Donald Redux wrote:
Eileen, you mentioned an essay you did on this subject.
Donald it was the essay on laminitis that I was talking about I wondered if Annie might make use of it. I have always managed Rusty for laminitis as that was the original diagnosis, because it has worked so well I have not needed to follow up.
Donald Redux wrote:
Today I'll be seeing if our extension (has to do with federally funded university system) service can provide me a bale corer so I can pull some hay samples for analysis.
What I do know is that this hay is morning mowed, and with a high likelihood of being cut in cloudy weather...since we get a lot of that around here. 100"+ of rain a year.
And I've found some unsweetened beet pulp to feed as well. Now if only everything wasn't 100 miles round trip to get these things.
Dry hay was proving to be a problem for Rusty, of course at that time I did not understand why. I certainly found that by soaking all his hay the problem was solved. I usually soak for 1 hour, longer than 4 hours can cause it to ferment which causes a whole lot of new problems. I think the soaking breaks down the sugar and starch content I find a white sediment in the bottom of the soak tub. Here in the UK we have feed that is labelled as being suitable for horses who are at risk from laminitis. When Gouch was ill with colic I did some research into the digestive system I am sure I came across information that suggested that laminitis was due to toxins from the gut. I will see if I can dig this info up.
Donald Redux wrote:
We are exercising Altea almost every day just fast walking in hand where we can find softer going for her tender hooves.
Hopefully this will all come together rapidly.
Do be careful with the feet, my friends horse who I care for went down with stress laminitis just after her shoes were removed. Because she looked tender I was able to pick up on it straight away, she had a strong digital pulse on the inside fore leg. Any throbbing between the knee and fetlock on the inside of the leg is an early warning.
Keep us posted
Eileen