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Koko - 30
y.o. Donkey gelding - Chronic Laminitis
First seen at home (Hertfordshire) on
24th May 2005 - chronic laminitis since just after Christmas, cannot be
put on grass - in constant pain despite 'bute' - advised by the Donkey Sanctuary (Sidmouth)
not to consult AVMC
- kept on deep wood chips - owner extremely diligent and careful but
achieving no improvement - distressing case.
24th May 2005 - Prescribed homeopathic Pulsatilla
and Hypericum, with herbal Willow bark and fresh herbs -
changed to more suitable (natural) diet - advised limited grass
allowance, at first, increasing as time goes on.
27th May 2005 - Requested powdered
herbal supplement, as not able to find sufficient fresh herbs.
2nd June 2005 - Seems to be going very
well - only needed to give 'bute' twice since seen, which is a big
improvement - quite perky.
10th June 2005 - Still shuffly on feet
but going in the right direction - hoping for more rapid improvement -
dose rate of homeopathic medication increased.
16th June 2005 - Steadily improving -
no 'bute' for a week now - happy in himself and eating food better - still
hoping for more dramatic improvements.
22nd June 2005 - Revisited to give
Acupuncture.
24th June 2005 - Walked to end of
field yesterday, which not done for a while - not even lifting feet
afterwards.
6th July 2005 - Revisit to repeat
Acupuncture.
11th July 2005 - Lifting feet again
after grass - feels not making the necessary breakthrough - advised
specialist equine probiotic.
27th July 2005 - Doing very well if no
grass at all, which is a big improvement but wishing he could have turn
out.
2nd December 2005 - Doing very well -
very naughty and feeling very well in himself - having a bit of grass
and coping well.
15th December 2005 - Christmas Card -
"A very happy donkey".
2nd May 2006 - See again, 'for fun',
as so well.
In this case,
although homeopathy and
diet change were able to do so much for immediate
welfare, with acupuncture bringing even more benefit, it was not until
the probiotic had been added that final full improvement occurred, sufficient
to allow a return to a 'normal' lifestyle, thus showing the necessity
for flexible approach and integrated medication.
One might wonder
whether the Donkey sanctuary ever followed up this case, to learn the
outcome.
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