04/05/2022
This week's topic: Laminitis!
Laminitis is a topic near and dear to my heart and lives deep in my Vetmed brain. I lost my heart gelding, a 26 year old Belgian, to this heartbreaking disease. (Here we are in Oklahoma when he was healthy, happy and yes...a bit plump!)
Laminitis is a devastating and sometimes fatal condition, due to rotation and/or sinking of the coffin bone (P3) in the foot as a result of decreased blood flow causing separation of the lamellae from the bone.
Why do we care? Springtime in Florida brings TONS of rapidly growing green grass. Yay!! We've had crazy fast growth all of a sudden this past week due to all the rain, right? Well get ready bc it's only going to continue. Initially we are excited and happy....because that means we aren't buying as many $15-25/bale alfalfa, orchard, timothy, coastal, and mixtures of the foregoing, pick your choice...), they are ALL pricey in Florida. But let's take pause and think about our care for the horse's health while we manage the grass growth...
Why we care is with new grass growth is the rapid release of sugars (fructans) in our pastures, when our horses are munching away for 12+ hours out there. This is not great for ALL equines, as hyperinsulimemia may result in some horses that can't metabolize the quantity of sugars as fast as they are eating. Too much, too quickly. The rush of fructan (sugar) ingestion can lead to/exacerbate insulin dysregulation and ultimately inflammation of the laminae in the foot, especially in those hefty/fatter horses and ones who have had prior founding episodes.
Take it slow in Spring is what I tell my clients. Especially if you have a new horse from the north or west where their forage grows so differently. If you have a plump boy like my Olaf was, a horse who has foundered in the past, a horse who is an easy keeper that you struggle with to keep the weight off...think about keeping them off that grass during the day! They may be safely be turned out at night to enjoy the grass but not have to metabolize all that sugar. The best advice is to consult with your veterinarian to formulate an individualized plan for your horse(s).
What should you look for indicating possible laminitis? Call me! This is a long discussion. Would love to be a part of your horse's health and wellness plan. It's always better to have the plan in place before an actual emergency occurs.
Attached below is the recent article from AAEP on Laminitis, for your reading and reference. Please feel free to contact us at 352-584-9862 or email [email protected] for a visit or to discuss your horse(s)' needs!
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Spring is a wonderful time of the year, but it may be the beginning of some serious problems for horses vulnerable to grass founder — like horses that are over the age of 10, easy keepers, overweight or cresty-necked.
Laminitis or founder, as it is commonly called, is inflammation of the laminae of the horse’s foot. Laminae are the delicate, accordion-like tissues that attach the inner surface of the hoof wall to the coffin bone (the bone in the foot). A horse suffering from laminitis experiences a decrease in blood flow to the laminae, which in turn begin to die and separate. The final result is hoof wall separation, rotation of the coffin bone and extreme pain. In severe cases, the coffin bone will actually rotate through the sole of the horse’s hoof where it becomes infected and can ultimately end in the horse having to be euthanized.
Laminitis can be triggered by different causes, like repeated concussion on hard ground (road founder), grain overload, retained placenta, hormonal imbalance (Cushing’s syndrome), obesity, and lush grass.
In cases of grass founder, the sugar fructans produced by rapidly growing grass stimulates an overgrowth of bacteria in the horse’s large intestine. The bacteria produce and release toxins (endotoxins) that are carried by the bloodstream to the foot where they cause damage to the laminae and small blood vessels.
The best way to deal with laminitis is preventing and managing the causes under your control. Consult your equine practitioner for further information and to formulate a plan tailored to your horse's individual situation. If you suspect laminitis, consider it a medical emergency and notify your veterinarian immediately!
Learn more about grass founder on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/grass-founder
Hickory Hill VS is a mixed animal ambulatory practice serving Hernando, Pasco, Sumter, Citrus and La
