Cresty Neck=Laminitis ?
Topic: LamenessTuesday, July 20, 2010Hi.We have a 6 yr old haflinger/appy.She has started to crest.Her feet are not hot and she is not lame.The farm where I board says the neck is a sign of founder.The horses are on pasture only for the summer.She is currently muzzled to restrict intake of grasses and weeds.They have no hay or supplements in the summer.In winter the horses get grow & win.Is there anything I can do to prevent or stop the progression if they are right about the founder?The vet is coming next week but has too many others to look at so mine has to wait until next month to see him.My horse also needs her teeth floated.Can this be a cause as well?Her mane and tail are tinning out as well and losing the trademark haflinger fullness and sheen.We lost a horse 2 years ago to colic and are perhaps overly cautious and paranoid.There is no other pasture without grass to move her to,other than switching barns which is our next choice.Thanks for the advice.
Provided By: Mike Pownall DVM
Tuesday, July 20, 2010A horse that has a cresty neck is thought to be have a higher risk of developing laminitis but does not mean it has laminitis. Excess fat deposits in a horse can lead to insulin resistance. Without glucose the laminiae in the hooves cannot maintain their strong bond holding the coffin bone to the hoof. Since your horse is not lame she likely has not foundered. You are on the right track restricting her feed intake by using a grazing muzzle. The best way to find out if your horse is at risk from insulin resistance is a fasting insulin blood level test performed by your veterinarian. They can also discuss options to treat her if the test results are high.