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Laminitis 101

May 18,2023 | Kim Horton

Laminitis 101

Laminitis is a painful condition where the laminae of the horse's hoof become inflamed and can result in the pedal bone sinking or rotating. Read this blog to find out more about what Laminitis is and what you can do to prevent it. 

Take a look at our Laminitis Collection to find products to help to prevent and manage the condition.

What is laminitis?

Did you know that there are three different types of laminitis? Laminitis caused by grass or founder, as it is commonly called, is inflammation of the laminae of the horse’s foot. Laminae are the delicate, accordion-like tissues that attach the inner surface of the hoof wall to the coffin bone - the bone in the foot. The sensitive laminae interlock with insensitive laminae lining the hoof, much like interlocking fingers to keep the coffin bone in place within the hoof.

What causes it and why?

Lush grass is known to present a laminitis risk. This is because it’s high in soluble carbohydrates which are simple sugars and starches that are readily broken down by the bacteria in the horse's large intestine. One of the consequences of rapid breakdown of these carbohydrates is production of a substance that, when absorbed into the bloodstream, can damage an important structure in the hoof: the basement membrane. This structure essentially forms the "glue" that attaches the hoof wall to the pedal bone, or coffin bone. Breakdown of the bond between the hoof wall and the pedal bone is the basic process that triggers the destructive chain of events associated with laminitis.

The sugar, fructans produced by rapidly growing grass stimulates an overgrowth of bacteria in the horse’s large intestine. The bacteria produce and release toxins, called endotoxins, that are carried by the bloodstream to the foot where they cause damage to the laminae and small blood vessels.

Why is laminitis more common at certain times of the year?

Of the soluble carbohydrates found in grass, one of the most important is fructans. It has relatively recently been discovered that grasses not only store energy in their seed heads, they store energy in their roots, leaves and stems as fructans. In the spring, when there are sunny days followed by cool nights, the grass stores large amounts of fructans in the stems, especially the portion of the stem near the ground. Later in the year, when the daylight and night time temperatures are more consistent, most of the fructans produced by the plant during the day, is used up each night.

The fructans levels are highest in the spring and summer months. However, having said that, it’s worth mentioning that this is not the only time when laminitis occurs. Although less common, it can happen during a mild, wet autumn or after a drought. In other words, any time rainfall, sunlight, and daytime temperatures are sufficient to stimulate rapid grass growth.

What’s the best time of the day to turn out?

On sunny days, fructans levels gradually rise during the morning, peaking around noon. They then gradually decline and are lowest just before dawn. So, the riskiest time for a laminitis-prone horse to be turned out is between late morning and late afternoon, in the spring or early summer. Avoid these times if you can.

Why do some horses get it, but others do not?

Historically, it was thought that the sole cause was access to lush pasture but this doesn’t explain why some horses develop the condition and others do not, e.g. if you put two horses together in the same field, why does one develop laminitis and the other doesn’t? Why is one susceptible to laminitis and the other isn’t? Although grass intake can be a triggering factor, it’s now understood that 90% of laminitis cases are caused by an underlying hormonal condition.

So, what horses do get it?

A 2016 study found that “cold blooded” horse types who had access to high-quality grazing or had a change of pasture were more at risk of developing laminitis. Cold blooded horses, such as our native pony types, are traditionally good doers who retain their fat during the summer months to help them survive the cold in the winter months. Native ponies also tend to be insulin resistant which increases the risk of the development of laminitis.

Other factors on the watch list include:

equus bullet Horses that are over the age of 10

equus bullet Good doers

equus bullet Overweight types

equus bullet Those with a cresty neck.

What are the symptoms of laminitis?

The most disturbing thing about laminitis is that the initial developmental stages usually go undetected. It’s only once the horse has begun to feel the pain of laminitis that the owner recognizes that something is amiss. Of course, by the time the pain is evident, much of the damage has already occurred, and the onus is then on damage control.

Some of the symptoms currently recognised easily by the owner include those outlined below.

Very mild laminitis: this level of laminitis may be taken for arthritis or laziness as the horse just doesn’t move like they normally do.

equus bullet Only trots when usually canters when turned out

equus bullet Trots big on soft ground but short-strided on hard ground

equus bullet May not bend to the inside when ridden as foot sore in front

equus bullet Resists pivoting on front feet

equus bullet Possibly heat in the feet

equus bullet Stronger pulse on the inside of the pastern.

Moderate laminitis:

equus bullet Moves carefully in walk

equus bullet May trot but only when encouraged to do so

equus bullet Shorter stride in trot

equus bullet Head may bob a little in trot

equus bullet Refuses to turn on front feet, may freeze when turned

equus bullet Bounding pulse on the inside of the pastern.

Severe laminitis: you can’t miss this.

equus bullet Refuses to move

equus bullet May only walk when encouraged to do so

equus bullet Steps are small, stiff and careful

equus bullet Adopts classic, instantly recognisable laminitis stance with hind feet well under his tummy to keep the weight off his toes and more on his heels

 

How should laminitis be treated?

If you are in any doubt, call your vet. Laminitis is very painful so it is important to get your horse pain relief as soon as possible. Follow exactly the treatment plan laid out by your vet, introduce it as soon as possible to prevent any lasting damage and to alleviate any discomfort quickly.

Stable the horse on soft ground with a deep bed of shavings, cardboard or sand. The bedding needs to be able to mould into the hoof and around the frog to provide support.

What’s the best way to prevent it?

The good news is that there are some simple steps to prevent grass laminitis:

equus bullet Use a good fitting grazing muzzle, some great choices are the ThinLine Flexible Filly Grazing Muzzle or the Shires Deluxe Comfort Grazing Muzzle.

equus bullet Restrict or keep horses off lush, fast growing fields until the grass has slowed in growth and produced seed heads, you can use temporary fencing to help restrict your horse.

equus bullet Avoid grazing horses on fields that have been grazed very short during the winter.

equus bullet Feed soaked hay to reduce its sugar content. Take a look at our haynets collection.

equus bullet Allow your horse to fill up on hay before you turn him out.

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1 comments

Linda Clark
Feb 14,2024
Brilliant article Thankyou. Extremely informative and easily understood. Pin pointing the signs to look for in mild to severe laminitis was interesting reading as is the best turn out times.

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