Vet Study - Laminitis - NitrOxide

Use of Nitric Oxide enhancing products to prevent laminitis

 

Veterinarian diagnosis: 33 y/o horse with suspected cancer of the stomach/abdomen. Also suspected, possibly EIA, or an immune deficiency disorder.

Brief history: 12/18/02 "Spring" 1969 gelding was lethargic, had a low grade fever, and diarrhea. Veterinarian suggested caretaker pull blood for a panel, and begin SMZ's, and Bute. (It was at night, and he was unable to respond to the horse.) Blood was run the following day, and the vet called and said he needed to see the horse ASAP. Upon examining the horse, he felt strongly "Spring" was suffering from stomach/abdominal cancer, and suggested euthanasia.

The owner wanted to try and see if it was possible anything else could be his problem. More blood was drawn, along with an order for a Coggins test to rule out EIA. Coggins test came back negative, but blood work showed a remote possibility of an immune deficiency disorder. His owner wanted to try and save him. 12/22/02 "Spring" began treatment with 50cc dexamethasone 2mg/ml IV, and Uniprim powder, and banamine 4.5cc 2x daily.

Platelet count was 12k, and Platelet rich plasma was ordered. "Spring" received the antibiotics and 25cc dexamethasone daily, for 13 days. He received the platelet rich plasma transfusion, and blood was drawn every few days for a new panel. The vet felt strongly that he had cancer, but the owner was still wanting to try. The vet expressed his concerns over the fact that while the  examethasone was a necessary part of treatment, this high of a dose, daily, especially with "Spring" being so ill, would very possibly cause him to suffer a severe case of laminitis, if he did survive.

With this worry in mind, banamine was discontinued, and he began high doses of NitrOxide, 60cc powder two times per day, three times per day whenever possible. "Spring" did show improvement in health, and blood work, platelets did increase even better than hoped for. The treating veterinarian was very surprised every time he examined "Spring" that he had zero digital pulses, or any other signs of laminitis. The credit was given to the NitrOxide, for possibly preventing the onset of laminitis. The treating veterinarian was correct with his initial diagnoses; "Spring" succumbed to cancer on Jan 3, 2003.

Even though "Spring" did not survive his cancer, his case showed definite possibilities for the use of NitrOxide in preventing laminitis for other horses having to undergo severe stress of illness, and/or having to receive steroids, or put in situations that may cause on onset of deadly laminitis.