Monday, February 27, 2012

Cutting edge laminitis treatment?

I'm borrowing this from Fran Jurga's blog. Is this the future of laminitis hoof care?



At least they didn't nail that thing on. What are the stem cells supposed to do exactly?

So many questions for you, Vern Dryden, so many questions...

14 comments:

  1. Interesting. . .
    The stem cells are supposed to grow new cells, maybe in the hoof parts that need it?

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    1. That's the theory, but there's no guarantee that those cells are going to go where they want them to go- or even that they can do anything once they're there.

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  2. This is very interesting, I do wonder if it will work. I believe the stem cell therapy will hopefully grow new cells and replace the damaged ones. If it works he'll be fine, if not...

    I think all these new procedures have possibilities in the future of veterinary medicine for horses. I just don't know if they are sure of the outcomes right now or if perhaps all this is 'guinea pig' research. I hope it works and new procedures come to light to help our horses with these killing diseases. My thoughts are if they don't try new things we're still stuck back in the past with outdated medical therapies.

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    1. I agree, there definitely is a need for a revamped laminitis care regime. But I think that as long as they're stuck to their "the hoofwall holds up the horse" paradigm that significant changes won't be made. I'm not going to be satisfied with laminitis research until someone does an in-depth study where they treat (or even avoid) laminitis by having the horse's weight on the sole and frogs and NOT the walls.

      I was watching the George Morris horsemanship clinic footage last weekend and found the farrier segment. He said the amazing thing about horses was that they are the only animals in the world that stand on their fingernails. Cognitive dissonance. I really want to ask him if they aren't the exception to that rule? What if they really aren't supposed to stand on their fingernails? What would that mean to him? Cause I sure as heck don't think they are the exception.

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  3. Yes, I saw this. I hope there is something from this, we can learn..whatever it may be. Obviously, having the horse up/moving comfortably is goal #1 b/c then all internal gut functions can try to operate more normally. It will be interesting....
    It's hard putting your trust into radical procedures when it's your own horse, but I hope it works out for Gifted. It seems increasing blood flow by movement will help too, so I hope that is given credit as well. It's not JUST one thing, that is fixable, or the key, for this issue, as we know.
    I personally have a hard time wrapping my brain around WHY/HOW a shoe or special shoe/clog/hard bottom item attached to such soft/damaged cells would offer comfort, especially when coffin bone is rotated. I'm not saying I'm right..I just don't see how it would offer comfortable support like his soft rides.

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    1. The only thing different I see in his approach is the stem cells- and again, I have lots of questions about how they are supposed to do anything.

      I would also like to point out that when Gifted walked off so nicely with his new shoes his feet were still under a local anesthetic. I'd like to know how well that horse is moving today.

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    2. YES totally!!! That block takes away any pain, however, in our case even when Laz was blocked, he still had 'memory' of how to walk his weird way to protect his worse foot. Gifted walked off better than Laz ever would. I'm very interested to see how this develops.

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  4. Well, that would be cool...if it worked. They didn't cover a follow-up a month down the road. :( Have you heard any news? I would love to think it's the future...or at least that there's some future for horses suffering laminitis.

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    1. I think that work was done literally last weekend, so it's still much too soon to get any feedback. I'm sure if Fran gets good news she'll put it on her blog.

      Personally I don't think it's the future. There's a photo stream up now where you can clearly see that they've put some massive wedges in those shoes. They've taken a coffin bone that was already standing on its tip (as seen from the rads) and jacked it up even more. I could be proved wrong though, I hope for this horse's health I am.

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  5. I actually think it's scary that they advertise this as the future, putting that horse on iron clogs. Even in the video they don't claim stem cells work, they say they "could help". Pity there was no mention of the what caused the laminitis in this horse in the first place. Those hooves looked scary. Obviously we didn't get to see the whole trimming process, but it seemed as if they only excavated the sole and left the long toe in place??

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    1. I was thinking that too watching the video- why does this horse have laminitis in the first place? But it was a short little news clip so there was only so much they could mention, hopefully it just wasn't good "news."

      You're right, they did leave that toe long.

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  6. Wish that video had had some more info, especially on the new medicated special wonder shoe. I am having a hard time understanding how that giant metal contraption is going to make him more comfortable. Also don't get why they were using some kind of torch on the hoof???
    Excellent point about the horse still having his hooves numb from the nerve block when he was walking back from the procedure. I didn't even think of that, but it is a bit of "false advertising." I am very interested to read any follow-ups.

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  7. Exactly- same crap different package. I can only guess that the torch was to cauterize the tissues? Not something I would do or condone but I don't have a DVM so...

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  8. Look at the x-ray at 1:27 min. Do they think they are going to grow a new P3 with stemcells? And if they do get the horse back on its feet I bet he will be shod, stabled and fed sweet feed again. So what exactly is the point? I guess the vet earns a nice salary... This horse has absolutely no chance and he knows it.

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