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No Hoof, No Horse - Laminitis
By Peggi Sargent
Spring has arrived here in the Midwestern United States along with cool nights, warm days and frequent showers. Excellent weather conditions to jumpstart the grass growth in your pasture.
As many horseman know, this could spell disaster for most ponies and many horses who are susceptible to laminitis, or founder. For thousands of years this mysterious disease we call founder has plagued the horse world as to it causes and treatment. Recently, modern scientific research is finally shedding some light on this age-old disease, offering hope for prevention and remission for horses and ponies. Laminitis-Founder Laminitis is the inflammation of the sensitive laminae of the hoof. The laminae are the supporting tissue that lies between the external hoof wall and the coffin bone of the internal hoof. When laminae become inflamed and swollen, an enzyme known as Matrix Metalloproteinase’s or MMP is released causing deterioration and detachment of the laminae supporting base cells. This process results in the downward rotation of the coffin bone toward the sole of the hoof. Depending on the degree of rotation, the coffin bone can puncture the sole wall. Not only is this severely painful for the horse, it is a genuine equine emergency which can result in death. Horses and ponies that survive suffer permanent hoof damage seen in the over growth of the outer hoof wall; i.e.; long extended hooves that look similar to water or snow ski’s, if the horse is not placed under the immediate care and combined efforts of a farrier and veterinarian. This chronic condition and permanent damage of the hoof is known as founder Causes Some of the many known causes: Carbohydrate overload from too much grain.
Fructan (grass sugar) overload from lush fast growing spring or fall grass
Ingestion of Black Walnut shavings
Direct concussion from being ridden on pavement of concrete surfaces
Hormonal changes such as Cushing’s Disease
Retention of placenta following foaling
Allowing the overheated horse to drink unlimited cold water This is just a partial list of some of the known causes of acute laminitis. There are also cases where the cause could not really be determined. However, the most common cause is from too much grain, a sudden change in grain and the overeating of spring or fall grass. Symptoms Although the causes vary from case to case, the symptoms of laminitis can be subtle or very obvious:
Lack of appetite
Lethargic
Fever
Fever in the hoof itself (very warm to the touch) – a pulse in the back of the pastern can usually be felt.
Constant shifting of weight from hoof to hoof
Stiffness in gait
Classic “Founder Stance” with the front feet extended forward and the hind feet well underneath the belly.
Unwillingness to move
Sweating, shallow breathing
Most commonly, the front two hooves are involved, but all four hooves are possible. Laminitis Pre-Condition Signs For those horses and ponies who are predisposed to laminitis the past few years of research has proven that these horses are insulin resistant. A condition similar to diabetes in humans. These horses commonly have the same body type, such as being an easy keeper, cresty necked, obesity, and fatty deposit above the tail. While it is important to monitor and properly manage these types of horses an ponies, laminitis can happen to any horse in spite of their body type.
If you have questions concerning your horse, it is best to consult your local veterinarian or knowledgeable horseman.
Prevention and Treatment Prevent grain overload by keeping the grain bin door locked. Check your pastures and turnouts for Black Walnut trees and any other known plants poisonous to horses. Do not ride for extended times on pavement. Never allow a hot sweaty horse to drink unlimited amounts of water, a small drink of tepid water is allowable, then walk them until they have cooled down before allowing more water. At the first sign of illness suspicious of laminitis, remove the cause! If the horse is on pasture, put them in a stall or dry lot. Make the horse as comfortable as possible with deep straw or stall bedding and call your veterinarian immediately.
When the vet arrives, provide him or her with all the information about what caused the lamintic onset. He or she will prescribe pain/anti-inflammatory medications such as Bute. Vasodilating medications such as isoxuprine may also be prescribed. The latter will help prevent swelling in the hoof from restricting blood flow to the same. This is essential in minimizing damage and deterioration of tissue.
If possible, support the feet deep cushioning. Your local vet may or may not have access to such cushioning devices beyond stall bedding; you can contact your state or university equine health center for more information on obtaining these devices. While exercise is important, for the lamintic horse remember this, do not force your horse to walk if he is clearly in pain and unwilling to move.
Contact your farrier and within a few days, it is important to have shoes removed and the hooves trimmed. Maintain a routine schedule with the farrier to keep the horses hooves trimmed or shod.
Conclusion Prevention is the best advice, as there is no cure for laminitis or founder once a horse is afflicted.
Follow the advice of your farrier and your veterinarian. Keep grain rooms locked at all times so your curious and smart horse cannot open the grain bin door. Use caution when allowing horses or ponies to graze in spring and fall when grass growth is high in fructan (grass sugars). There are also several products on the market for insulin resistant horses to help them metabolize carbs and sugars more efficiently. These products such as “Quiessence” and “Remisson” work well for some horses and some other products do not. For my lamintic mare, Remission worked the best. Although my mare’s bout with laminitis was due to a sudden change in feed, we still have to monitor her on spring and fall pasture. With “Remission” added to her diet with a small amount of a complete feed (not grain), she can now enjoy the freedom and company of running with her stablemates.
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Contributor's Note
I am not a veterinarian nor a farrier, nor do I play one on TV. I am however a horse owner and riding instructor for the past 40 years and have experienced first hand the debilitating results of laminitis. Please consult your veterinarian for medical and professional advice.
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