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:
The new study, “Effect of Digital Hypothermia on Inflammatory Injury in Laminitis,” is a two-year project funded by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Charities’ Barbaro Memorial Fund, established in memory of the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner
In California, teff is being called the “perfect grass for foundered horses.” But is teff hay always safe for horses that are intolerant of high-sugar forage?
Philanthropists John K. and Marianne Castle have been named the 2008 recipients of the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ George Stubbs Award, an honor that recognizes contributions made to equine veterinary
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced Dec. 5 that its subsidiary, NTRA Charities, has disbursed $90,801 in support of one new and two continuing equine medical research projects.
The disbursements were made from the NTRA
Horses are often fed diets that also contain high levels of grains and supplements to maximise growth or productivity. Katie Young, PhD, consulting equine nutritionist for Purina Mills, presented information on forage options for horses with commonly
The first Laminitis West Seminar–an expansion of the International Equine Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot held in West Palm Beach, Fla., every other year–will be held Nov. 1 at the Monterey Convention Center in Monterey, Calif
Penn State University and the Pennsylvania Professional Farriers Association hosted an educational event Sept. 13 for farriers, veterinarians, and horse owners alike. More than 50 peoples from four states attended the event.
Esco Buff, PhD,
What do nutritional supplements, infectious diseases, and snake bites have in common? All were considered “hot
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.
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