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Monitoring/reporting
Urine and faecal output will need to be
monitored and temperature, pulse and
respiration (TPR) should be taken on a frequent
(daily) basis so that you can inform the vet
straight away if you are seeing signs that the
horse is deteriorating or in greater discomfort.
Some horses can get agitated and stressed
when confined to box rest. If the horse is
particularly stressed or prone to stomach
ulcers they might benefit from preventative
medications which will need to be discussed
with the case vet.
Decubitus ulcers or pressure/bed sores occur
when the horse is lying down on the same
side for long periods of time. They are
something to keep a look out for and you
need to try to prevent them as much as you
can. As discussed earlier, if the pony is small
enough then with a few people you may be
able to turn it over onto its other side.
Decubitus ulcers are another reason why the
bed should be very deep and comfortable to
prevent pressure on prominent areas such as
the tuber coxae (hip bone).
To monitor the feet for deterioration look for
increased heat in the feet or the digital pulses
becoming stronger (all indicating more pain for
the horse). Look carefully for any changes in the
sole and if there is any then foot hygiene needs
to be taken into consideration and even foot
dressing to keep the area as clean as possible.
Pain management
Pain is a major factor in laminitic horses and
can cause them to be extremely depressed.
Signs of horses in pain with laminitis include
difficulty walking (especially turning), increased
digital pulses, sweating, weight shifting from
one foot to another, standing with the typical
laminitic stance (shifting weight back onto the
heels), not eating, grinding teeth, tucked up
abdomen and lying down for long periods.
Keeping a diary of the length of time your
horse is lying down each day will help you to
monitor whether the horse’s pain levels are
improving or not.
L AM I N I T I S
SPRING 2013 ISSUE
EQUINE MATTERS
16
It is a good idea to groom your horse
and interact with him as much as you
can. Complementary treatments like
physiotherapy can help too, especially if the
horse is lying down a lot and not using the
muscles enough to maintain them. For small
ponies and Shetlands recumbent for long
periods of time, you may be able to turn
them over so that they can lie on both sides.
Safety is paramount however, so make sure
you wear the correct protective equipment
and have enough people to do so.
Practical nursing of the horse
Laminitic hoof growth
Providing support to the frog and
correcting distribution of pressure in the foot
can be very effective in alleviating pain.
The correct support will help prevent further
damage to the laminae and rotation of the
pedal bone in the severe laminitic. Avoid
shoeing as pounding with the shoeing
hammer and lifting the horse's leg for
prolonged periods of time will create
more pain and inflammation in the foot.
Treatment of the foot is aimed at supporting
the sole and frog. X-rays will direct the
individual horse's need for corrective
trimming and sole support. Polystyrene
pads, Lily pads and sole support foams
can all help provide emergency support to
the foot. The foam becomes imprinted into
the shape of the sole and frog, distributing
even pressure to the bottom of the foot. If
temporary supports are being used then
they need to be checked daily to make
sure they are still in the correct position.
Farriery
Conclusion
Nursing the severe laminitic case
requires a lot of time and dedication.
Recovery is often very gradual, and
sometimes despite the best care
laminitic cases do not recover and
may sadly require euthanasia. The
important thing to remember is that
good nursing of a laminitic horse is
vital to the horses comfort and
wellbeing, and plays a critical role
in the treatment of this condition.