Dr. Judith L. Mulholland

Something has to happen within the body, or to the body, to trigger a Laminitic episode.

Therefore, in the majority of cases, Lamintis is preventable.

Laminitis has been known of for as long as recorded history, and is the second most common cause of death of horses after colic.

Horses, foals, ponies, weanlings, yearlings, stallions, broodmares, draught horses, race horses, donkeys, cattle and other hooved animals can be affected.

Severely affected animals do not die directly from the disease, but will ultimately be euthanased for humane reasons due to chronic lameness. This may occur weeks or many years after the Laminitic event.

* Please note - the terms 'horse' and 'pony' may be used interchangeably throughout this section.

'Laminar' - made up of layers.

'Itis' - inflammation of.

There are two types of laminae in the horse's foot. The sensitive laminae attached to the pedal bone, and the insensitive laminae attached to the inner hoof wall. The function of the laminae is to bind to each other and to keep the pedal bone suspended within the hoof capsule, and to allow for normal hoof wall growth over the stationary bone.

Laminitis is inflammation of the sensitive laminae of the hooves. However, many horses experience inflammation of these structures without developing the acute disease and chronic changes we all recognise as laminitis.

Founder and laminitis are exactly the same disease process. Founder means to send to the bottom; to sink (like a ship). This accurately describes the phenomenon of the pedal bone sinking lower in the hoof capsule due to the horse’s own body weight tearing the weakened laminae. A comparison is walking through the sole of a pair of shoes or wearing through your socks. The outer hoof capsule can no longer suspend the rest of the foot within it. Therefore, laminitis the disease would be better described as “acute laminar degeneration” which is due to a complicated, interrelated sequence of events including enzymatic breaking of the bonds between the sensitive and insensitive laminae. This leads to partial or complete separation of the laminitic bond.

Detachment of the laminae (laminitis) allows a variable amount of movement of the hoof capsule around the pedal bone. The weight of the horse and the forces of locomotion drive the pedal bone down into the weakly attached hoof capsule. Shearing forces damage the arteries and veins, and the corium of the sole is crushed as the bony column of the limb descends deeper into the foot and the hoof capsule slides up over the pedal bone.

Laminitis causes unrelenting pain and a characteristic, often severe lameness, usually worse in the front feet.

IN ALL CASES OF LAMINITIS, IF THE ACUTE PHASE CAN BE KEPT TO 12 HOURS OR LESS, DAMAGE WITHIN THE FOOT WILL BE  GREATLY REDUCED. NEVER WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY TO RING THE VETERINARIAN; DO IT AT THE VERY FIRST SIGNS, EVEN IF YOU ARE UNSURE WHETHER IT IS LAMINITIS. THIS IS THE TIME WHEN COLD THERAPY (ICE AND WATER) FOOT BATHING IS MOST EFFECTIVE. DO THIS WHILE YOU ARE WAITING FOR THE VET.