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Post by taklishim on Nov 21, 2012 22:09:46 GMT 1
forgot to add if you are getting the vet out to test ACTH then don't forget to do glucose and insulin as well for EMS.
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Post by seble on Dec 15, 2012 14:30:17 GMT 1
Hi there, Been a while so thought I'd update you on Celyn's progress as so many kind people offered me advice and support. She had her first session of physio a couple of weeks ago with Kathrine Petts who was amazing. She wasn't sure if her sore feet would mean the beneficial effects would wear off, but so far so good and she has definitely shown improvement in her stride length when we go out for walks (when we're not frozen in that is ). She is coming again next Friday so we can keep the ball rolling. In between I am doing some massage from Sue Palmer's book/DVD, which the physio is fine about me doing, and getting walks in hand when we can. Unfortunately the ridiculously cold weather has meant she has had a few days (4 or 5 in total over 2 and a bit weeks) stuck in her stable, as she would be too sore on the rock hard frozen mud ruts but she doesn't seem to mind too much and she's back out today. Also had the cushings test back which was negative (12.9 and needs to be below 29 at this time of year). Vet didn't quite do the other test as I asked, he only tested her baseline insulin (ie not fasting) and not done glucose, but the insulin has come back slightly low. Would obviously be an indication that not insulin resistant and the low ish reading could just be the natural dip after she had had her morning feed and hay net (she had them at 6am and had test at 10am). Vet is not concerned as extremely rare for horses to have the equivalent of type 1 diabetes and not produce enough insulin. I would also expect her to have other symptoms if that was the case. She is now on the winter hoof balancer from forage plus and I do think she is getting much more comfortable in her feet. Obviously she won't grow new soles over night but just over a month on and I would almost go as far as saying she is a different horse now even though we are not 100% yet. Ooh and the other thing is I might be treating her to a heather moffett fhoenix saddle! (Second hand of course after the vet bill i've just had!) She must be feeling better if I'm thinking of new saddles!
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Post by Mellymoo on Dec 15, 2012 21:18:25 GMT 1
Brilliant, really pleased she is improving!
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Post by ladyndibs on Dec 15, 2012 22:10:02 GMT 1
Good news that things are improving so quickly, hope you get to use the new saddle lots.
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Post by arabmania on Dec 15, 2012 22:19:50 GMT 1
I haven't read any responses so i apologise if i repeat any.
To me it sounds as though your horse may be feeling stiff from being kicked. I have had this experience with one of my mares who suffered the same experience. She had pulled her sacro ileac and it took a while to get right. She had difficulty stepping under also.
For me, magnesium (heavy) is a must for barefooters. So i would definetely get your horse bac on it.
What we have to remember is that the DAEP is there every 6 to 12 weeks (depending on horse and work)for approx 1 hour. in between it is up to us, as the owners, to provide correct care and environment. The sole will become thinner if not used regularly to callous and grow thicker to protect itself. Wet, soft environments do not promote thickness and growth, regular riding does. Riding on sand is fantastic for exfoliating the sole and promoting growth. Solemates are a good secondary to this for 20mins a day or so inhand. One of my mares feet were dreadful a few years ago with paper thin soles, and it took a lot of work, building up gradually. She now covers any ground for miles upon miles and has now overtaken my other mare in the scoring sense. If you feel that barefoot is the way for you and yours then you have to set up a ridden plan and stick with it the best you can. Winter is rubbish and can play havoc on the feet but once the internal structures have improved the foot will bounce back as the weather improves. Diet wise avoid starches and sugars. Ensure magnesium is added daily to the diet. Good luck on whatever you decide is best for you.
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Post by jen1 on Dec 16, 2012 23:22:23 GMT 1
i found something out about the ACTH test and the fact that not all vets treat the bloods correctly rendering them useless, i did do a post about it, and all the info was there, it would have had ACTH testing the in the title, i think its only 1 lab that was testing them correctly, it went along the lines of had to be purple topped vial, frozen immediately, and spun for a certain amount of time,
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Post by jen1 on Dec 16, 2012 23:29:50 GMT 1
this was on a report i got , thought it might be useful to you folks, as there is free test/half price testing going on through out vets practices up and down the uk here is what it said, this test could im not sure cover all metabolic issues as there are more, you will need to make sure your vet knows how to take bloods, for the ACTH test, they should be spun and frozen ASAP, they should be taken between 9-5pm put into a purple topped vial and the at the practise to be spun and frozen ASAP, they should be then couriered in a cool bag to prevent defrosting as the ACTH decomposes if warm, You should make sure your vet uses Lip-hook Equine Lab, to carry out the test, do not allow your vet to use any other lab as their results and parameters are NOT reliable, if i high level is seen you need to treat with pracsend each day till you see a big improvement , this is what was on my report i had the cushions test done, ages ago on a pony i suspected as PRE-Cushions and it came back normal spent money that basically was wasted, as i don't need a vet to tell me now if he has metabolic issues, he is just fed as such as all of mine are, I hope the info was of some help to you Jen Read more: ihdg.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gh11&action=display&thread=124607#ixzz2FFya27VIthought it might be useful
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Post by mandal on Dec 17, 2012 9:54:50 GMT 1
Glad to hear she is improving. It might be worth upgrading to the hoof health balancer from FP when you next order. Fingers crossed your multi treatment approach gets her better.
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Post by seble on Dec 17, 2012 11:02:46 GMT 1
Hi Mandal, yes she has been on the new winter hoof version for just over a week now. She didn't have flat soles before, but I'm sure I am witnessing an increase in concavety over the last week or so and she is obviously much more comfortable on the concrete yard without her boots on now. I bought a new saddle at the weekend (a heather moffett fhoenix!) The lady selling it very kindy brought it to my yard to try it out. When I had taken her for her walk in the morning she had almost pulled my arms out so when I tried the saddle I took her for a couple of minutes ride up the lane and back, she almost skipped, she felt so happy..... physio is coming again on friday and I'm going to ask her about whether I can start some short rides with her. My thoughts are that if she is moving OK and appears comfortable then riding in her boots/pads may help increase the stimulation and help build more sole than walking in hand in boots/pads. What do you think? I don't want to take things too quickly and I will always listen to what she tells me. (horsey that is)
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