Laminitis (commonly called “founder”) affects an estimated 7-14% of the world’s equine population. It’s the inflammation of the tiny, interwoven lamellae that attach a horse’s hoof to the underlying coffin bone (third phalanx, or P3) and support the horse’s entire body weight. Anything that impacts the integrity of the lamellae, such as inflammation, weakens their hold. This causes the coffin bone to displace within the hoof capsule and move toward the ground. The condition is very painful and is often life-threatening to horses.
The same disease has several different causes, which include:
Owners of older horses that exhibit any of the classic signs of Cushing’s during the fall months work with their veterinarians to determine whether they should test or treat horses until diagnoses can be confirmed.
James Belknap, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, associate professor of equine surgery in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at The Ohio State University, has been awarded the annual Equine Veterinary Journal Open Award for 2007 for
Obese horses should be taken off pasture, except for very short (30-minute) turnout periods two or three times a day for
TheHorse.com announces the addition of four new monthly electronic newsletters. These e-newsletters will contain articles, news, video links, tips, and links to downloadable information specific to the topics of nutrition, lameness/laminitis,
Research groups reported their findings of the impact of seasonal variations for pituitary glad dysfunction.
Learn how equine podiatrists assess, treat, and monitor laminitis. Laminitis is a terrifying mystery to many horse owners, in part because in the early stages a horse with tremendous damage can look and act much like a mil
Belknap (who co-hosted TheHorse.com’s Webinar on Understanding Laminitis) said the latest research points to laminitis as an intense inflammatory injury of the foot, and it is no longer believed to be solely a blood flow problem.
The chronically laminitic horse is often a very tough case to manage because displacement of the coffin bone within the foot leads to a lot of pain and damage, in addition to the damage that allowed the displacement in the first place.
The purpose of our study was to determine if plasmid-mediated gene therapy in combination with electroporation was possible in the horse, particularly for the treatment of clinically important diseases such as laminitis.
Equine veterinarians have known for years that some horses can handle the spring grass, while others will become ill and develop laminitis, a painful disease process in which the hoof wall separates from its attachments in the foot.
Barbaro first captured America’s imagination, then its heart.
Acidosis (abnormally high acidity) in the hindgut (the large intestine and colon) can cause a number of problems in horses, including anorexia, colic, laminitis, and stereotypic (continuous, repetitive, and serving no purpose) behaviors such as
To find ways to better manage pain in horses, researchers have been studying a technique that involves inserting continuous peripheral nerve block (CPNB) catheters along nerves in the horse’s front limb to relieve pain.
Insulin resistance, the body’s inability to control blood sugar levels with normal amounts of insulin, is known to be associated with equine obesity, altered reproductive function, and pasture-associated laminitis. In addition, insulin resistance
The white wooden fence once tacked with homemade signs expressing prayers and appeals to “Grow, Hoof, Grow” are bare. Only students pass through the lobby that overflowed with floral arrangements, get-well cards, and baskets stuffed with carrots an
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