| I spent time with a friend this past Memorial Day, and | | | | the grass when her other horses flourished on it. In |
| heard her horrific tale of how she had to put down | | | | other words, the vet never diagnosed insulin |
| her long time horse partner because of laminitis. | | | | resistance. Horses with insulin resistance cannot |
| When Laminitis and Insulin Resistance are a Death | | | | properly use or respond to the insulin in their bodies, |
| Sentence | | | | which means that they cannot properly metabolize |
| In the case of my friend's horse, the lack of | | | | glucose. This ultimately can lead to chronic laminitis, |
| information about laminitis led to euthanasia, when it | | | | and, as in the case of my friend's horse, euthanasia. |
| did not have to. From what she related to me the | | | | Yet it does not have to be that way. |
| horse probably developed insulin resistance from the | | | | Insulin Resistance - A Case Study of Success |
| sudden onset of green grass, which was left | | | | There but for the grace of God go I, literally! I had a |
| untreated. Ultimately this condition led to laminitis, | | | | horse develop insulin resistance last fall from all the |
| which led to euthanasia. | | | | mesquite beans on my place. In his case, a dietary |
| She lives in eastern New Mexico where it never rains | | | | change (the introduction of mesquite beans) |
| much. Her horses are in dry, sandy pens or pastures | | | | triggered insulin resistance. However, I did not have |
| all year round, and fed hay and grain daily. During the | | | | to put him down. Today he is sound and barefoot |
| spring of 2009 it actually rained in NM, and she had | | | | because my vet understands insulin resistance and |
| lush green grass grow in her pastures, which her | | | | laminitis in horses. Dietary changes and sound |
| horses were not accustomed to. | | | | barefoot trimming were all he needed to return to |
| As a result of eating this grass, one of her horses | | | | normal health. |
| came up lame. She took him to her vet, expecting | | | | This summer as the mesquite beans are blooming I |
| the best of care for him. The care she received is | | | | have loaned him to my niece to use in her summer |
| standard in the veterinary world... but it ended with | | | | camp for kids. He will live in a large, dry pen with |
| him being put down. | | | | other horses on hay, grain and organic supplements. |
| The vet had her put special shoes on the horse, | | | | This gets him off the grass and mesquite beans, and |
| which didn't stay on, but never told her to get him | | | | gives him a daily job with lots of exercise. The |
| off the grass or change his diet in any way. The vet | | | | exercise is as important as getting him off the grass |
| did tell her the laminitis was due to the grass, but | | | | and beans. |
| was never able to tell her why he had problems with | | | | |