Laminitis affects 1 in 10 horses every year, according to the British Horse Society (BHS). Although some horses and ponies are more susceptible to the condition, any equine can succumb to it.
As a result of this, it is really important that horse owners know how to spot signs of laminitis and how to manage it. Prevention is better than cure; ensuring that horses are not gaining excess weight can halve the risk of laminitis developing. However, up to 90% of laminitis cases can be linked to an underlying hormonal disorder, so managing the condition correctly is essential.
What causes Laminitis in horses?
Over the years, checking if the hooves are abnormally warm has been classed as a good sign, but this isn’t fully reliable. Laminitis in horses is a disorder that is associated with overfeeding sugar or water-soluble carbohydrates, which causes inflammation of the laminae.
Laminitis in horses, targets the lamellar (soft, connective tissue) that holds the hoof to the pedal bone, and the inflammation causes pain and lameness in horses and ponies.
Although laminitis in horses is a disorder that is expressed in the feet, the actual physiology of laminitis involves poor circulation, vasoconstriction and pooling of toxins, pro-inflammatory factors, oxygen starvation and the inability of glucose to energise normal hoof metabolism.
The major instigators of these factors are obesity, insulin resistance PPID, dietary (too much fructans, sugars, overeating), bruising or wounds.
Laminitis in horses, is most commonly seen in the pony breeds, particularly the natives being more susceptible.
With these types of breeds, laminitis would normally only show up with mild symptoms. However, with a combination of different aspects can increase the risk and severity.
For example: an obese horse on a high starch diet will be more liable to laminitis than a lean animal on a high forage diet. And mechanically, a heavily obese horse with hoof damage can exhibit laminitis where a lighter horse would not.
What are the signs of laminitis?
More often the clinical signs for laminitis are seen in the front two feet, but it does normally affect all four and cause lameness. Signs of laminitis to look out for:
• Reluctance to move
• Taking small steps
• Putting the heel down first when walking on hard surfaces
• Look uncomfortable and shift their weight from one foot to another
Over the years, checking if the hooves are abnormally warm has been classed as a good sign, but this isn’t fully reliable.
Checking the horse’s pulse and feeling a throbbing pulse in the legs, over the sesamoid bone (one of the closest pulse point to the hoof), can be another sign of laminitis.
If you are concerned or unsure if you are seeing the signs, don’t hesitate to call your vet immediately.
Until your vet comes, try to keep your horse and pony as comfortable as possible by keeping them stabled on a thick bed of shavings as support for the hooves.
Remove any hard feed and supply fresh water and hay that has been soaked for 12 hours – this reduces the sugar content.
What products are out there that can be fed to laminitic horses and ponies?
High-fibre feeds that utilise ingredients like beet pulp, oat fibre and alfalfa will help the microflora to be maintained in the hindgut and provide a functioning barrier to the toxins that can contribute to laminitis.
Speedi-Beet and Fibre-Beet are super fibre beet pulp feeds that are high in fibre and low in sugar and starch (5% sugar, 0% starch). Fibre-Beet is a conditioning feed with a carefully formulated combination of Speedi-Beet and alfalfa supplemented with biotin, sodium and calcium. Made using only the best quality British Beet Pulp, Speedi-Beet is subjected to British Horse Feeds patented cooking process to produce a unique feed which is unlike any other HorseBeet. A highly nutritious, quick soaking beet pulp feed, with no added molasses, Speedi-Beet is also 95% sugar-free.
Always seek veterinary advice if you are concerned your horse has laminitis.