Sweetpea and acute laminitis

[cr8dbygod]

Thankfully your girl has you watching over her.  These horses are amazing creatures who teach us so much.  I'm glad to see you are moving in the right direction.  I am reminded every day that passes is a day closer to their recovery.  If there are no setbacks and her trims are kept nice & tidy you will see new hooves with much less pain in a couple of months, Abscesses, bruising, long toes, high heels, etc will slow things down.  It's great that you are working so closely with Dr. Thomas, Angela and looking to these amazing ladies for additional support.  The experience in this small network of horse lovers is incredible.  Angela is right about the finessing the trim.  This, unfortunately, is not realized by some people and their horses recovery goes very slowly.  Others think they can get by with using landmarks and sighting what looks right for their trim.  This, as Angela mentioned, can be detrimental.  The tools I use ensure the trim is right on every time.  This is invaluable in promoting a speedy recovery with the least amount of damage.

Keep up the good work and be brave.  There are good and bad times throughout.  Let's count the good days and leave the bad ones behind.

Be welll,
Linda

[Terry]

I second that! Let's count the good days and leave the bad ones behind.
How is Sweetpea doing?

[SweetPeasmother]

Good Saturday all,

My heart is filled with joy today! 

Sweet Pea has had a very good week.  She is walking better and not so pained.  She is still really lame when she comes out of her stall but in a few strides it gets better and better.  She is very bright and much more like herself than I have seen since the start of this.  She has been venturing out of her stall often to join the herd in the paddock.  The ground is still frozen solid and really uneven so I am encouraged that she is doing this on her own.  I don't believe she is laying down nearly as much either.  I still see no evidence of an abscess but that doesn't mean it's not there. 

I am still following the new protocol for herbs and it seems to be doing the job.  Next Wednesday is the two week mark and we need to adjust them.

Now my entire community (population 1,700) is involved in Sweet Pea's recovery! I can only walk her on roads because the snow is too deep and soft to get on the snowmobile trails. Everyone is stopping to wish her well and tell us that they are praying for her and sending healing positive thoughts. Just as you all are sending them I know they are helping and we appreciate it. Those things mean a lot to us both. There has been a serious logging project going on nearby and huge trucks are making round trips past where we walk with both loaded and empty trucks. They all come to almost a complete stop when they see us and go by as quietly as possible. Mind you that these trucks do not bother Pea but the respect they are showing is so heart felt. Some horses really freak at the sound of those big things clanging along the frost heaved roads! It's really nice to live in this small, rural community.

It's going to be a beauty here and that means nice walks with Sweet Pea.   

Thank you all....Love, Cresca  Sweet Pea's mother!

[Linda Davenport]

Oh, Cresca,

Thanks soooo much for yet another KLEENEX MOMENT here on our wonderful forum!!!  Over time I've learned to leave a box of kleenex by my computer for moments like this!!!  

I can so feel and understand your joy at seeing dear SweatPea finally turning that corner and feeling the beauty of life return to her in full force!!!!  I'll never forget THOSE MOMENTS in my life when Rusty finally turned that corner.  He and I developed an incredible bond during his illness, a very special bond indeed that continues to this day all these years later!!!  They do know how much we love them and how much it pains us to see them so sick, and they do appreciate our care!

God Bless!
Linda D

[Terry]

I am very happy to hear this! I know you must feel so relieved and wonderful right now. It could easily be the herbs kicking in ,you might not even see the abcess til it grows out, because of the Hoof Ailments, it really works, and as the hoof grows out you will eventually see the telltale signs of where the abcess was  and the fact that the HA stopped it before it became big and horrible. I think it is wonderful you have such a caring community, here they just think I am bonkers, for them most horses don't live more than 10 years, they don't even bother to worm them half the time (though not everyone, there are the good ones who care, but not open to new ways) but then a lot have bigger worries of just surviving with their families, so all is relative, and some do very much care and love them too.
It's great keep up the good work and all the walking......Give Sweet Pea a hug!

