Your Horse Has Laminitis. Do You Need to Put Her Down?
Laminitis is treatable, if caught early.
A reader asks, "My horse has laminitis. My friends says I should put her down, but another friends says corrective shoeing will solve the problem. What should I do?"
The short answer is no, you don’t need to put your horse down. Horses can recover from laminitis, depending on its severity.
Laminitis (Founder) in Horses
Founder is a painful inflammation condition that affects horses' hooves. The tissues (laminae) that bond the hoof wall to coffin bone become inflamed. It is similar to gout in humans, where the joints of the toes (usually the big toe) become enlarged, inflamed, and very painful.
Signs of Laminitis
If your horse is foundering, her hooves feel hot to the touch. The horse will stand leaning back on her heels, as if she's trying to avoid putting weight on her front feet. This stance means your horse's front feet are extremely painful. She will be reluctant to move because her feet are so painful. When she does move, she will appear lame. Foundering horses are often overweight as well. (See photo at the top of this article.)
Also see: How to Tell If Your Horse Is Lame
Causes of Laminitis
The usual culprits in cases of laminitis are too much grain or alfalfa in the horse's diet. Laminitis can also be caused by Cushing's Disease and by endotoxins in the environment.
The short answer is no, you don’t need to put your horse down. Horses can recover from laminitis, depending on its severity.
Laminitis (Founder) in Horses
Founder is a painful inflammation condition that affects horses' hooves. The tissues (laminae) that bond the hoof wall to coffin bone become inflamed. It is similar to gout in humans, where the joints of the toes (usually the big toe) become enlarged, inflamed, and very painful.
Signs of Laminitis
If your horse is foundering, her hooves feel hot to the touch. The horse will stand leaning back on her heels, as if she's trying to avoid putting weight on her front feet. This stance means your horse's front feet are extremely painful. She will be reluctant to move because her feet are so painful. When she does move, she will appear lame. Foundering horses are often overweight as well. (See photo at the top of this article.)
Also see: How to Tell If Your Horse Is Lame
Causes of Laminitis
The usual culprits in cases of laminitis are too much grain or alfalfa in the horse's diet. Laminitis can also be caused by Cushing's Disease and by endotoxins in the environment.
Treating Laminitis
Cold water hosing, cold packs, anti-inflammatory drugs, and corrective shoeing are all extremely useful in treating an acute case of laminitis. Here is an excellent video that describes each.
In the long run, the most important thing is to get your horse on the correct diet. Quality grass hay combined with a low starch grain will help your horse recover, and keep her sound. Here are some tips:
Best Horse Feed
Feed Concentrates
How to Prevent Laminitis
Make sure your horse's grain is locked tight in a container that is bug-proof and cannot be opened by a horse fiddling with the latch or cord that seals the feed bin. Horses can be very clever with their teeth and lips, so a padlock, chain, heavy-duty bungee cords that must be stretched and unhooked to remove, or a locked storage closet are the best ways to store grain. Another risk is too much alfalfa in the horse's grazing pasture. This can be fatal.
Happy Riding!
Denise Cummins, PhD
The Thinking Equestrian
Here is an excellent video that shows you how to recognize laminitis, and how to administer first aid while you're waiting for your vet to arrive.
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Denise Cummins has over 30 years experience as an equestrian and horse business owner. In The Thinking Equestrian, she shares valuable tips on caring for and training horses, giving riding instruction, and running a successful horse business.
Opening Photo Credit: Habitat For Horses https://www.habitatforhorses.org/laminitis-a-crippling-deadly-disease-for-horses-ponies-and-donkeys/
