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The Laminitis Site

Trimming the laminitic horse

6/25/2013

2 Comments

 

Farriers and trimmers may need to modify their approach to trimming a laminitic horse, and consider the horse's comfort. The farrier trimming this pony wanted her to walk across bare cobblestones and stand on tarmac to be trimmed - she has next to no sole protecting the tip of her pedal bone, the outline of the bone can be clearly seen. He was persuaded to trim her on her deep sawdust bed - he was able to carry out a good realigning trim and she was comfortable throughout.
Picture
The last two laminitic horses I have seen trimmed have both had a farrier refuse to let them put their foot down, despite both being in obvious pain from active laminitis. Farriers and trimmers must recognise the difference between a horse that is in pain and a horse that is being difficult (although they should ask why that horse is being difficult). Horses with laminitis naturally "paddle" - they often cannot stand for long on three feet, or excessively weight bear on an affected foot. Working with the horse, allowing frequent rest breaks, asking her (or him) to pick up her foot when she has sorted out how to bear her weight on the other 3 feet, allowing her to put her foot down when she says she has to and providing cushioning or padding under the weight bearing feet will usually get the job done as quickly if not quicker than fighting with the horse, with far less stress for all concerned, and less risk of injury.

The approach to the trim should be considered too - if the horse is uncomfortable, the minimum should be done - the toe shortened and heel lowered to ensure the hoof is perfectly aligned with the pedal bone, and the walls bevelled to reduce weight bearing and therefore separating forces - it doesn't have to be pretty, just functional. Both farriers I've watched recently have spent time removing uninfected frog that was needed for weight bearing, and vital sole protection in front of the frog - why? And then "prettied" the feet off - it's not about making the feet look pretty for the owner, it's about making the horse comfortable, realigning the hoof to the pedal bone, and returning him or her to soundness as soon as possible.
2 Comments
Christine
11/7/2016 03:23:24 am


Hello all, glad you're here for support!

I wondered if you could give me some feedback....
I have a small, fine boned, pony that foundered last year. He's 14 yo.The rotation was mild but it still took 6 months for full recovery (I'm now jumping him). He's been sound for a year.
The cause was over feeding by my then new barn. He had a double butt and fat deposits over his rear. He does have high insulin but his Cushings test came back within range but on the higher side. That was taken in October last year.

I bagged his (now) Bermuda hay and gave him supplements for his insulin including Chromium, Cinnamon, Magnesium, and Heiro. I first cut his feed way down then I was able to increase it slowly. He looked great and was sound!!!
For his feet I ended up doing them myself and kept the toe shorter and the heels lower, following the coffin bone's outline per the x-rays. I left his frogs and the soles of his feet pretty much alone. Just kept them 'tidy'.

I moved him to a show barn about two months ago to get some show miles on him. By now he looked great with a couple of super mild fat deposits over his rear. I was still feeding him the same way.
I used a new farrier with a great reputation who, I thought, understood laminitis.
The farrier trimmed him without my being there. I guess I wasn't clear enough
He took off his frogs, saying they were shedding anyway. He, at first, left the sole alone.
My pony was very sore and lame (a 2 or 3). The guys at the barn used turpentine for his frogs, daily.
The Shoer went back to check on him but this time removed some sole (without my permission).
After a month he wasn't getting better. He was now a grade 1 lameness on the off fore.
The Shoer trimmed him again (I didn't know he was coming) and I had the vet check him. He passed his flexion tests but was a 1 on his off fore. That foot tends to stack a heel and I have to keep an eye on it. It was a bit high and slightly under slung.
We put him on Previcox and he did well. We started riding him lightly.
(By now I was noticing new fat deposits which were getting worse. One of the guys that was feeding him was throwing him a scoop of Senior and rice bran; not what he should be getting. I happened to catch him).
The next day I had a lesson on him (or started to) and he was pretty lame, this time on his near fore.
I immediately called the vet and had new xrays done.

The xrays looked identical to the initial ones. The vet noticed the fat deposits and said he looked like a different pony from when I sent him to the new barn (I had pictures I took the last day I left the old barn). He had pain in the outside part of the sole on his near fore. The vet questioned whether it might be a stone bruise since it happened overnight. I also question the turpentine.
She also noticed the high heels, especially on the off fore plus scaling on the soles.
She said he needs careful and slow trimming to realign the base of the foot to the coffin bone.

The next day I checked his feet while picking them out, after I hand walked him, and I noticed a hole in his sole close to the white line. It looks as if this was from the turpentine.

I'm running scared now. I'm not sure I trust this trainer. I pay for full training (very expensive) and he reluctantly gave me a meager discount. Plus he doesn't appear to want me to be there for the farrier.

The vet thinks that the pony could be sound in a month with a tightly controlled diet and careful trimming.

Please I need suggestions. These are the questions I have:

1. If I move this pony where could I take him?
(I have to give 30 days notice at this barn)

2. Does anyone know of a well qualified barefoot trimmer that will work with me on this? The pony is located 35 - 40 miles or so north of Los Angeles.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated🙂
Thanks so much!!





Sent from my iPhone

Reply
Andrea
11/14/2016 03:09:28 pm

Hi Christine

You might find a trimmer here:
http://pacifichoofcare.net/practitioners-directory/

Was your pony diagnosed with Equine Metabolic Syndrome - laminitis, fat pads/overweight and above normal insulin indicate EMS. EMS may be reversible, but particularly where there is a strong genetic tendency, you may always need to pay close attention to feed, weight and exercise. See http://www.thelaminitissite.org/articles/equine-metabolic-syndrome-and-insulin-dysregulation.

A negative test for PPID (presumably you had ACTH tested) doesn't necessarily mean a horse doesn't have PPID - tests are often negative in the early stages (although testing ACTH between August and October, as you did, is likely to be the most reliable time of year). See http://www.thelaminitissite.org/articles/pituitary-pars-intermedia-dysfunction and http://www.thelaminitissite.org/articles/is-it-ppid-or-is-it-ems. Although the changes you have seen could be due to the change of barn and additional feed, any fall laminitis should have PPID eliminated as the cause.

More about correcting rotation here: http://www.thelaminitissite.org/articles/laminitis-and-the-feet.

You might like to join the ECIR support group for more help - they may be able to recommend a barn/trimmer near you. https://ecir.groups.io/g/main

Andrea
www.thelaminitissite.org

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