URGENT! Horse help please

[Mobile Chicane]

A neighbours' elderly mare has laminitis, but seemed to be getting better. I've just been out to the paddock to investigate a disturbance and now the horse is lying down.

The owners don't live on site and I can't reach them by mobile. Do I attempt to get the horse up, or what?

(I thought it was bad when horses lie down - apart from that I know nothing about them.) Then what do I do with her?

Poor thing looks frightened and in pain.

[mat13]

Phone your local vet and get them out asap if the animals in distress

[Gazzas86]

I thought horses lie down to sleep??, but if not and as you said in pain, im sure theres an emergency 24hr Vet you can call

[bitchstewie]

I would have to say phone a vet - not really the sort of thing you want to be dealing with by way of "Well a bunch of blokes on the internet said it was just sleeping...".

[smn159]

Mobile vet sounds expensive, you should shoot it just to be on the safe side.

Unless it's asleep of course

[Lippitt]

Call a vet. Sooner rather than later. Horses are quite pathetic when they are ill and can deteriorate quickly.

[BadRotorFinger]

If it's not getting up when you approach then possibly it cannot due to said illness, if it is in distress then a phonecall to your vet would not go amiss.

[sunbeam alpine]

With laminitis, the horse will lie down to relieve the pain in the hooves.

If the horse tries to roll while lying down, it could be a sign of colic, which is also very serious. If the horse IS trying to roll, it would be best to try to get the horse standing up and walk it around. Don't let ot lie down and roll, call a vet.

[Carthage]

Mobile Chicane said:

A neighbours' elderly mare has laminitis, but seemed to be getting better. I've just been out to the paddock to investigate a disturbance and now the horse is lying down.

The owners don't live on site and I can't reach them by mobile. Do I attempt to get the horse up, or what?

(I thought it was bad when horses lie down - apart from that I know nothing about them.) Then what do I do with her?

Poor thing looks frightened and in pain.

I know quite a bit about horses - and laminitis.

1. Lying down - if the mare is lying down, leave her.
She may just be lying down to sleep (horses do sleep both in sternal and lateral recumbency - maybe for an hour or 90 mins normally).
Or she may be lying down because her front feet are sore and she wants to rest them (which is the best thing for her).

2. Assess pain - is the mare sweating anywhere (assuming she's not wearing lots of heavy rugs)? At what speed is she breathing (normal is about 8 - 10 breaths per minute and any faster indicates pain). Is she lying peacefully, or is she moving around a lot - lying flat then lying upright, groaning, moving her legs, etc?

3. Contact the owner - keep trying. If you know the practice that the owner uses (more likely to be an equine practice than a cat/dog one) give them a call. They'll have an emergency vet on call and you'd be able to talk to them.

Try not to worry - if the owner knows the horse is laminitic, she'll already be getting treatment so there's no real urgency. Chances are the owner will have been to see the horse tonight, or will go tomorrow morning - so maybe leave a note saying you've noticed the horse lying down a lot and to call you.

If you want my phone number, e-mail me. If you video the mare, or take a pic, I can maybe give more advice (I've made my living in the equine industry until a few years ago)

[King Herald]

smn159 said:

Mobile vet sounds expensive, you should shoot it just to be on the safe side.

Unless it's asleep of course

That's twice you've posted that, and both times you sounded stupid.

[Carthage]

sunbeam alpine said:

With laminitis, the horse will lie down to relieve the pain in the hooves.

If the horse tries to roll while lying down, it could be a sign of colic, which is also very serious. If the horse IS trying to roll, it would be best to try to get the horse standing up and walk it around. Don't let ot lie down and roll, call a vet.

Unless you know what you are doing, don't walk a colicky horse. Better still don't go near it.
Certain types of colic can make the horse thrash around violently with pain - humans are easily killed - especially those not used to dealing with large, strong, unpredictable animals.

[Le Chauffeur]

Contact world horse welfare. They used to called the ILPH.

They will send a field officer to look at it. If you tell them the symptoms and lay it on thick, they will be there much quicker too. And you also won't get charged for the call out.

With the sounds of it, you know a little of the history of the horse and know about the laminitis, so chances are it will also be known to a local vet. Give them a call - I'm sure the owners of the horse will be grateful.

