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.

There are various causes and risk factors associated with laminitis in the horse.

• 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

• Heavy breeds, such as draft breeds (large body weight)

• Overweight horses

• Horses on a high grain diet

• Ponies

• Unrestricted grain intake

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

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.