This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Overview of Diagnosis and Diseases of the Foot »
  Discussion on 23 yr old Broodmare foundered - Feeding questions
Author Message
Member:
jhyrick

Posted on Saturday, Jun 30, 2012 - 11:51 am:

My 23 yr old broodmare was bred and confirmed pregnant (breeding date May 2nd). She got out of the barn and ate in a newly mowed pasture all night long. She had been on grass for most of each day since April, so I wasn't concerned. After calling the vet for some lameness a few days later, he confirmed that she had laminitis, and x-rays confirmed founder with about 10 degrees of rotation in each front foot (and little sole). He had me deep bed her stall and consider sand to support the frog and sole. I ordered a dump truck of sand the next days and used temporary fencing to create a 20 x 20 paddock in sand outside of her stall. We discussed foam pads, etc., but both he and the farrier felt the sand (put in the stall as well where she likes to stand). She was given Ace (2 doses a day IM for 3 days), Bute 2 times daily, Isoxsupine 20mg x 15 tablets 2 times daily. She gets only enough CarbGuard grain to get her regular supplements down...Smartpak Ultra, Senior Vitamins, and TriAmino. She also is on 10cc's of Regumate a day due to her age and pregnancy. (I can't believe that she will end up carrying the foal after all of this). She is a really difficult eater and I already am mixing Isoxsuprine and Bute with applesauce in a 50 cc tube to dose her and of course the regumate. She sees me coming now with tubes in hand and raises her head way up (I have a torn shoulder).
Here are the feeding questions: I have grass hay from last year...should I restrict further her quantities? She doesn't want hay soaked, and since only 5% of soluble carbs are removed after an hour or two, https://www.equinews.com/article/soaking-hay-how-effective-it-lowering-carbohydra tes , I don't think that it's worth it. I am concerned about nutrition due to the pregnancy, but do not want to harm this dear mare. Should I consider applying vegetation killer to one of my smaller pastures and roto-till it so she can be on soft earth when she is able to? I know she is on stall rest and small sand paddock for at least the next month... What type of hay has the lowest starch content besides alfalfa? She has no signs of cushings, or the typical insulin resistance, though I will speak to the vet about testing...Is she doomed now to never be able to enjoy a field of grass?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jul 1, 2012 - 10:38 am:

Hello JG,
Since we cannot examine your mare we cannot answer questions about her and your situation directly however in a general sense: you will want to reduce the soluble carbs as low as is practical. Coastal bermuda is one of the grasses/hays lowest in soluble carbs but there is quite a bit of variation within any type of hay. For more on principles of treatment see HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Founder & Laminitis » Founder & Laminitis an Overview. If the diagnosis is pasture associated founder you will find a link in that article to further information on this type.
DrO
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC