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:
Researchers have found that administering fructan carbohydrates or dexamethasone might be a useful method to identify ponies at risk of developing laminitis. Their report was recently published in the Journal of the American Veterinary
What happens within the foot of a laminitic horse? We know that the coffin bone can sink or rotate within the foot of a horse with severe laminitis, but that’s fairly late in the game. Researchers are very interested in what happens earlier than
Many of the top minds in laminitis research gathered Nov. 2-4 in West Palm Beach, Fla., to disseminate their findings on this devastating disease and other problems. About 370 veterinarians, farriers, and horse owners attended the Fourth
The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine has announced a gift of $1 million from philanthropists Marianne and John K. Castle to support its laminitis research.
“We are enormously grateful for the Castles’ generosity.
Two projects focusing on the equine disease laminitis will be launched soon utilizing funds raised by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association in memory of the late 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.
The projects, at more than $100,000
A crowd of equine veterinarians and researchers filled a conference room to capacity to hear the latest on laminitis research and management, presented by Jim Belknap, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, of The Ohio State University (OSU), and Jorge Gomez
For Jan Drinkwater of Sydney, Australia, nursing a horse through laminitis is all about taking things step by step. And also about sharing those steps with the international horse community.
Two new species of bacteria have been discovered in the gut of horses, according to a University of Queensland (UQ), Australia, press release.
Streptococcus henryi and Streptococcus caballi were found by accident by UQ
A breakthrough in laminitis research by a team of scientists at University of Queensland, Australia, and colleagues, was published in August 2007 The Veterinary Journal. The study explains an important link in sugar and starches as
In May 2007, TheHorse.com brought you the industry’s first Web-based live seminar: “Understanding Laminitis.”
Insulin resistance is a part of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). There are three criteria for identifying the horse with EMS: Insulin resistance, prior (founder lines) or current laminitis, and general obesity or regional adiposity (areas of abnormal
A new set of prints and a poster featuring Triple Crown winner Secretariat and 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Barbaro will benefit the fight against laminitis, the painful hoof disease that ended both their
Veterinary internists met June 6-9 in Seattle, Wash., for the 25th Forum of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) to discuss the latest research on the internal workings of horses and other animals.
Summarized below are
Hannah Galantino-Homer, VMD, PhD, Dipl. ACT, has been appointed the senior research investigator of the new laminitis research initiative at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She will serve as a leading investigator
In obese horses insulin resistance might also contribute to widespread inflammation and, thus, vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels), which is the case in human metabolic syndrome.
When you look at a radiograph (X ray) of a horse’s foot, do you visualize soft tissues, or do you only see bones? If there’s one thing Ric Redden, DVM, founder of the International Equine Podiatry Center in Versailles, Ky., consistently teaches,
Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with
