>>>> I would have a vet check and if they really suspect laminitis, I'd get front foot x-rays. That said, a lot of laminitis has been turned around quite well with a natural barefoot trim,
I'd just modify that to say a lot of laminitic horses have saved from or turned around from founder with a GOOD trim, and with shoes if required - even before the current wave of "barefoot trims" came about. >>>> but then if they are insulin resistant, that requires more care. Yep, laminitis has a cause, and it's the cause that you need to manage. The feet themselves aren't necessarily that hard to deal with, but the underlying cause can be. I feel sure that Sundance, my first equine soul-mate, had foundered not long before I got him, but I didn't have him vet checked. Even if I had, I doubt anyone would have picked up too much wrong with his feet, without x-rays. He was in perfect health for the next 8 years before the next laminitis attack occurred, and those 8 wonderful years. After the second attack, his feet were fine within a couple of months...but the Cushing's that caused the attack had to be managed for the remaining five years of his life. I owned him 13 years. The foundered feet were only a problem for maybe two months of that time. The Cushing's was a problem for the last five years. I am SO glad I didn't know for sure whether or not he'd foundered before I bought him. I would have missed out on 13 wonderful years. Karen Thomas, NC -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.441 / Virus Database: 268.17.37/682 - Release Date: 2/12/2007 1:23 PM
