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Laminitis:
Do’s and Don’ts
Laminitis (founder) is a relatively common cause of severe and
often debilitating lameness in the horse. Laminitis results when
there is disruption of blood flow to the sensitive lamina of the
distal phalanx (coffin bone). When there is disruption of the blood
flow to the laminae, inflammation and swelling within the hoof
result in severe pain and lameness. The resulting death of sensitive
lamina leads to a loss of attachment of the sensitive lamina of the
bone to the insensitive lamina of the hoof. Once this occurs the
coffin bone can rotate away from the front of the hoof wall or sink
within the hoof wall 360 degrees (sinking). Laminitis can be acute
or chronic. The term founder is often associated with chronic
laminitis and resultant rotation or sinking of the distal phalanx
within the hoof. The purpose of this article is to investigate the
causes, clinical signs, and treatment of acute laminitis.
Clinical Signs
Lameness is the most common clinical sign associated
with laminitis in the horse. It may affect one or all of the feet.
Typically it affects the front feet. The front feet are usually
affected because they support approximately 60% of the horses body
weight. The horse may be reluctant or hesitate to walk, which is
usually described as walking on eggshells. When standing still, the
horse may appear to have a sawhorse stance. This is due to the horse
trying to relieve the pain on the front feet and back feet by
placing the front feet out and the back feet positioned under the
body. Palpation of the hoof often reveals increased heat. Other
clinical signs include bounding or increased digital pulses in the
arteries along the flexor tendons (behind the sesamoid bones),
treading of the front feet, and a painful response detected over the
toe region using hoof testers. Severely affected horses may have
blood or serum oozing from around the coronary band.
Causes and Risk Factors
There are various causes and risk factors associated
with laminitis in the horse.
Some common causes include:
-
Digestive upsets due to grain overload or sudden
changes in the diet
-
Sudden access to lush pasture (spring grass)
-
High fever
-
Colic (horses with damaged intestine)
-
Retained placenta
-
Excessive concussion to the feet when walking on
pavement, often known as "road founder"
-
Bedded on black walnut shavings or ingestion of
black walnut shavings
-
Excessive weight bearing on one leg due to
injury of opposite leg
Risk factors associated with laminitis include:
-
Heavy breeds, such as draft breeds (large body
weight)
-
Overweight horses
-
Horses on a high grain diet
-
Ponies
-
Unrestricted grain intake
Prevention and Treatment
When dealing with a horse affected with laminitis, a
quick response by the owner and veterinarian can play an important
role in the eventual outcome of the disease. Treatment varies
depending on the severity of the laminitis, but may include:
-
Treatment of the primary problem (very important
in acute cases)
-
Treating with mineral oil to increase the
passage of foodstuffs through the gastrointestinal tract and
limit the absorption of bacterial toxins
-
Dietary restrictions to prevent overeating and
obesity
-
Stabling the horse on soft ground, such as
shavings or sand
-
Encouraging the horse to lie down to reduce
pressure on the hoof
-
Administration of drugs such as antibiotics to
fight infection, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce
bacterial toxicity, vasodilators to reduce blood pressure and
improve blood flow in the hoof, and anticoagulants.
-
Corrective trimming and therapeutic shoes
-
Frog support in the way of lily pads or
Styrofoam blocks compressed to fit the hoof
Summary
By resolving the causes of laminitis the disease may
be prevented in many instances. Providing good health and routine
hoof care are important preventative measures against the
development of laminitis. Early recognition of laminitis and prompt
treatment by your veterinarian can help prevent potentially serious
side effects associated with laminitis including coffin bone
rotation and debilitating lameness.
by Ryan
Rothenbuhler, DVM Student (Class of 2001)
Vol. 3, Issue. No 2, 2000
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