Junior has been a great learning experience for me. Unlike most laminitis cases I work on Junior is a horse that I have been shoeing for over 5 years. The events that lead up to his bout with laminitis and his recovery was filled with unexpected turns and major victories. The PDF on the left is an article I wrote for the American Farriers Jounnal. I will be adding an update to this article shortly.
Click Image for PDF File
Metabolic or Mechanical Laminitis
Dave Richards
The
genius of modern medicine lies in the discovery that by uniting the expertise
of a primary care physician, specialists, and concern for the patient - a
cooperative team effort results in a more accurate diagnosis of symptoms and a
more successful treatment of medical problems.This discovery has become a reality in the realm of equine
diagnosis and treatment as well.With the willing cooperation of an owner, when the veterinarian, and the
farrier willingly combine their expertise, some complex diagnostic issues
become clear.The case study of a
horse named Junior is an excellent example of this collective approach. In
Junior’s case, what initially seemed to be a simple problem turned out to be a
more complex issue, and demanded the competence of collective efforts of all
for its solution.
On
December 14, 2010, Junior (9-year-old Thoroughbred) was shod per a regular
shoeing schedule, and then ridden for a few days afterward with no visible
issues.Several days later Junior
showed signs of discomfort.Dr.
Gindlesperger from Carolina Equine Clinic (Southern Pines, North Carolina) was
called in to perform a lameness exam, in which Junior tested positive for hoof
sensitivity.From the results of
the exam, the pain in the hooves was determined to be a “shoeing issue”.The horse was prescribed
phenylbutazone, limited turnout, and expected to make a full recovery with a
few days rest.
