Post by IH Health on Jul 30, 2009 12:17:26 GMT 1
Laminitis
What is it?
Laminitis is a disorder that affects the feet of horses, often affecting the fore feet more than the backs but full blown attacks can reach all four hooves. Blood pressure rises in the hoof although capillary exchange is blocked/reduced, leading to reduced blood flow around the hoof. Blood pools in the hoof, leading to starvation of oxygen to the sensitive lamina which can cause cell death. As the tissues in the hoof swells, it pulls the lamina away from each other and the pedal bone, leaving it unsupported. This coupled with the upwards pull of the tendons in the foot can cause the pedal bone to rotate and/or sink.
Causes
The exact causes of laminitis are still not understood however there are two categories that they are loosely defined as the cause – Traumatic and Systematic. Systematic Laminitis is cause by physiological changes in the body Traumatic Laminitis is caused by impact or other non-physiological changes. Systematic can be triggered by things such as endotoxins, too much sugar/carbohydrate in the diet, an upset in the calcium/phosphorus or sodium/potassium ratios in the body, Viral respiratory disease, hormonal issues or even cold water ingestion after strenuous work. Obesity is linked to many cases of laminitis and is fast becoming to be seen as a major cause.
Symptoms
The symptoms of laminitis will change with Grade:
Grade 1 (often termed as Low Grade Laminitis (LGL))
• Horse may shift weight from one foot to the other
• Warmer feet than normal, especially near coronet band
• No apparent lameness but trot will be short and choppy
Grade 2 (often termed as Low Grade Laminitis (LGL))
• The horse may adopt the laminitis stance, rocking back onto its heels in an attempt to relieve pressure
• The horse will walk but will be reluctant to trot
• The horse may react to hoof testers applied just in front of the frog
Grade 3
• The horse will be reluctant to walk, finding turning around difficult
• Resistance to having feel picked up
Grade 4
• Refusal to walk unless very pressured to do so
• May lie down more and be reluctant to stand
• Sweats, quickening of breathing
• Bounding digital pulse
• Hot hoof wall, particularly around the coronet
• General rise in body temperature (as high as 106oF) and pulse rate may increase because of extreme pain.
There are three phases of laminitis:
Development Phase – which preludes any outward symptoms and is the stage where all the factors come together to cause the illness (ie overweight, grass lush, inappropriate feeding, poor hoof condition etc)
Acute Phase – This phase starts as soon as the first symptoms show
Chronic Phase – This phase is entered when the pedal bone rotates or lameness has lasted for more than 48 hours.
Please note there is a lot more to LGL than in this article. A seperate one will be written specifically for it in the future.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of laminitis is through the review of the symptoms by a vet, sometimes aided by a farrier/trimmer, along with the reactions of the horse. Low grade laminitis is often diagnosed more in barefoot horses by the trimmer.
Treatment
Treatment should be to first call a vet due to the potential severity of the condition. The first treatment for the horse should be to remove the primary cause – like that the horse off of grass and stable in deep, non-edible bedding. Feeding only low quality or soaked hay and water is advised. Mineral licks to restock depleted keratin sulphate levels and pro-biotics could also help. Bute is often administered for pain relief (under a vet due to it affecting the sodium/potassium ration and can cause liver damage and side effects in some breeds), flunixin can attack bacterial toxins, ACP can reduce blood pressure and vasodilators such as isoxuprene are sometimes used. Warm water hosing may be beneficial in opening capillaries, relieving the pressure in the foot.
If the pedal bone rotates remedial shoeing and supporting of the frog and soul with pads or heart bar shoes are often used.
Old treatments no longer advised:
Bran mashes are not advised due to the potential to interfere with the calcium/phosphorus ratio.
Cold water hosing is not advised due to it cause dilation of blood vessels, causing more blockage.
Corticosteroid anti-inflammatories can make the situation worse.
Websites (click on title for link)
Laminitis Trust
Previous discussions (click on title for link)
Diary of Sunny/Lami
LGL/Lami in one foot?
Severe Lami Treatment video
Circulation & LGL/Laminitis
Advice on managing LGL please?
What to feed lami prone horses
Lami in TBs Advice needed
Laminitis Trust Feeds
+ much more in the search section!
Please post below any information you have on this subject or of your experiences in diagnosis/treatment/aftercare. All information given is for reference only and does not constitute or should replace qualified veterinarian advice.
