Q: My best friend’s broodmare has unilateral laminitis (laminitis in one front hoof); she is a 19-year-old Quarter Horse and is currently five months pregnant. The concern is what to feed her to keep the foal healthy, and to keep her from suffering further damage. We cannot find any resources that cover both the pregnancy and laminitis issues.             

   Melissa

A: It would help to know the initial cause of the laminitis, if she has Cushing’s disease, and if there have been any sequelae such as rotation of the third phalanx or coffin bone, sinking, or chronic toe abscesses in order to determine what the present level of concern is for complications during the mare’s pregnancy. Our main issue nutritionally is how to safely provide this mare with the necessary caloric intake (digestible energy) during late gestation and lactation.

Consistent forage intake is critical to maintaining the microbial population for fermentation in the hindgut, where we are most likely to see disturbances that can lead to colic or laminitis. If you don’t have good control over your hay supply, you can maintain consistency by replacing part of the hay ration with pelleted or cubed hay