Guidelines On How To Avoid Laminitis In Spring

A notorious time for ponies and horses to get laminitis or founder is spring. The rapid growth of grass in spring and increased levels of sugars in grass means that horses are at risk of developing the very dangerous condition known as laminitis or founder.

Laminitis is simply inflammation of the laminae that hold the pedal or coffin bone to the hoof wall. The pedal bone is the lowest bone in the leg of a horse and sits within the hoof.

Swelling of the sensitive laminae causes the deep digital flexor tendon to pull on the back of the pedal bone and pull it away from the hoof wall. This pulling results in "rotation" of the pedal bone. This could be extremely painful and can even lead to the pedal bone falling through the bottom of the foot, that generally results in the horse having to be euthanized.

So, how does a flush of spring grass lead to laminitis? The increase of the sugar content within the feed causes an proliferation of a certain bacteria in the horse's hindgut. As these bacteria die inevitably they release a toxin known as an endotoxin which is absorbed into the blood stream. These toxins reach the blood vessels inside the foot and cause a reduction in the flow of blood to the laminae in the foot causing the laminae to release the grip on the pedal bone.

Prevention is much better than cure, as far as laminitis is concerned. So, how can laminitis be prevented? This is a multiple stage method, and some horses and ponies would require more of these steps than others.

Firstly, take the horse away from the high risk pasture. Keep the horse in a poor quality paddock or lock it up off the problem pasture.

Secondly, soak hay to decrease the sugar content. Soaking hay in luke-warm water for an hour will reduce sugars by almost thirty percent.

Thirdly, feed additives could be very beneficial. Foundergard is a horse feed supplement that has an anti-bacterial impact and stops the proliferation of the bacteria that emit the toxin that causes laminitis. Foundergard is indicated in horses and ponies that have a history of laminitis.

Another feed additive is Kohnke's Own, Trim. Kohnke's OwnTrim is a horse feed supplement that changes sugar metabolism and is especially helpful for those cresty, overweight ponies. Both Trim and Foundergard could be combined to help improve protection.

If your horse or pony has difficulty walking or standing with its hind legs underneath it more than normal, then your horse may be struggling with laminitis. If you suspect this contact your veterinary doctor immediately, it could be a matter of life or death! There are various other things your veterinary doctor can do to treat laminitis.

This article is intended to be only a guide and doesn't go into the comprehensive management of laminitis. I suggest seeking professional assistance for the management of laminitis is good.

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