Some health conditions compromise the welfare of your horse. For whatever number of reasons last year there are many reports of founder (laminitis).
In extreme weather nutrition management and shelter are even more important to animals that have compromising conditions such as laminitis.
If you observe any of the symptoms addressed in the article below please contact your vet to determine how to ease the suffering created by the condition called founder. Our thanks to Dr. Deb Harrison-Steele for providing this timely article. Dr. Harrison-Steele is the Chair of the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association Equine Committee.
Founder: Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention.
Laminitis is inflammation of the sensitive lamina of the horses’ hoof. The lamina lines the inside of the hoof and helps to support the weight of the horse within the hooves. When these laminae are inflamed horses become lame and their feet are often hot, with an increased pulse to them. Affected horses tend to have a typical stance where they place their front feet forward and rock backwards in order to try and decrease the weight on their front legs. They also often take short, choppy steps described as ‘walking on egg shells’.
Laminitis can be caused by a wide variety of mechanical or metabolic stresses. Mechanical stresses include things such as trotting on hard surfaces (road founder); excessive forces from overgrown hooves or excessive weight bearing on a good leg when an opposite leg has a serious injury. All of these mechanical forces place excessive stress on the lamina thereby causing inflammation that may lead to laminitis.
Metabolic stressors include any disease that affects the circulation, and thereby the blood flow, within the sensitive lamina. Examples include colic, excessive starch ingestion (such as grass founder or grain overload); retained placenta; infection; Cushing’s syndrome and obesity. Also, some toxins such as black walnut can cause laminitis.
Treatment for laminitis involves reducing the pain and inflammation with the use of drugs, identifying and reversing risk factors and taking measures to reduce mechanical stressors. The greatest worry is that the laminae can become so inflamed that they become weakened and allow the bone inside the hoof to rotate and shift. Supporting the frog and reducing the weight bearing surface of the hoof wall will often help support the bones within the hoof and reduce the risk of the coffin bone rotating. Coordinating efforts between the veterinarian, farrier and horse owner can often improve the horse’s comfort and long term prognosis for soundness.
- Deb Harrison-Steele, DVM, Equistar Veterinary Services, Spruce Grove, AB