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 getting infected with the very dangerous condition known as laminitis or founder.



The inflammation of the laminae that hold the pedal or coffin bone to the hoof wall is known as laminitis. The pedal bone is the lowest bone in the leg of a horse and sits inside the hoof.



Inflammation 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 causes "rotation" of the pedal bone. This could be extremely painful and can even lead to the pedal bone falling through the underside of the foot, that typically results in the horse having to be euthanized.



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



Prevention is much better than cure, as far as laminitis is concerned. So, how to prevent laminitis? This is a multiple stage process, and some horses and ponies would need more of these measures than others.



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



Secondly, soak hay to reduce the sugar content. Soaking hay in luke-warm water for 1 hour would reduce sugars by about thirty percent.



Thirdly, feed additives could be very helpful. Foundergard is a horse feed supplement which has an anti-bacterial impact and stops the overgrowth 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 particularly helpful for those cresty, overweight ponies. Both Trim and Foundergard can be combined to help improve protection.



If your horse or pony is having difficulty walking or standing with its hind legs beneath it more than usual, then your horse might be struggling with laminitis. If you suspect this contact your vet without delay, it can be a matter of life or death! There are several other things your vet can do to treat laminitis.



This article is intended to be only a guide and does not go into the comprehensive management of laminitis. I suggest seeking professional help in the management of laminitis is good.



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