|
|
Post by guiltygirl on Sept 15, 2009 7:27:37 GMT -5
After several summers and vets I figured out last summer that my QH was getting mild laminitis in summer-and probably had in the past--it was also revealed in xrays a mild rotation in the Left front. Pulled off grass last August and got better. Due to some other issues he got turned out March 1 back on pasture until end of April-which was probably too long as revealed by rings on his hooves. He has been on a dry lot all summer and is doing well
Is it possible to put him back out on grass pasture through the winter? Will he ever be able to go back on grass?
I had testing done for insulin resistantance and he does not have that.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deb on Sept 15, 2009 7:55:13 GMT -5
It is the new Spring grass growth that will cause reoccurring laminitis. New grass growth contains high levels of, I think it's fructose or one of the other sugar compounds. By Mid-Summer the sugar levels decrease and Winter's grass has almost none. When you re-introduce your horse to grass pasture do it in stages. Keep him dry-lotted through the Spring months then turn him out for only approximately no more than a 1/2 half day. Then gradually let him stay on pasture for longer intervals. Unfortunately grass "founder/laminates" is a reoccurring condition if not monitored. The POA pony I had for my Grandkids had in her previous life grass foundered before she came to live with me. As a result, I had to monitor/manage her year-round, as far as pasture management. She got all the grass hay she could clean-up in a couple of hours time and a tunafish can of grain. Here is a picture of the POA and my Appy Gelding. I just wanted you to see how well Holly, the POA did on limited pasture and grain supplementing  |
|
|
|
Post by Gwen on Sept 15, 2009 8:01:00 GMT -5
We had a boarder whose NSH had had two recurrences of mild laminitis within 1-1/2 year period. She switched him to a low starch feed, he got as much hay as he could eat, but he couldn't handle grass in any way shape or form. I think she said his two front coffin bones had only mildly rotated, but because of the recurrence, he was LOTS more sensitive to the sugar levels in feed, hay, or grass. He actually got turned out for a couple of hours a day with a grazing muzzle on. That way he can "feel" like a real horse for a little while...but he needed supervision because he knew how to get the muzzle off. Other than that, he was only allowed out in a dry lot. Would a grazing muzzle help? I know they have different types that might allow him to go out for longer and that would prevent him from getting it off as easy.
|
|
|
|
Post by guiltygirl on Sept 15, 2009 9:15:48 GMT -5
Leo hates a muzzle and is pretty good and getting it off. Right now he gets all the grass or timothy hay he can eat but no grain-we tried him on a small amount of Triple Crown Complete this year and he got a little sore right away. He is very picky about his hay and if he doesn't like it won't eat until something different is offered. Being at a big barn with lots of horses the hay changes often so sometimes this is a problem.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deb on Sept 16, 2009 8:56:38 GMT -5
This is just an idea, it may be doable or may not. Check into finding and buying some bales of grass hay that Leo will eat. Granted, it might be added expense for you, but in the long term less costly for Leo's sake.
|
|
|
|
Post by hfhopper on Sept 17, 2009 11:24:01 GMT -5
Eion's pony is no longer allowed on grass due to mild laminitis. The vet said to dry lot him all year because occasionally things will warm up just enough in the winter for the grass to get a bit green. And you can bet that the horses that aren't supposed to have any grass will be the ones digging around in the snow for it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Smay on Sept 17, 2009 14:00:09 GMT -5
One thing that is helpful in a case like this is to read up on some of the causes of laminitis and pasture conditions, etc. Go on the site safergrass.org and check out some of the research. Some of it is suprising, such as WHEN pastures are dangerous vs. the common myths. An example: the roots and base of grass that's buried under snow in the winter contains some of the highest amount of sugars possible. Summer drought-stressed grasses have loads of sugars stored. Fall grasses that have been frosted overnight are high in sugar. Etc. Also: many people restrict their horses' access to alfalfa or mixed hays thinking that they are "too rich," when in fact, alfalfa is usually a low-sugar hay. Some pure grass, first cutting hays can have WAY more sugar in them than alfalfa or a different cutting of the same hay field. It's all very confusing. In feeds, you have to look at the non structural carbohydrates - the NSC level - to gauge whether it's safe for your horse. Preferably, the feed will have 10% or LESS NSC for a sensitive horse. Even labeled low-starch, low sugar feeds can sometimes have much higher NSCs than a plain alfalfa pellet. Read up on the "emergency diet" to give horses when you suspect they are having even a touch of laminitis. The key is to stop it as fast as you can before any structural damage takes place.
OH and I forgot - a VERY inexpensive and often extremely effective thing to try is supplementing the horse or pony with magnesium. Or a magnesium/chromium supplement such as Quiessence. I'm not selling the stuff but I tell ya - it's been a miracle for our chronically laminitic, insulin resistant pony - supposedly, it helps their metabolism regulate and keeps blood vessels from spasming in the hooves in response to the "toxic" diet.
|
|
|
|
Post by guiltygirl on Sept 17, 2009 18:48:02 GMT -5
Smay-I have been on that site many times. And it is so much info-the pastures here are probably (as from what the site would say) overstressed from years of over grazing-many summers of drought-little to no reseeding or fertilizing. So some would say-it is poor pasture the horse should be able to go out on it but more than likely it is always higher in sugars because it is overstressed from years of neglect. If that is what I understand from the site.,
Question about the magnesium supplement or Quiessence. While on the supplement is your horse able to go on the grass? What do you feel it did for your horse?
I should probably just get used to it and not try to change it because it causes Leo stress when he is moved back and forth. But boy would he really just like to go out and graze and graze and graze. That would be Heaven for Leo ;D-BO is willing to try one of the low carb feeds and see how that goes. I feel like he is hungry-but as I said above he can be really picky about hay and refuses to eat some. I am planning on doing some foxhunting with him this year so I want him to have a good diet to give him energy.
|
|
|
|
Post by Smay on Sept 18, 2009 8:07:08 GMT -5
Yes, try the low carb feeds and you might even have luck with Leo getting alfalfa or mixed hay ( that he will LIKE, too) in small quantities, but it's tricky getting it tested and all that. I was quite shocked to discover our BEAUTIFUL, green, third-cutting orchard grass/alfalfa hay was less than 6% NSC and safe for even the laminitic pony! I was thrilled.
The Quiessence we feed the pony is not bullet proof, and our pony cannot eat grass all day long in unsafe conditions...EVER... but when he is on Quiessence, he rarely flares up with his feet. He wears a muzzle in the pasture ( dry and stressed out grass!) but does not need to be dry lotted. The Quiessence does SOMETHING very good, I'm sure, becuase the few times that I have stupidly run out of it, and he has gone maybe a week without it, he starts getting sore!
|
|
|
|
Post by Deb on Sept 18, 2009 10:14:23 GMT -5
I knew the mineral Magnesium would help cattle from developing foot rot from foraging on fungus infected Fescue pasture, but didn't know horses could benefit from Magnesium, too.
|
|