Don't attempt to get it up. Horses with laminitis tend to try and stretch out like cats to take the pain off their feet. It very well might have colic, which is a twisting of the gut which would benefit of the horse to stand up. But my advice is to stay away from it cos it could thrash out and do some serious damage.

And don't feed it anything.

Chris.

Ps - you may now fire abuse my way for lurking.

[Carthage]

Don't call WHW - their Field Officers aren't vets so you just introduce further delay if it is urgent.
Call the owner - or a vet direct.


(I'm a volunteer BHS welfare 'officer' so do know about this).

[smn159]

King Herald said:

That's twice you've posted that, and both times you sounded stupid.

Wasn't meant to be taken seriously but if you prefer;

Sick animal? Call the vet.

Better?

[Carthage]

smn159 said:

King Herald said:

That's twice you've posted that, and both times you sounded stupid.

Wasn't meant to be taken seriously but if you prefer;

Sick animal? Call the vet.

Better?

Ah, the hilarious 'shoot it' horse joke.
Never gets old, does it?
Well, not to tts like you, apparently.

[Council Baby]

Carthage said:

Ah, the hilarious 'shoot it' horse joke.
Never gets old, does it?
Well, not to tts like you, apparently.

anyone would have thought you liked them?

Which one is it MC, the one I had a drunken conversation with?

[Mobile Chicane]

Carthage said:

Mobile Chicane said:

A neighbours' elderly mare has laminitis, but seemed to be getting better. I've just been out to the paddock to investigate a disturbance and now the horse is lying down.

The owners don't live on site and I can't reach them by mobile. Do I attempt to get the horse up, or what?

(I thought it was bad when horses lie down - apart from that I know nothing about them.) Then what do I do with her?

Poor thing looks frightened and in pain.

I know quite a bit about horses - and laminitis.

1. Lying down - if the mare is lying down, leave her.
She may just be lying down to sleep (horses do sleep both in sternal and lateral recumbency - maybe for an hour or 90 mins normally).
Or she may be lying down because her front feet are sore and she wants to rest them (which is the best thing for her).

2. Assess pain - is the mare sweating anywhere (assuming she's not wearing lots of heavy rugs)? At what speed is she breathing (normal is about 8 - 10 breaths per minute and any faster indicates pain). Is she lying peacefully, or is she moving around a lot - lying flat then lying upright, groaning, moving her legs, etc?

3. Contact the owner - keep trying. If you know the practice that the owner uses (more likely to be an equine practice than a cat/dog one) give them a call. They'll have an emergency vet on call and you'd be able to talk to them.

Try not to worry - if the owner knows the horse is laminitic, she'll already be getting treatment so there's no real urgency. Chances are the owner will have been to see the horse tonight, or will go tomorrow morning - so maybe leave a note saying you've noticed the horse lying down a lot and to call you.

If you want my phone number, e-mail me. If you video the mare, or take a pic, I can maybe give more advice (I've made my living in the equine industry until a few years ago)

Thanks!

The horse got up as soon as I approached (with an apple), and thankfully I was able to reach the owners. They're now here and are giving the mare her pain meds.

As you say, she was lying down because she was uncomfortable - thankfully nothing more than that.

Thanks anyway

[Backtobasics]

Laminitis is quite prevalent at the moment, its down to the rich grass. Keep an eye on the horse, try to get hold of the owner. As mentioned before if it starts rolling around a great deal get the vet out. If its been diagnosed with Laminitis it should be on box rest / special feed.

[Carthage]

Mobile Chicane said:

Thanks!

The horse got up as soon as I approached (with an apple), and thankfully I was able to reach the owners. They're now here and are giving the mare her pain meds.

As you say, she was lying down because she was uncomfortable - thankfully nothing more than that.

Thanks anyway

That's good news.
It's nice that you noticed and cared about the horse.
Hope she gets better.
(If you speak to the owners again - suggest they get her tested for 'Cushings syndrome' as it's often a causal factor).

[smn159]

Carthage said:

Well, not to tts like you, apparently.

Was that personal abuse really neccessary? Grow up