Laminitis

Basically, what is laminitis?

Laminitis can be directly translated as inflammation of the laminae. What are the laminae you ask? They are the tiny little “velcro” of the hoof that hold the coffin bone to the hoof capsule we see on the outside.

Why is inflammation bad?

Inflammation causes S H A R P

S – Swelling

H – Heat

A – Altered function

R – Redness

P – Pain

Bluntly, all of these things in the hoof can leave potential for coffin bone rotation or even “sinking”. This ultimately can lead to the need to end a horse’s pain and suffering via humane euthanasia.

What causes laminitis in horses?

There are many factors that can be at play in this disease process. They also are not mutually exclusive. There can be multiple contributing factors working against the horse.

Metabolic/endocrine factors like insulin resistance or cushings disease (ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT A DOUBT THE MOST COMMON I’VE SEEN).

Mechanical factors, for example chronically long hooves or stress from compensating for another non-weight bearing limb can cause laminitis in only one limb on occasion.

Toxin exposure to something like black walnut or mesquite tree pods, which may also be metabolic related, are a couple well known causes of laminitis.

Sepsis/ systemic infection in horses with retained placenta or horses with other systemic bacterial infections have also been known to cause laminitis.

For a more detailed explanation on different causes you can visit this website.

How do I know my horse has laminitis?

The first sign your horse may have laminitis is how they are standing/ walking. These horses are very painful and will walk with a stilted, stiff looking gait. Usually this is both front legs, not always. Rear feet can be involved but this is less common. There is a stereotypical position that many laminitic horses can be found in, especially those that are more severe cases.

Digital pulses are throbbing. These pulses can be felt on the sides of the pastern or fetlock as described in this video.

There may be heat in the hoof.

There may be sensitivity to hoof testers. Especially at the tip/apex of the frog. However, this is not always the case, especially if there is not significant rotation of the coffin bone.

Radiographs (x rays) may be the last diagnostic needed to determine if (or how severe) a horse has laminitis. I run into this question a lot. Do I need x rays? The answer is no. But, they are extremely helpful for me as the veterinarian. They can help us gauge maybe how severe something is in that moment, but they can also serve as a very objective marker for how a horse is doing. Again, its really helpful for us to know where we started and then when we have questions down the road as to the progress we are able to objectively measure that without guessing.

What happens once I know my horse IS laminitic?

Call your veterinarian.

I don’t just say this because I am a veterinarian. I say this because the sooner you can determine all of the things listed above, the better the outcome. If a horse has Cushings, for example, and you don’t address the Cushings, you are fighting a huge uphill battle. Honestly it is one battle you will likely lose.

It is extremely important to determine the CAUSE of the laminitis, and then to attack it like crazy.

Once the cause of the laminitis is determined and being addressed, go after the clinical sign of the laminitis like your horse’s life depends on it. Below I have listed a few of the recommendations I make for these horses –

• ICE, ICE, ICE (24/7 application to the pastern area) for the first week
  • Please however do this in some external and as dry as possible manner.
  • Please do NOT soak your laminitic horse’s feet in water all day every day
  • Ice in a bag wrapped around a horse’s pastern, ice packs, ice wraps, ice boots…anything but ice water
• Anti-inflammatory therapy
  • Bute-less
  • Prescriptions (phenylbutazone, banamine, firocoxib ect.)
  • Frequency and dose depend on the horse and their history of medical conditions ect.
• Jiaogulan herb/ Laminox
• Heiro supplement
• Soft ride boots
  • I cannot stress this enough. These boots are a game changes for these horses. If at all possible, above all else, I would get a laminitic horse in these boots.
• Appropriate trim – whether with or without x rays there needs to be NO leverage on the toe of a laminitic horse. Get your farrier out immediately and have them help get your horse’s toes back to reduce as much pressure as possible.
• +/- Isoxsuprine
• Essential oils, topically and internally (speak to a essential oils specialist or your veterinarian)
• Ozone therapy

The moral of the story…

Get a diagnosis, get a treatment plan for the root cause, go after the laminitis like mad!

There are literally HUNDREDS of amazing horse supplements out there these days. I listed a few of my favorites above. This list is by NO means exhaustive nor is it the BEST for EVERY horse. Please take into account your horse, your situation, your veterinarian’s recommendations and your own financial situation.