Laminitis

The 8th June was Laminitis Awareness Day.

Laminitis is too common in horses, ponies and donkeys. According to vets it is the second biggest killer of horses after colic in the UK. 

So what is laminitis? 

 We have all heard lots about laminitis and usually associate it with fat ponies like the ones in the Thelwell cartoons who have eaten too much spring grass. However, any type, shape or breed can get laminitis and horses with hormone disorders - such as Cushing's disease and Equine Metabolic Syndrome - can get laminitis without being overweight. 90% of horses with laminitis have an underlying hormonal disease. Also although laminitis is considered to be a disease that occurs in spring it actually occurs all year round!

Laminitis is an inflammation of the laminae, the sensitive tissue that attaches the pedal bone to the hoof wall.  This inflammation contributes to the pain that causes the horse or pony to be unable to stand.  In some cases, the delicate bonds that hold the pedal bone in place can fail and the pedal bone sinks and/or rotates inside the hoof capsule. Horse&Hound

This picture shows the rotation of the pedal bone

or simply for the non-horsey: inflammation of a horse's feet, caused by eating too much rich grass.

The most common cause is excessive fat deposits, which creates a toxic reservoir in the horse's body.  This produces anti-inflammatory proteins and these circulate in the body causing havoc and 'priming' the animal to develop laminitis. Your Horse

 Is your horse at risk? Is your horse...

• Overweight?
• In a poor routine, or made vulnerable by a change of routine or environment?
• Living in a stressful environment? (excess travelling, competing or separation anxiety?)
• Receiving poor or irregular foot care?
• On medication? (some drugs can cause laminitis, notably corticosteroids- a type of anti-inflammatory)
• Heavily competed on poor ground?
• If a mare, is she hormonal or in-foal?

 Symptoms:

 Reluctance to walk and bear weight, heat in feet, bounding digital pulse around the fetlock, rocking back on heels.

If you see the above symptoms - CALL THE VET URGENTLY.

Recovery:

Corrective farriery will be needed and dependent on the severity of the laminitis the horse may be able to return to work provided there is no pedal bone rotation or sinking.  After the amount of box rest prescribed by your vet you will be able to walk in hand and build up work very gradually so that the laminae recover and get used to the amount of work.  If you work your horse too hard when the laminae are too weak you will have to return to step 1.  Your vet will advise you on the amount of exercise you should be giving your horse on an individual case basis.  You should always stick to soft surfaces and your vet will also advise you on when you can begin to turnout again and how much turnout to allow.  If the pedal bone has rotated or sunk remedial farriery will be necessary and a much longer amount of box rest will be needed.

Remedial shoeing may include: Imprint shoeing, Natural Balance shoes, Heart Bar shoes and Steward Clogs.

Animals with a history of laminitis are 4X more likely to get it again

Prevention:

• Restricted grazing- either using a grazing muzzle, strip grazing (only giving them a very small amount of grass), or turning him out at night when there are fewer fructans in the grass (but make sure the paddock is secure and thief proof as there will be less people around at night to keep an eye on him).  Reducing the amount of time grazing will not help as they can consume a large proportion of their daily intake with just an hour at grass.
• Don't turnout on frosty pastures, especially in bright sunlight.
• Get your horse tested for a hormonal condition and treat if necessary.
• Ensure your horse is a healthy weight.  (There is a difference between fat and muscle)
• Feed low starch, low sugar diet according to workload.  Laminitis can be due to excessive starch or a high intake of fructan sugars, however, make sure your horse gets all the vitamins and minerals it needs.
• Watch grass growth-fructans are highest when grass is growing - especially warm damp spells.
• Soak hay to further reduce its fructan and calorie content then feed 2.5% of his body weight in 2-3 small holed haynets will slow him down eating it.
• All treats and hard food should be avoided.
• Exercise! It helps the horses metabolism which reduces the risk of obesity.
• Keep an eye on weight gain/loss and body score him regularly.  Horses naturally lose weight in winter and gain weight again in spring so do not go over the top in winter with his weight to stop him losing it (not too much, if you are worried about excessive weight loss contact your vet), make the most of being able to lose the weight he put on last summer.