.png)
Laminitis is essentially defined as inflammation of the laminar. It has many causes, and the outcome can be catastrophic; career ending, and tragically even death in some horses.
This is an exceedingly painful condition which can lead to long term structural change in the hoof if not addressed acutely, or adequately. There is a lot of research out about laminitis, and the driving causes of this condition and different treatment options.
The Laminar in the hoof is like a velcro pad, attaching the hoof wall securely to the laminar, which is rich in blood vessels which nourish the hoof. When there is an inflammatory process that occurs, these velcro-like bonds are disrupted, lengthen, and let go. When this happens, the hoof wall is no longer holding the internal hoof structures in place, and the pedal bone can slip down. This can be rotating down, or there can also be a sinking of the bone.
Horses hold around 60% of their body weight on their forelegs. Most often we will see laminitis events occurring primarily in the front hooves, but it can affect the hind.
There can be many causes for laminitis to occur, and the therapeutic aims are going to be different depending on the driving factors, however all management protocols will require pain management. We can use herbal pain support, however I am quite supportive of short term pharmaceutical pain management in the acute phase.
Laminitis can occur due to:
excessive grain intake - leading to an acute acidosis situation
excessive sugar intake from pastures or rich feeds
excessive pressure on a supporting limb after an injury
mechanical laminitis - from excessive work on a hard surface
toxic or sepsis laminitis
endocrine and metabolically driven laminitis, related to insulin resistance or PPID
Picking up the very early, initial signs of laminitis and acting promptly can help lessen the damage.
What to watch for...
Usually the first symptom to be noticed is the bounding digital pulse and the heat in the hoof.
Horses can be hesitant to move, laying down, with reluctance to get up. Constantly shifting the weight from one foot to the other, standing with front legs camped out- sawhorse stance. Pain face and an increase respiratory rate and heart rate.
Stages of Laminitis...
The development stage
As laminitis is developing, there are underlying metabolic processes occurring, causing the inflammatory process, and other pathological process are progressing.
Often there a few clinical signs at this early stage.
The acute phase of laminitis
This is where the first clinical signs are occurring, and there will be lameness and bone displacement in some horses. This will be when we can feel the digital pulse, and increase in hoof temperature and obvious signs of discomfort.
The acute phase can last from a few hours to a few days.
Chronic Laminitis
As the condition progresses, this becomes a chronic laminitis event. There will be ongoing symptoms and movement in the hoof. Abscesses can develop and pedal bone rotation and displacement can be so extreme you may see bone penetrating through the hoof sole.
As the hoof starts to grow out, you will see rings developing, and a change in the hoof shape.
Management of the laminitic horse...
Management of a laminitic horse needs to be continual and constant. Initially there will be a requirement for pain relief, supportive care, box rest, and anti-inflammatory support.
There are many options for management, such as ice therapy, special boots.
X-rays to determine the extent of rotation and addressing the underlying cause of the laminitis event. Often this is dietary, and addressing underlying metabolic and endocrine drivers.
Recovery can be a long and hard process, and requires great persistence and dedicated care from the owner. This can also be a costly rehabilitation process in time, financially and emotionally. However rehabilitation is possible with a good team including a good hoof care practitioner, supportive vet, nutritionist and equine naturopath.
If your horse is experiencing acute or chronic laminitis, or continues to have recurrent laminitis, we can work together to create a plan including herbal and nutritional management. This can help with acute and chronic outcomes, and for recurrent episodes, we can also work preventatively, to help reduce future events.
Give your horse a scratch for me! Kerrie