Re: Lameness - arthritis or laminitis?

I know you're what I would term an 'experienced' laminitic owner, so perhaps I'm teaching my grandmother to suck eggs !!

From my experience of laminitis and Cushings, they stick the front legs out to load their weight on their heels, as the toes are painful, which doesn't sound like your girl is doing.

Also if she's not moving much over night and so is stiff in the morning, that would perhaps indicate arthritis more than anything, as they tend to stiffen up easily if they don't keep moving.

Would it be possible to let her have 24/7 turnout, but limited to the yard, or on a small patch of ground with access to shelter so she can move around all the time?

And 2 danilon a day is quite a high dose for her to still be showing discomfort......

Hope this has helped, and that you can sort out what the problem is.

Sue

xx

Re: Lameness - arthritis or laminitis?

hi, not much help on Lami but i did have an arthritic chap.  He used to really stiffen up overnight as it got colder and damper, to the point he wouldhave to stretch his back legs out fully before he would walk out of the stable.  He was on a sachet of bute a day, which at 17h isnt a lot at all, and he had joint supplements. I found that wrapping his legs at night made a big difference.  Could be something to try to see if she's any more comfortable of a morn?

Re: Lameness - arthritis or laminitis?

I often wonder why this little mare can't do anything normally!  She just loves to pop another challenge into the health pot.  I decided last night to only give her half a sachet of danilon and same this morning to see if she was worse, better or the same - I suppose in my mind if she was worse then yes too laminitis, if no different then more likely arthritis.

So far this morning I would say she is about the same, currently resisting bearing weight on the front right which is bent at the knee and resting on her toe.  I did also pop on a lightweight rug last night as with her you are never sure if she is sweating because of the Cushing's and she did feel cold so I decided being toastie was better.  I have found some legs wraps which she could wear tonight - she hates these and will spend most the night trying to get the off!

My Vet is away at the moment so I will have to wait to get her x rayed, I think for her its best to have consistancy and the same vet seeing her, I suppose the fact her feet were so unbalanced on trimming would not have helped. I keep questionning my judgement, but I really should follow my instincts as they are normally right, I was right with the Cushings and that took 18 months to get a positive result!

It would also answer why she was so difficult to load onto the lorry when we moved, she just could not walk up the ramp and kept wanting to turn to get on the ramp. And now I think about it, it was just after the first few chilly nights/days she went footy. So now I am thinking because of her history we just assume if she is lame or footy it must be laminitis!  Sorry I think I am just typing what I am thinking here!!!!  Thanks for your helps guys, I will see how she goes today on less pain relief, hopefully no worse!!!