Clinical Trial: Laminitis
Darby's Case History
Darby's Vita-Royal Story
Owner: Sue LaFlamme
Darby is around 40 years old and had been suffering from chronic laminitis since 1997. In 1999, she was diagnosed with cushings syndrome and put on cyproheptadine at 1 ml once a day. Early 2000 found her getting worse and more frequent attacks of laminitis. July of 2000 was her worse time and we found ourselves having to consider having her put down. During this time she was up to 4 grams of bute alsong with isoxuprine and cyproheptadine and sometimes banamine rather than bute.
She was not leaving her stall at all and moving as little as possible in her stall, eventually she stopped eating and drinking although she continued to nibble her hay. Through all this I never had the impression that she wanted to give up, it was up to me to find a better way for her. It was about this same time that I first heard of Vita Royal. I was able to involve Darby in the cuchings/laminitis clinical trial which meant weaning her off all of the medications. I started her on supplements EPS Formula®, liquid Nutrient Buffer® and Untie® as soon as I received them around the middle of August. I was at that time still having trouble locating a source of the hi iodine salt needed for the hi protein grain. On Aug 26th we decided to start her on the feed while waiting to receive the salt. August 26th Darby is still not feeling well, but is able to lie down and rest more often, there is a change in her eyes, a less painful expression.
September 1st the first big sign that things are getting better, Darby has pooped in a normal spot in her stall. Previously she had been going where ever she was standing and not able to be her usual neat self and lining them up along the wall.
September 5th Darby is walking, we are able to walk down to the arena and turn her out, she walks around munching on little bits of grass and white clover.
September 6th Darby is going out in her paddock and wooded area to poop, she continues to walk more.
September 8th She has her feet trimmed, after the trim she walks out of the barn looking happy!!!! Farrier comments on how he was not expecting her to be alive when he comes this a.m...he can't believe she is walking and not on drugs.
Sept. 9th Darby trots! She is moving less stiff and there is no shifting of weight back and forth between her front feet. She really enjoys the time I spend doing accupressure points on her. Each day finds her doing a little more. Her joints are all creaky from not moving for so long but they are improving the more she gets out and walks on her own. Her quality of life is much improved.
On Sept. 27th we have a vet come out and do acupuncture on her, she shows me a couple of other spots I can do acupressure on and tells me Darby is doing great.
Digital pulse to both front feet is feeling normal now. Temp is stable at 99.6 in the am.
The changes in her are still happening on a daily basis, now when I go out to feed she trots in to the barn. She whinnys to me and meets me at the gate to go down to the arena for her strolls.
October 20th finally weather coooperates and Holly will ride Darby for the first time in three years. Darby still opens her mouth for the bit. Holly ic concerned about getting bucked off so she rides her at the walk five times around the arena both ways.. it is enough.
October 22nd Darby is very sore in her left foot I find a spot that looks like maybe a stone or acorn got stuck. Farrier comes out on Monday and is only able to trim 3 feet because of the soreness. I have the vet come in the afternoon she pares a little more off at the white line and finds a bloody spot right where I thought the stone might have been. I soak Darby's feet in apple cider vinegar, she is better in a few days. During that time she carries her weight on her right front (bad foot). She would never had been able to do that a month earlier.
November 10th farrier comes out to finish trim he does the fight front. Darby is fine and walking with her weight evenly on all four feet again. Darby eats dead oak leaves and her legs stock up, Linsey sends RELEASER I give her 1/3 cup in each feed, she is fine in two days.
Wednesday November 5th I suspect Darby is in heat, it has been years since she has shown a heat cycle by Thursday I know she is in heat!.Darby is showing good growth in the toe area of her right front foot. She is looking very healthy.
P.S. Darby runs and bucks now too!
Sue LaFlamme
Owner
© 2011 Vita Royal Products Inc.
