I've been quiet about my own horses for a short while because both Theoden and Dave went lame again and I had no doubt that it was laminitis. Last Friday night I phoned the vet in a panic because Theoden could hardly walk. This time is was straight on to box rest with a deep bed and soaked hay, and a packet of Bute in their morning and night time feeds.
The vet came first thing Monday morning to take x-rays of all of their hooves, and to take blood samples for various tests including the test for Cushing's disease. He found little damage inside the hooves, thank goodness, although all four front hooves showed that the bones had sunk to a mild degree - otherwise known as founder. One of Theoden's front hooves had a very small degree rotation of the pedal bone and all of their hooves had thin souls. We have a management regime set up into the distant future which should save them from any further discomfort and degeneration of the hooves but only time will tell. Laminitis is one of those diseases that is irreversible.
So, after fifty-three years I have my first confirmed cases of laminitis, a disease which causes more distress and angst to owners than any other. It undermines your confidence in yourself, and makes you extremely worried about the weather and the condition of the grass, and even your hay. The vets tells us that there have been a phenomenal number of horses getting laminitis this year.
Luckily, I may have a few of my friend's mares coming in for the winter, and along with the toothless ponies they can do the first cut of any long grass with Nelly and Blue as the second cut. Henry seems to be quite comfortable keeping the two horses company while they finish their prison sentences.
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| This deep bed now extends all the way to the front door. |
On the bright side, the vet - Matt from the Barn and the Veterinary Nurse, Rachel - were very complimentary about my horses' weight, their manners, and their hooves. David was extremely relieved to be told that his trimming was nothing to do with the problem and that their hooves were in great shape. In any event, Cheyenne, the barefoot trimmer is coming next week and will no doubt be able to give us more advice based on the x-rays which will be sent across to her.
As you can imagine, I cried myself to sleep on Sunday night, and David was especially glum at the thought that we might lose both horses all of a sudden. He kept his mind off it by tidying up.
