From a layman’s perspective, cryotherapy (use of cold for treatment) for horses at risk of or just beginning the acute phase of laminitis just makes sense. The laminae are inflamed, the hooves are hot to the touch, so let’s cool them down and keep them cold. Researchers get that, too. But there are still some questions on how this method works, and there are some issues when it comes to real-world applications.

Chris Pollitt, BVSc, PhD, head of the Australian Equine Laminitis Research Unit at the University of Queensland, shared some ideas on the function and uses of cryotherapy at the fourth annual Promoting Excellence Symposium of the Florida Association of Equine Practitioners (FAEP), held Sept. 25-27, 2008, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Pollitt said two factors in clinical trials have emerged as crucial to the success of this method: early intervention and duration of treatment. The earlier an at-risk horse can start cooling and the longer he can remain cooled seem to be paramount to the effectiveness of the treatment