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:
When a horse founders and the damaged laminae that hold the coffin bone to the hoof wall release their grip, the coffin bone is no longer held in place. It rotates (tips down at the front) or slips downward in the hoof. The goal when shoeing these
Venograms have added to our knowledge of laminitis and other common foot problems, in large part because for the first time we can see the structural components of the vascular supply to the horse’s foot.
When it comes to laminitis, everyone’s got a pet theory–their favorite explanation of why it occurs, how to prevent it, and/or how to treat it. The reason we have these theories is because research hasn’t yet been able to give us solid, unassailable
Ask 10 people what a healthy hoof should look like, and you’ll likely get 10 variations of an answer.
When they are compromised due to disease processes such as laminitis, or poor internal hoof balance that leads to poor blood flow and overstressing of internal structures, putting the feet in comfortable alignment and applying massage helps them heal
Baker, who is both a veterinarian and a farrier, presented a discussion of six case studies and what they taught him not to do in treating laminitis. He began by describing the following common causes of treatment failure.
There isn’t yet a complete answer to how laminitis works and how to treat it, although researchers in several countries are working on it. D’Arpe characterizes the current state of laminitis knowledge by comparing it to the early stages of fracture
Acute and chronic laminitis is a frustrating and often disheartening condition to manage. Having had the opportunity to observe, treat and shoe laminitic horses for over 30 years, I have a unique prospective into this disease.
The biggest
The heartbreaking end to Barbaro’s saga was all too familiar to those who love horses, but the true meaning behind the story is uplifting and, as Roy Jackson (who owned Barbaro with his wife, Gretchen) says, full of positives and inspiration. On
The annual convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, held in San Antonio, Texas, in early December 2006, had three sessions devoted to foot care that were open to farriers. Following are synopses of some of those presentations
Months after the equine community lost the Kentucky Derby Champion Barbaro to laminitis, veterinarians will gather in Seattle, Wash., at the 2007 ACVIM Forum on June 6-9 to discuss new ways to prevent and manage the disease that eventually led t
Barbaro’s death might lead one to think that despite the best veterinary care available, horses with severe leg injuries and/or laminitis are unrecoverable and should be immediately destroyed. But one equine veterinarian says that couldn’t be further
Is it safe to breed a mare that is prone to laminitis?
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced today (Feb. 1) that it will lead a national fundraising program, the NTRA Charities Barbaro Memorial Fund, to raise awareness and money for equine health and safety research in the name of
When horse owners wer
Every time the outlook was grim for Barbaro, the Kentucky Derby winner pulled through like a champ.
Time will tell if he can do it again.
After months of upbeat progress reports, the horse suffered a significant setback Wednesday
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