[SweetPeasmother]

Good morning all,

Sweet Pea is continuing to have good days.  I took videos of her when she first came down with this and I was trying to walk her out in my snowy pasture.  I took videos of this weekend and what a difference.  I keep watching them to remind myself of how far she has come so far.  Trying to keep that focus instead of how far she has to go.  If I ever figure out how to post a YouTube I will let you know. 

Angela, Wednesday marks the two week point for the newest protocol.  HA 5 scoops 3x a day, TIH 4 scoops 3 x a day, EMS 4 scoops 3x a day and LSS 4 scoops 3x a day.  Do you think I will be able to cut some of them back at all then?  Also, when is new blood work suggested?  I can feel her hard crest starting to change and it's very exciting.

Linda D., I keep imagining Sweet Pea and I riding in Idaho with you and Rusty.  It must be beautiful where you are.

[Linda Davenport]

It's just wonderful to hear how you and SweatPea are progressing!!!      All steps in the right direction!!!!

Ah, yes, we are indeed blessed!!!!  Our snow is melting FAST, and I've been able to ride over the past few weeks again.  Spring is so incredible!!!!  Rained all day yesterday, but the day before, on my ride, I saw my first muscrat, a bald eagle, 5 swans, and, of course, thousands of geese (Canadian and Snow) flying overhead (we're on the main flyway for this part of the country).  Soooooo amazing!!!  AND the trees are starting to bud, and the river is FULL!!!  Anyway, it is wonderful indeed.

It will be some months yet, I'd imagine, for SweatPea to get strong enough hooves for you to ride again, but it will come.  I was riding Rusty down a paved road (no rocks) in boots after six months (from the original founder).  One ride I took at that time was to the vet's office (about 1-1/2 miles away) for him to be checked by the vet -- the same vet that told me to put him down.  She was sure surprised to see Rusty and I riding up the driveway!

God Bless!
Linda D

[SweetPeasmother]

Linda,  Idaho sounds very much like here in NH except the terrain of course.  Spring is definitely in the air here and it's my favorite time of year.

I know it will be some months before I can ride Sweet Pea but I may be able to drive her in a few months as it puts no weight on her back (she has the Maserati of carts!)  I am feeling very encouraged.  Also, I have another beautiful Morgan mare named Casey that will be more than happy to go out riding.  She is my "husband" horse who has only ridden her a few times.  Fortunately, I have several friends that come out to ride her.

We are definitely going in the right direction for sure!!  My heart is full of joy.

[beachridr]

great news and keep the progress coming... you won't be doing another bloodwork pull until 6 months after the first unless something unusual comes up.
you'll want to keep her on the EMS full protocol of 3x until you have bloodwork done at that point. However, you will be able to drop the LSS and the HA (I'd probably wait another couple weeks to be sure- I've had more experience trying to cut back too early in order to save money only to learn that those set backs not only mean needing to use more herbs longer, but the STRESS on me is just not worth it). The TIH.... that one you may be able to drop down to 2x daily once you're absolutely sure there is absolutely no abscess activity going on so you'd wait maybe a month after dropping the HA.

So.... the first solution you can drop will be the LSS... but always keep some on hand...it is so helpful as you've discovered and you will want to use it 1-2x yearly anyway. Hopefully you'll never need it for helping to resolve abscessing again but you sure don't want to not have it should you need it. "A stitch in time saves nine " when it comes to resolving health issues with Dr.Thomas' solutions.

I think driving Sweetpea will be an excellent thing in a while. I had both Mariah & Snickers always with me on the beach at liberty when they were recovering from their founder...  movement is so important but when you weight them, they will not be able to protect themselves or move at their pace as when they are at liberty. I think with driving, although you won't have weight on top, you'll still want to be sure she goes at her pace and pick very smooth roads without potholes and use the boots and pads.

So glad you've figured out how to keep perspective... sometimes we get so tired of the recovery process and it only takes one small set back to remind us how far we've come and to be patient. I hope you'll need not experience any setbacks other than occasional gimpy times when an abscess may be developing but you'll know what to do immediately and it will no doubt resolve quickly. When those happen, check the trim, then up the TIH herbs, add back the HA at 3x and possibly the LSS at 2x and it should quickly resolve.

