FIND out more about equine laminitis from the most common causes to symptoms to look out for as well as where to go for further help and advice.

Equine Laminitis

Laminitis is a common problem affecting horses, ponies and donkeys. Serious cases can reduce a horse’s usefulness or even result in the horse being destroyed to prevent further suffering.

WHAT IS LAMINITIS?

Laminitis is a painful inflammatory condition of the tissues (laminae) that bonds the hoof to the pedal (coffin) bone in the horses hoof.

It can affect any horse, of any age or sex at any time of year.

Although, traditionally associated with fat ponies, it can be triggered by a variety of metabolic or physical causes in any horse.

It is caused by the weakening of the supporting lamina within the hoof leading to tearing of the support structure suspending the pedal bone within the hoof.

If not treated promptly the pedal bone can drop (described as a ‘sinker’) or can rotate.

Laminitis most commonly affects the front feet but can affect only one or all the feet. Horses badly affected laminitis stand in a characteristic way in order to take weight off their toes. The forelegs are stretched forward to put most of the weight on the heels and the hind legs are also moved forwards tucked under the body. In severe laminitis cases horses may constantly try to shift weight from one foot to another and also resort to lying down on one side so that no weight is on their feet.

CAUSES

Most common

Excessive intake of grass or grain.
Following administration of certain drugs.
Following infection e.g. retention of placenta in recently foaled mare
Cancer of the pituitary gland (“Cushing’s disease).

Less common

Concussion from riding on hard surfaces
Excessive weight bearing by one leg due to injury or lames in the opposite leg.
Stress/trauma

FEEDING GUIDELINES

Feed a forage based diet - a mixture of mature grass and hay with alfalfa (Lucerne). Alfalfa contains essential minerals and proteins that the horse can utilise to improve hoof quality. Unless horses are in hard work they do not require hard feed
Manage grazing carefully. Do not turn laminitics out in the frost or on very stressed or bare paddocks. Grass is safest at night when sugar levels are in decline. The later in the evening the better. Strip grazing may be a safe alternative. Avoid lush grass pasture, cereals and coarse mixes.
Use a quality vitamin and mineral supplement.
Changes to the diet need to be gradual. Feed little and often.

TREATMENT

Do not delay treatment - treat as an emergency.

Firstly, remove the suspected cause of the laminitis i.e. bring the horse in from grass, reduce concentrates and investigate or treat underlying disease e.g Cushings or metabolically induced. Veterinary advice should be sought to prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs. Other medical treatment may be used, such as ACP which modifies blood flow.

In more severe cases the vet may recommend removing shoes and supporting the foot with one of the various support systems available. The horse should be confined to its stable, on a deep bed.

PROGNOSIS

Laminitis is unpredictable and it can be difficult to make an accurate prognosis. Radiographs can enable a more accurate prognosis to be given. Generally, the longer the case goes without improvement the worse the prognosis.

When the laminar inflammation can be halted and where bony changes are minimal horses have a good chance of returning to athletic work given adequate time and the correct veterinary and farriery attention. If laminar tearing does not progress then the area of separation will eventually grow out and the foot can be re-balanced with the aid of corrective hoof trimming. Great care must be taken in subsequent years to prevent recurrence of the disease.