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  Discussion on Current or Past Rotation
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Member:
gdiup1

Posted on Saturday, Jul 28, 2007 - 10:03 am:

I have an 8yo minature gelding that I adopted last fall. He supposedly had never had any issues with founder/laminitis in the past and he was out 24/7. He wasn't really extremely overweight when I brought him home but he was VERY cresty (on Quiessence and has dissapted) and hence wore a muzzle until long after the first frost killed the grasses for winter while he was out. I do in 12 out 12. Never saw any symptoms or signs of issues til toward the end of May this year but still couldn't put a finger on what was going on as he showed no signs of pain, tenderness, laying down, parked out, nothing that would cause me to think founder episode. He weighs about 350lbs by the way and is a larger mini than "standard". However - there were always DP's which I just came to determine as normal for him as he was always very anxious when you came close to him and touched him - just past issues from what I believe was bad handling. Very sad. That aside - he got his muzzle off one night late May/early June and came in with BOUNDING pulses but still no signs of anything other than that. I gave him Banamine and left him up for a couple days continuing banamine and nothing changed. So I left him in for almost 3 weeks to get the pulses to go back to what I consider normal for him just to be safe. Then he went back out shorter times but always with his muzzle. I do have grass - it is not a dry lot nor a really grazed down pasture. I also keep my grass tall except of course where they've eaten it down. So have to work hard at getting grass thru that little hole. I've read all the studies on grasses and sugars etc. and he never goes out til after then sun is going down or later and comes in before the sun gets high. I do also however has clover that has encroached into my fields in spots that they have eaten down which some say bad - some say not as bad as other things. So lengthy background and on to my real question. Ranger got "off" about two weeks ago and started laying down more - became exercise resistant - but still walked and trotted normally if you could get him to do it. Appetite went a bit off but then came back. I started banamine again - no change, tried bute - no change in demeanor - just lethargic. Tested for everything under the sun blood work wise - everything negative - because it just didn't fit founder. I gave up yesterday and said come x-ray these feet - something is going on in there. Saddly - I have 10 degree in left 8/9 in right. My question is this - could the rotation be from past before I got him and he will have chronic flare ups of inflamation for whatever reason? Is there anyway to know when the rotation occured. My vet say they don't know when it occurred. I can't believe as overly protective and observant as I am and have been even more so over the last couple months with him, I would have missed something that should have caused extreme discomfort. He has had no elevated pulses nor any heat - just seemed off and moved stiffly. No one - vet, farrier, me - saw any symptoms over the last couple months so this has my scratching my head.

Appreciate thoughts. Have called farrier to come do magic but need to figure out future routine.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Jul 28, 2007 - 12:46 pm:

Hello Karen,
To answer your direct question: yes that is possible but don't know if it is a fact. I would like to note that Quiessence may not be responsible for the decreased crestyness but a proper diet most certainly contributes.
DrO
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