laminitis attack. I felloff and broke my ribs on a frozen furrow so that was the last time I rode her, then she went lame a couple of weeks later. You know your pony, be suspicious of any changes!

[northmare]

Yes it was me who posted the 'cresty neck' question on the old board because Meg often has a hard neck it varies from day to day. Touchwood, she hasn't had laminitis she is out with a muzzle on during the day and in at night (as that is the yard routine I have to stick to it I know it is probably best the other way round).

[dalesponyrider]

Thanks for those instructions on the digital pulse Bev. I have copied and saved it for reference.

D is quite cresty but hasn't had laminitis yet - touch wood! I've got her in a reduced paddock.

[rebeccajane]

I clipped out a friends Dales (type) on Sat he just wasnt happy - big hard crest (not unusual for him) and unwilling to move.

Not lame, no heat in feet no digital pulse.

Cipped him, and helped his person move the electric fence to incarecerate him in a hardcore rather than paddock area, suggested they put a gate on field shelter and shut him in.

After much discussion they decided to call the vet.

Told me later that vet wasn't completely sure but had advised that they treat it as lami.
to shut him in the field shelter give bute etc. they were off to get shavings to make him a bed.

So what else could it be?

[akehurstannabel]

I'd be highly suspicious. Although is he shod? if not could he be a bit footsore? Has he had laminitis before? Hollys soles bruise very easily since she had it.

[akehurstannabel]

Just remembered something about shavings beds for laminitis. The trust suggest an 18" deep shavings bed! Holly would be able to step over her door if I did that. I keep both my beds at about 10" and always bring them right up to the door. But then again everyone at my yard thinks I'm a bit daft!