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Post by sparkle123 on Sept 28, 2014 14:11:43 GMT
Hello,
I was just wondering if anyone had any tips or advice for ponies recovering from metabolic laminitis. Our 14hh m&m whp suffered a freak bout of it in April, was on box rest for two months and came back into work in July. During this time he obviously lost a lot of weight and most of his muscle due to his strict diet. He is now back in full work, jumping keenly and seems fit and happy, although you can still see his ribs when he moves and has little muscle. Obviously our number one priority it that he's happy and healthy, but does anyone have any suggestions on how to put the weight back on safely? He's on an Alpha-A laminitis chaff with a superfix supplement, out on a very bare paddock for a view hours in the morning and late afternoon , and has a small soaked hay net late at night, as well as being ridden 5/6 times a week.
Many thanks
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Post by oldschooler on Sept 28, 2014 14:59:22 GMT
Hello, I was just wondering if anyone had any tips or advice for ponies recovering from metabolic laminitis. Our 14hh m&m whp suffered a freak bout of it in April, was on box rest for two months and came back into work in July. During this time he obviously lost a lot of weight and most of his muscle due to his strict diet. He is now back in full work, jumping keenly and seems fit and happy, although you can still see his ribs when he moves and has little muscle. Obviously our number one priority it that he's happy and healthy, but does anyone have any suggestions on how to put the weight back on safely? He's on an Alpha-A laminitis chaff with a superfix supplement, out on a very bare paddock for a view hours in the morning and late afternoon , and has a small soaked hay net late at night, as well as being ridden 5/6 times a week. Many thanks You must not be too anxious about putting weight on at this moment. My traditional (EMS sufferer 3 years ago), has not been out on grass at all this summer. He was about 6 months on weighed soaked hay until we got to the stage where I could begin riding him and get him to the point we are at now. He stables overnight, goes in the barn in the morning, and out into the yard at lunch time for the afternoon with another lami pony. His hay - never haylage - is in a small hole haynet and he only has one scoop of Safe and Sound at night (dust my better half says.) He is ridden as often as possible and I weigh tape him weekly. You must keep riding him, lots of active walking particularly over hilly ground, as that will be the best help for him. If you can get to the point that you do not soak your hay, that will help him begin to put on weight. Please, please do not rush this. Autumn is the time when laminitis reoccurs, and stressed grass is very dangerous. Think of all the work you have done so far, don't spoil it by rushing now. I would be thinking of aiming for next year, keep him sound over the winter.
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Post by Philippa on Sept 28, 2014 19:41:44 GMT
Sorry to hijack but you sound like you know what you are doing, hope you might help. I've an EMS diagnosed this year pony. She went over at the beginning of July quite severely and I've just got her to the point where I was going to start walk work with her this week - that was until she went cripple lame on her worst foot 3 days ago. Nothing has changed in diet or maintenance. She's been on box rest since July and last week the vet saw her and said yes start walk work. She's on freestep lam alert, top spec top chop lite & top spec anti lam. Only a handful for her powders & hay.
She's been getting her shoes done 5 weekly, which should have been last Thursday, blacksmith couldn't come til Tuesday this week which will nearly be 6 weeks. Could this be enough to have tipped her over?? I'm at my wits end
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Sept 29, 2014 5:45:51 GMT
sparkle123 - he should regain his muscle gradually with work in a correct outline so that he is using the top line muscles, and a diet with sufficient quality protein to build muscle tissue - protein won't hurt laminitics. What he doesn't need to do is gain fat. I suggest you talk to your vet or an equine nutritionist re a suitable diet. Mine, who wasn't a working pony, lived on TS Top Chop Lite and TS AntiLam like Philippa's, and as far as I can remember no hay at all. Alfalfa is a good source of quality protein.
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Post by sparkle123 on Sept 29, 2014 10:45:53 GMT
Thank you for your responses, that's really helpful. We will go in search of some hills- but yes he is having a quiet winter. Phillipia - I'm not sure if I can say anything to help with your comment, sorry, I can't imagine the farrier being a couple of days late would cause such lameness..
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Post by Philippa on Sept 29, 2014 11:23:07 GMT
Yes he said that too, im at a bit of a loss but vet @ farrier coming together tomorrow to discuss.
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Post by fanfarefan on Sept 29, 2014 18:43:14 GMT
A shot in the dark Philippa , but has your pony had a flu jab recently ,,,,,, as regards the feet our EMS/ cushings pony will go very lame if the farrier is not out at a certain time , with her its to do with the balance of the heal .
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Post by Philippa on Sept 29, 2014 19:14:10 GMT
A shot in the dark Philippa , but has your pony had a flu jab recently ,,,,,, as regards the feet our EMS/ cushings pony will go very lame if the farrier is not out at a certain time , with her its to do with the balance of the heal . Yes she had her 2nd jab of a new course just over a week ago. Also she seems a bit unbalanced.
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Post by fanfarefan on Sept 29, 2014 19:34:06 GMT
the only reason i say that is our pony had her worst bout of laminitis after having her flu jab , ,,, we now have to risk her not having them , as the risk is too great ,the vet couldnt explain why she was so bad with the laminitis , and wouldnt really comment as to whether it was the jab , but absolutely nothing else had changed in her routine, she ended up on 6 months box rest, we assume that with the cushings aswell which comprimises the immune system that with a live vaccine she couldnt cope with it ,,,, i do hope that its not the case with your pony
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Post by Philippa on Sept 29, 2014 19:43:50 GMT
Oh heck. I'm just redoing her jabs to be in line with FEI rules ready for HOYS qu next year (if she's ever sound again). I also hope it's not this. Thanks for the info. It seems the slightest thing is setting them off nowadays.
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Post by hedgehopper on Sept 29, 2014 19:50:35 GMT
We found it very difficult to find suitable feeds for our recovered ems pony,he has ad lib hay soaked for 12 hours, lamichaff, and speedibeet and you can feed up to 500 ml of oil to help with condition, he also has maximum of 3 hours turnout on bare paddock and is exercised every other day.. He is 21 and so well he bounces but he will always look like a race horse not a show hunter pony!! We found any changes in diet and wormers and jabs could trigger a response and cause an attack. Exercise is the key, careful with the grass, it's been a mild autumn, and good luck.
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Post by Philippa on Sept 29, 2014 20:00:43 GMT
That's interesting re the jabs, will see what vet reckons tomorrow, I haven't dared let her out again yet due to the weather and it being 'September grass' I've just put her a round pen up which has rough grass in, would you start to turn her out even if she's slightly off her legs???
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