What is it?
Laminitis is a disorder that affects the feet of horses, often affecting the fore feet more than the backs but full blown attacks can reach all four hooves. Blood pressure rises in the hoof although capillary exchange is blocked/reduced, leading to reduced blood flow around the hoof. Blood pools in the hoof, leading to starvation of oxygen to the sensitive lamina which can cause cell death. As the tissues in the hoof swells, it pulls the lamina away from each other and the pedal bone, leaving it unsupported. This coupled with the upwards pull of the tendons in the foot can cause the pedal bone to rotate and/or sink.
Causes
The exact causes of laminitis are still not understood however there are two categories that they are loosely defined as the cause – Traumatic and Systematic. Systematic Laminitis is cause by physiological changes in the body Traumatic Laminitis is caused by impact or other non-physiological changes. Systematic can be triggered by things such as endotoxins, too much sugar/carbohydrate in the diet, an upset in the calcium/phosphorus or sodium/potassium ratios in the body, Viral respiratory disease, hormonal issues or even cold water ingestion after strenuous work. Obesity is linked to many cases of laminitis and is fast becoming to be seen as a major cause.
Symptoms
The symptoms of laminitis will change with Grade:
Grade 1 (often termed as Low Grade Laminitis (LGL))
• Horse may shift weight from one foot to the other
• Warmer feet than normal, especially near coronet band
• No apparent lameness but trot will be short and choppy
Grade 2 (often termed as Low Grade Laminitis (LGL))
• The horse may adopt the laminitis stance, rocking back onto its heels in an attempt to relieve pressure
• The horse will walk but will be reluctant to trot
• The horse may react to hoof testers applied just in front of the frog
Grade 3
• The horse will be reluctant to walk, finding turning around difficult
• Resistance to having feel picked up
Grade 4
• Refusal to walk unless very pressured to do so
• May lie down more and be reluctant to stand
• Sweats, quickening of breathing
• Bounding digital pulse
• Hot hoof wall, particularly around the coronet
• General rise in body temperature (as high as 106oF) and pulse rate may increase because of extreme pain.
There are three phases of laminitis:
Development Phase – which preludes any outward symptoms and is the stage where all the factors come together to cause the illness (ie overweight, grass lush, inappropriate feeding, poor hoof condition etc)
Acute Phase – This phase starts as soon as the first symptoms show
Chronic Phase – This phase is entered when the pedal bone rotates or lameness has lasted for more than 48 hours.
Please note there is a lot more to LGL than in this article. A seperate one will be written specifically for it in the future.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of laminitis is through the review of the symptoms by a vet, sometimes aided by a farrier/trimmer, along with the reactions of the horse. Low grade laminitis is often diagnosed more in barefoot horses by the trimmer.
Treatment
Treatment should be to first call a vet due to the potential severity of the condition. The first treatment for the horse should be to remove the primary cause – like that the horse off of grass and stable in deep, non-edible bedding. Feeding only low quality or soaked hay and water is advised. Mineral licks to restock depleted keratin sulphate levels and pro-biotics could also help. Bute is often administered for pain relief (under a vet due to it affecting the sodium/potassium ration and can cause liver damage and side effects in some breeds), flunixin can attack bacterial toxins, ACP can reduce blood pressure and vasodilators such as isoxuprene are sometimes used. Warm water hosing may be beneficial in opening capillaries, relieving the pressure in the foot.
If the pedal bone rotates remedial shoeing and supporting of the frog and soul with pads or heart bar shoes are often used.
Old treatments no longer advised:
Bran mashes are not advised due to the potential to interfere with the calcium/phosphorus ratio.
Cold water hosing is not advised due to it cause dilation of blood vessels, causing more blockage.
Corticosteroid anti-inflammatories can make the situation worse.
Websites (click on title for link)
Laminitis Trust
Previous discussions (click on title for link)
Diary of Sunny/Lami
LGL/Lami in one foot?
Severe Lami Treatment video
Circulation & LGL/Laminitis
Advice on managing LGL please?
What to feed lami prone horses
Lami in TBs Advice needed
Laminitis Trust Feeds
+ much more in the search section!
Please post below any information you have on this subject or of your experiences in diagnosis/treatment/aftercare. All information given is for reference only and does not constitute or should replace qualified veterinarian advice.