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About the Author: Dr. Christina Chambreau
Christina Chambreau, DVM, graduated from the University of Georgia Veterinary College in 1980 and has had a Homeopathic Veterinary Practice since 1988. She is co-founder and was Chair for the Academy of Veterinary homeopathy. She is the author of Healthy Animal’s Journal: What You Can Do to Have Your Dog or Cat Live a Long and Healthy Life; Healthy Dog Journal ebook; Fleas Be Gone kindle; and co-author of Tutorial and Workbook for the Homeopathic Repertory and How to Have a Stress Free Wedding and Live Happily Ever After. She has written and is quoted in many magazines. She lectures at veterinary conferences around the world. She speaks and gives classes for animal enthusiasts and practitioners. She is committed to empowering people to heal their animals and themselves in a way that heals the planet.
Hi Christina,
My husband’s 17 year old Arabian developed laminitis a year ago. He got over it but this year he had a relaps. He has only been eating grass hay and not the alfalfa and grain as before. We had to put him back on bute as he was unable to walk very well. The vet took a blood test and said the Diagnosis was: Elevated ACTH/Leptin.
Chemistry
Test: Plasma, Edta
Glucose
Result: 96
Reference interval – 71-113 mg/dL
Test: Lipemia
Result: 4
Reference interval – not established
Test: Hemolysis
Result: 2
Reference interval – not established
Test: Icterus
Result: 1
Reference interval – not established
Endocrinology
Test:ACTH endogenous
Result: ACTH baseline – 91.9 pg/mL
Reference interval – 9-35
Test: Insulin baseline
Result: Insulin – 22.05 uIU/mL
Reference interval – 10-40
Test: Leptin baseline
Result: Leptin – 13.31 ng/mL
Reference interval – 1-4
Test: T4 (Thyroxine) baseline
Result: T4 baseline – 1.14 ug/dL
Reference interval – 0.85-2.4
The vet wants to put Burmuda on Pergolide tabs. As you know the side effects of this medicine is horrible to say the least. This medicine can bring on the Laminitis and lameness along with death. I have been doing natural healing for many, many years. I do Energy work as well as use crystals and oils. I could really use some help here as I’m not sure what to do.
He is still eating well and drinking plenty of water. He is just having a really hard time walking. We have him in a restricted area. We have not seen him lay down in over a month. We have tried putting shoes on backwards in order to keep the pressure off the front of the hoof. The vet also said that Burmuda’s coffin bone had rotated the first time he came down with laminitis. Putting the shoes on backwards seemed to help and he was walking without pain. It was time again to trim and reshoe. The horseshoer decided to change and put the shoes on normally. The next day Burmuda could hardly walk. The shoer came back the next day and put the shoes on backwards. It seemed like the damage had been done. Burmuda went down hill from there. He has had trouble walking since the change.
I had used different oils on him the first time around but now that the vet said it is metabolic I need help with what would be the best thing to give him internally and over all.
X-rays the first of May showed the rotated coffin bone with a bone spir off the tip in the right hoof. X-rays the end of May showed bone spirs off the tip of coffin bone in both hoofs. They also showed some deterioration around the bottom edge of the coffin bone in both hoofs.
We have Burnuda on Biotin Dailey for good hoof growth. One week out of each month he is put on Equine Senior with a scoop of Sand Rid as he had a problem with Colic eariler this year.
We tape Blue blocks on the bottom of his hoofs to help with cushion. He does not have shoes on at this time.
Any help that you could suggest would be very much appreciated.
I believe in Natural healing and feel that the medicine the vet suggests will do more harm than good.
Sincerely,
Sue Gann
Dear Sue,
You have already started on the right path, to try many different approaches. I would strongly suggest selecting a well trained and experienced equine homeopathic veterinarian or one trained in TCVM (traditional chinese veterinary medicine). Both modalities have reported great success completely curing laminitis (though of course not in every horse). Of course, shoeing, diet, exercise and toxins (chemical) need to be evaluated as well.
There are many great ones and a few that come to mind at the moment who I believe can help you by phone include Dr.Joyce Harman (VA); Kim Henneman (UT); mary Beth Minter AZ. go to my links page for the organization web sites for acupuncture (TCVM) and homeopathy and AHVMA for general.
Dr. Madalyn Ward (not taking new clients) had a horse with laminitis who could barely walk. The year she stopped vaccinating, the horse became rideable and 5 years later when she vaccinated, he could still walk well but could not be ridden for a few more years. So be sure you are not vaccinating.
I agree with you that Natural healing is the best approach rather than medicines. You do need to work with someone who specializes in horses so the hoof care is appropriate.
Let me know, please, how things go.