Cushingoid hooves, showing 'laminitic ring' (darker line) where the hoof tubules were put under stress during active laminitis. This animal should have grown a completely new hoof in under a year, but shows growth only down to where the 'laminitic ring' can be seen eight months after the laminitis subsided.

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What is Laminitis?

As many people know, the history of laminitis is as long as the history of the horse.

It is a painful and debilitating condition in which the attachment between the Pedal Bone (or third phalanx, P3) and the internal tissue supporting it inside the hoof is degraded. Due to this lack of support, the whole P3 may sink downwards inside the hoof towards the sole, or, more often, 'rotate' so that the toe of the bone moves backwards and downwards within the hoof capsule towards the sole. There is published work supporting a better prognosis for horses with 'rotation' than with 'sinking', although both may be present to some degree. Any number of hooves may be affected. Quite often it is all four, even if the pain appears to be predominantly in the front hooves.

Unfortunately, there is still no sure way to tell whether a particular horse may survive laminitis with little damage, or be in a position requiring euthanasia within hours. All cases should be treated as an emergency and radiographed (x-rayed) as soon as possible.

There are merits to many of the remedial shoeing techniques available to support the P3 during active laminitis; however, experience also shows that some horses fare best 'barefoot' with no human interference! Each individual animal should be treated as just that: an individual. What works for one, may cause intense pain in another. The ideal situation is the owner, usual vet and usual farrier discussing the best course of action as a team. As long as the animal has the chance of returning to a good quality of life, it is worth trying to save it.

Laminitis is NOT always the owner's fault. It may be triggered by any of the following:

• Excessive hoof concussion on roads or hard ground
• Toxemia, e.g. a mare retaining placenta after birth, ingestion of poisonous
substances
• Excessive ingestion of carbohydrates or protein - the issue of 'portion control':
to an extent, it doesn't matter what a horse eats, but the quantities are of
paramount importance (and rate of change of diet should be considered carefully)
• Systemic body conditions, e.g. Cushing's syndrome
• Stress, e.g. anxiety or worming in some individuals
• As secondary to other conditions or illnesses, e.g. colic

However, laminitis susceptibility in an individual changes over that individual's life. A much clearer picture of that change is required to help judge best practice in managing horses.

For Owners