Dealing With Laminitis

Laminitis is a very painful condition of the feet which can affect any horse or donkey. It is an inflammation and weakening of the tissues known as laminae or lamellae that bond the main bone, known as the pedal bone, to the hoof wall.

Laminitis is irreversible and once it is apparent that a horse or donkey is suffering from the condition the damage has already begun. It is therefore paramount that you call your vet immediately you suspect the condition and take steps to make your animal as comfortable as possible.

Treatment, on the whole, consists of pain management and care. Equines with the condition are usually placed on box rest with deep bedding and given pain relief to ease the pain.

Regular farrier visits are essential to provide mechanical support and encourage normal hoof growth. Adequate management of the equine’s diet is also of paramount importance.

Although we do not know exactly what causes laminitis, there are some known factors which include:

A diet which is high in sugar
Overweight equines
Inadequate farrier visits
Lack of exercise
Hormonal equine disorders

Equines who have previously suffered from laminitis are more prone to get the condition again.

Spotting the signs of laminitis early is vital if your horse or donkey is to make a full recovery. However, the severity of the equine's lameness will depend on the extent of the damage to the laminae.

Equines suffering from laminitis may show signs such as:

Reluctance to move, especially on hard or uneven ground
Shifting their weight from one foot to the other
Have increased heart rates
Have hooves that are hot to the touch
Have throbbing pulses in their legs
Slide feet along the ground rather than lifting them to walk

As with all illnesses, vigilance is important. Spotting the signs of laminitis early could be the difference in whether the equine recovers or succumbs to acute or chronic laminitis.

Although we usually associate laminitis more commonly in the spring and autumn, it can strike at any time of year. While grass cannot grow below 5°C, photosynthesis will still produce sugar if it is cold and bright. Therefore, frosty winter mornings are just as problematic as sunny spring ones for grazing equines, and both should be avoided.

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