I have updated Maggie's case history and added some new hoof photos that I took this morning.  Just a heads up that when I added them to her album, they were put in some strange order.  I tried to rearrange the photos, and it let me move 2, but 2 pictures are still at the bottom.  They are labeled March 2015 though.

I started Maggie on jiaogulan about 2 1/2 weeks ago.  I wanted the farrier to trim her first, and get her toe back to the edge of the crack on the right front.  That definitely helped her breakover, but she was still reluctant to move, and spent most of the day standing in the deepest part of her stall.  I started the jiaogulan at 3/4 teaspoon twice a day (it is given with her daily feedings).  I noticed that she began standing a little differently even at the low dose, but didn't see any change as far as movement.  I moved her up to 1 teaspoon twice a day and she began meandering her stall a little more.  She spent less time standing in one spot, and would walk and look out her back window, and willingly walk up to her door when I opened it.  I could tell that her gums were getting a little pinker.  I tried 1 1/4 teaspoon twice a day and her gums turned a nice "bubble gum" pink color, and I could really tell a dramatic difference in her comfort.  On about the 3rd day the barn owner called me one evening to tell me that Maggie was bucking in her stall at feed time.  This scared me a little bit, so I dropped her down to 1 teaspoon twice a day again.  She was still comfortable, but not jumping around her stall.

I noticed over the past weekend that she wasn't quite as mobile as she has been over the last week.  She's definitely still better than she was before jiaogulan, but I can tell that something's up.  Is this a sign that I should go back to 1 1/4 teaspoon?  Or, should I consider adding alcar at this point?  Or AAKG?  I see that AAKG is indicated for cold-induced pain, and we are actually pretty warm now.  The temp has not been below 40 since Saturday, and we are supposed to top out in the 50s & 60s all week (no nights below 40 in the 7 days forecast).  Or, is it just a sign that she's due for another trim?  She's at 3 weeks now with the farrier due at the end of this week.  Or, could it be that she's been moving around too much?  Or maybe all of the above?

Tiffany in NC
Nov. 2014

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/echistory8/files/TiffanyWoodward%20and%20Maggie/

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/echistory8/photos/albums/540173897