[SweetPeasmother]

Thanks Angela,

It sounds like I should keep the current protocol for a least two weeks.  Like any drug, my concern is not giving too much at some point.  I am not yet familiar with the affects these herbs really have on my mare although I am beginning to learn!  I certainly would not want a set back.

Under normal circumstances what is the suggestion for the LSS twice a year?  How much for how long?

As far as driving goes, I know Sweet Pea will set the pace. It is a job she absolutely loves.  But even that is a ways off I think.  What a gift you have to have your horses at the beach for recovery.  We live in the Granite state and it certainly lives up to its name.

Still working on the YouTube thing.  I am so challenged sometimes! 

[beachridr]

Well... Dr.THomas' herbal formulations are designed very carefully with many safeguards that you would expect from a master in Chinese medicine.  So you need not be concerned about that... long term use will be more damaging to your pocket book and the main consideration there as well as convenience... herbing is one more chore so to speak but for my horses with their various issues, essential and saves me much heartache. I've only had positive unexpected benefits because unlike allopathic medicine, the herbal is holistic... not just chasing symptoms.


Usually when people use the LSS as a preventative they'll use it 2-4 weeks prior or during the season changes in the spring and fall when the immune systems are challenged. Others time it so its  used when they do their worming routines which is really important and if you vaccinate, you'd definitely want to use it during that time.

The Utube is the only option I know of  for long clips. It just takes a lot of time to upload your video to the site so you need to remember to set your computer settings so that it doesn't go to "sleep" and stop the upload.  Some of mine seemed to take a long time- all night- to upload as they were very long and I added music. So I just changed my settings and then returned them after the upload was done. If the clips are short, you can upload them to photobucket and post them that way. The nice thing about that is that Youtube is viewed by all and so you have no privacy but with Photobucket, only those that you want can view it unless you post the link on the forum... but at least then its in the context of your posts.

[SweetPeasmother]

Greetings all,

I am so happy to let you all know that Sweet Pea continues to improve.  My heart is so full of joy.  On this morning's walk she did not want to turn to go home!  She wanted to keep walking out to where we often meet friends to ride with.  She is missing her girlfriends and I think that's great news.  Our walks are more like real walks where she walks out too.

She is still on the same protocol until next week where I will try taking her off the LSS and follow Angela's suggestions. 

I also managed to post three videos to YouTube where you can see her improvement in walking.  I am not the greatest videographer but you will get the jist.  LOL   Seeing them gives me real encouragement!

Here is the link:  http://www.youtube.com/user/Overlooked100

[Linda Davenport]

Cresca -- WOW, WOW and WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

It just never ceases to amaze me how these wonderful creatures can come back to life when given the right treatment!!!!!!  This is just incredibly wonderful.  Thanks sooooo much for posting your videos -- WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!!

God Bless!
Linda D

[beachridr]

excellent... I"m so glad you've documented this and will continue to (I never did with Mariah- still kicking myself- and she was in the founder stance and unlike her ueual boss mare chase everyone temperament- she wasn't even giving them an ugly face when they stole her food which they never would have dared to thing to do before or now.. it was scary).... you should post in your next one what you're doing to treat the underlying cause... diet & trimming alone will not give such a fast improvement... Sweetpea has been spared so much...not even one bed sore.... because of your determination and perseverance... I'm so glad you found Dr.THomas early in her illness instead of as a last resort.  And the other thing that is so wonderful is that during her acute episode there was snow on the ground.... that "icing" helped prevent more damage ... you don't want to know how bad this could have been had it been hot when this happened and you didn't have the MMPstop & EMS on hand... scary thought.... ANd so wonderful you were already on top of the correct trim and wise to the diet aspects and got wiser as well in all these things because of your determination & love for Sweetpea...
 

[SweetPeasmother]

You are so right about the snow Angela, the snow really has been an incredible gift and blessing.  I shall never curse the snow again.  Okay, maybe I will but I won't mean it!

I will continue to video her improvement. I am amazed when I watch the recent ones compared to those cold dark days in the beginning. 

Thanks for the encouragement.