Hooves got Problems? Learn About Laminitis & Founder In Horses

By: Dr Cam Day Consulting

Laminitis in Horses

Stand next to a horse and look at your legs. Which of you has the most slender of shins? Which of you has the smallest feet? Which of you can run faster?

The horse wins! Consider for a moment how fast and for how long a horse can gallop and, by comparison, how delicate and fine their legs are. How do their legs stand the strain? That continual pounding, that stressing and the straining is all absorbed by their comparatively tiny hooves. Its amazing we don't see herds of horses in wheelchairs!

Horses do have problems with their legs and especially with their hooves. Of all the hoof problems a horse can suffer from, laminitis and its nasty cousin, founder, are the most worrisome.

The laminae are the tough tissues that suspend the bones inside the hoof to the hoof wall. Just imagine how tough they must be to put up with the pounding they receive when a horse gallops at full pace!

Naturally, when things go wrong with the laminae, lameness will result.

What is the Difference Between Laminitis and Founder?

Laminitis is an inflammation of the supportive tissues that join the foot bone to the hoof. It is a very painful condition.

Founder often follows laminitis. Founder is where laminae weaken, allowing the foot bone, properly termed the pedal bone, to sink downwards into an abnormal position. In severe founder, the pedal bone moves so much it starts to come through the sole of the hoof.

What causes Laminitis?

The most common causes of laminitis are those diseases which affect the horses intestines such as colic or diarrhoea.

For instance, laminitis is often caused when a horse eats too much grain or over-grazes on lush pasture. After engorging in such a manner, the normal gut bacteria change and produce endotoxins. The endotoxins are absorbed from the gut into the blood stream and subsequently reduce the blood supply to the outlying areas of the body, especially the hooves, and thereby the laminae.

Laminitis sometimes occurs when a mare has had a foal and has retained the placenta. It is sometimes a consequence of infectious diseases, of surgery, and even occurs after the stress of transportation. Horse, especially ponies, that are overweight are prone to laminitis.

Lastly, trauma to the foot, such as being worked on hard ground, may also be a cause.

How Can I Tell if My Horse has Laminitis?

Suspect that your horse has laminitis or founder if it is lame in any way. This will be more evident in the front feet because they bear more weight than the hind feet.

The pain in the front feet causes it to take short steps, or may make it reluctant to move at all. It will look stiff in the front legs. Your horse will also shift weight from its front feet by moving them forward and onto its back legs by moving them further under its abdomen than usual. This is easily noticed. Often, an affected horse will spend a lot of time lying down to stop the pain.

How Does a Veterinarian Treat Laminitis?

Laminitis and founder are conditions that require immediate veterinary treatment if permanent damage to the horses foot is to be avoided.

Call your veterinarian immediately but meanwhile, see if you can get your horse to walk on soft ground as this increases circulation to the feet. However, don't force it as this can cause further injury to the foot.

Your veterinarian is likely to treat the laminitis with medications to reduce the pain and inflammation in your horse's hooves.

To help nurse your horse back to health, house it on soft bedding such as straw. This will help to reduce the pressure in its feet.

Hoof care will be essential. Your horse may need specialised trimming of its feet to ensure the pedal bone does not move or to correct this problem if it has moved. Sometimes special shoes are used to reduce foot pain.

Because many cases of laminitis are caused by horses engorging on grains, it is important to prevent your horse from getting into the food stores. Keep all of your horse's food in a secure container or shed that the horse cannot get into. Be careful not to exercise your horse continually on hard ground and, most importantly, don't ignore any lameness that your horse develops.

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