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Pre-Surgical Information
Spaying or neutering your pet is a big step! There is a lot to consider
when we are planning your pet’s surgery. Here is some information to help
you make wise decisions.
Click here . . .
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Special LibraryOur Special Library
is a collection of informative articles on a variety of health topics.
Click here . . .
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Discharge InstructionsClick here for
information on how to care for your pet at home.
Click here . . .
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Laminitis Discharge Instructions
Laminitis is a complex disease with
complex treatments. Prevention is the
best medicine, but failing that, here
is a listing of some of the more common things we recommend.
Every laminitic horse needs three things:
One: Phenylbutazone: Phenylbutazone, or bute, is the main medication.
It's anti-inflammatory properties are crucial in fighting the inflammation in
the horse's laminae. It's pain-killing properties are vital in keeping
your horse comfortable, and many believe that it's blood-thinning properties are
important in fighting the circulatory problems that happen in a lamanitic foot.
We give adult horses two grams (tablets) by mouth every 12 hours for at least
two weeks.
Two: A Diet Change. Diets high in soluble carbohydrates are known to
either cause laminitis or to make it worse. Alfalfa hay contains lots of
soluble carbohydrates, and grains contain even more. So does be et
pulp. So does green grass in the early summer, up to say August. Grass hays are
good, but can be hard to find. A second choice would be last year's
alfalfa. The longer alfalfa sits, the fewer soluble carbs it has.
We're not talking spoiled or moldy hay here, just old. Many laminitic
horses have equine Cushings Disease or else Metabolic Syndrome/Insulin
Resistance. This kind of low-carb feeding program helps them as well.
The second way to decrease soluble carbs it to feed less feed. Most
overweight horses are overweight to begin with. We recommend cutting the
hay ration in half. At least. Scant rations can go a long ways to helping
sore horses recover. They will not starve to death. However, they
might very well die from laminitis complications, so it is worth it.
Three: Rest. Because the laminitic horse's feet are self-destructing
before our eyes, it is important to give them rest. No riding or working
sore horses. Two weeks after they are no longer visibly lame is the
absolute minimum.
Most lamanitic horses need their feet trimmed by a professional. Not
all of them, bu t
most seem to have long feet. It is a great idea to get x-rays to evaluate
the feet for the presence of rotation of the coffin bone. Good trimming
can make them much more comfortable and speed recovery. Bad trimming can
send them crashing down in flames. Don't dothis yourself unless you have a
lot of experience.
Some laminitic horses need special shoes. These shoes are used to provide
support to unstable feet. We use these in horses that are severe, or that
do not respond to other treatments. There are as many good ways to
accomplish this as there are good farriers, so no specifics here. We can
refer you to some good farriers if needed.
Most laminitic horses feel better if they are stalled in sand. The more
serious the case, the more strongly we recommend this, but even the
mildly-affected horses feel much better in the sand. Fill a boxstall at
least 4 inches deep. Straw or shavings are not the same, although any soft
bedding promotes lying down, which is a good thing for foot-sore horses.
An ounce of prevention is worth tons of cure. Any horse that has ever had
one laminitis episode is likely to have others, and the damage just adds up with
each episode. The grass in the early spring is especially likely to
trigger an attack. Laminitic horses should not be allowed to graze from
March through the end of July, and then carefully. Also, avoid alfalfa
hay, especially the nice stuff. Avoid all grains, especially corn and
barley. An exception would be the new, low-carbohydrate feeds now
available for insulin resistant horses. Above all, make sure your horse
does not get fat. A golf ball placed on his back should roll off, not back
and forth. Keep an eye out for the cresty neck that laminitis-prone horses
develop. An example is the Appaloosa in the picture above. Cresty is
bad, and means that they need less to eat. If they are on pasture, lock
them up either all night or all day. And finally, keep up on the
foot-trimming.
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