Treatment For Acute Laminitis

If all of his feet are affected he may prefer to lie down.

Treatment for acute laminitis.

Stop feeding all grain based feeds and pasture. The aim is to help relieve pressure stabilise and maintain correct foot balance and rehabilitate the foot. In serious cases of laminitis acute or chronic where the prognosis is poor euthanasia is often recommended to prevent further suffering. Start exercise after laminitis pain has resolved and the horse no longer needs pain relief.

There is no proven or consistent treatment for laminitis o grady said. Treatment of laminitis if a horse or pony displays these symptoms it is important to call a vet immediately and follow treatment plans carefully. Recommended treatments include intravenous fluids parenteral antimicrobials flunixin meglumine and hyperimmune serum or plasma. A case of acute laminitis in horses may take several days to weeks to respond.

Another option for treatment of chronic laminitis in horses at risk of renal or gi complications is the cox 2 selective nsaid firocoxib. A variety of medications to treat the acute and refractory forms have been used with a variable degree of success. Treatment will depend on specific circumstances but may include the following. Symptoms will change as laminitis progresses from acute to chronic.

They include dimethyl sulfoxide dmso acepromazine aspirin flunixin meglumine heparin isoxsuprine and warfarin. Diagnosing and treating the primary problem laminitis is often due to a systemic or general problem elsewhere in the horse s body. Other options for analgesia include detomidine butorphanol morphine or a constant rate infusion of a cocktail of sedatives and analgesics. Laminitis is very painful so initially you will notice your horse is very uncomfortable.

Every horse is different and will show different symptoms and different degrees of pain recognise and investigate any of these signs too many horses go undiagnosed because the early signs of laminitis are not picked up the earlier you recognise the symptoms remove the. Consequently treatment regimens for both acute and chronic laminitis generally remain empiric and are based on the past. Feed only grass hay until advised by your veterinarian. After exercise always ensure that the lameness has not returned and the horse walks out well.

Correct treatment needs to be administered as soon as possible to prevent any lasting damage to the feet and provide pain relief. Additional laminitis preventative measures include the administration of anti inflammatory drugs vasodilator heparin oral aspirin and placement of the horse in the stall. Options for pain management and alternative treatment options may be suggested by your vet.