Managing the Chronically Laminitic Horse
Cage Cruise, DVM, CF
January 28, 2025
A podiatrist gives his tips for keeping a horse with chronic laminitis and equine metabolic syndrome comfortable.
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:
A podiatrist gives his tips for keeping a horse with chronic laminitis and equine metabolic syndrome comfortable.
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