Care and Management of Your Laminitic Horse
Printer Friendly Version
Laminitis is not just a problem in the hoof, it is a problem in the whole horse
There are three distinct stages of laminitis. The most effective care you can offer your horse is different in each stage so it is important to understand where one stage ends and the next begins.
 The Developmental Stage is the time between the triggering event and the beginning of laminae separation. Depending on the nature of the trigger this time period can range between 24 – 48 hours. Some of the most common events that can trigger Laminitis are: grain overload, pasture with a high fructan content, corticosteroids, and toxic plants.
During the Developmental Stage your horse is not in pain nor is she having difficulty moving but still there are a variety of indicators. The triggering event sets off a quick chain of organic processes that makes her feel terrible. Horses really do feel sick similar to the way we feel when we are out of whack. It is at these moments that your horse will display clearly uncharacteristic behaviors. Your horse may appear slow and have a subtle change in her step, not want to work in the way you are used to her working, she may look depressed, try to nip or bite when you touch her hind gut area. Her behaviors will become uncharacteristic. It is common to overlook such subtle changes in your horse. It is better to be overcautious with laminitis. If your horse has chronic laminitis and displays these atypical behaviors or you are aware of her being placed in any of the innumerable trigger events, act immediately.
Effective Intervention During The Developmental Stage
Toxins from the hind gut make their way to the hoof and laminae separate from both glucose deprivation to the basal cells of the hoof wall and an uncontrolled release of MMPs (enzyme involved in remodeling process during hoof wall growth). Vasoconstriction (contraction of the blood vessels to decrease blood circulation) during the developmental stage is the first line of defense if it is at all possible to implement.
Two Methods of Intervention that Work:
-
Place your horse’s affected hoof in a trough of cold water (41ºF or half water and half ice) up to his knee and keep it there for fifteen to twenty minutes. This will effectively stop the laminae from separating.
-
Use our MMP Stop Solution twice daily for two days. This herbal formulation has been created to STOP the toxins from reaching the inner hoof wall as well as being a vasoconstrictor.
Be Sure To…
-
Immediately, remove your horse from the pasture and put her in a dirt pen/paddock with a safe buddy (a horse friend that is not going to be chasing her or doing anything to force her to move).
- Only grass hay for feed, absolutely no grain or senior feed – they will both become another laminitis trigger.
-
Whether you have used the MMP Stop Solution or not immediately begin a program of the Laminitis Solution maintenance formula
-
Be sure to follow up with Restore Liver Health. The liver is a blood filter that clears toxins from the blood being supplied to all the organs of the body. Because laminitis typically involves a toxic overload to the inner hoof wall, whether you get the window to use MMP Stop or not, it is advisable to assist the liver in clearing the toxins from the circulatory system. This is the primary function of Restore Liver Health.
The Acute Stage – the laminae of the hoof wall separate and your horse is lame and in pain. Your horse will not want to move anywhere at this point and, if at all possible, that is best. In most situations though, that is not the case. You cannot leave your horse out in a lush pasture, with dominant horses or without hay or water accessible. So move your horse as slowly and as directly as possible to a dirt pen/paddock with a safe buddy (a horse friend that is not going to be chasing her or doing anything to force her to move). Once your horse is safely penned, allow her the freedom to move with her own understanding of what is necessary.
- Only grass hay for feed, absolutely no grain or senior feed as they will both become another laminitis trigger.
- No shoes of any kind. We recommend barefoot trimming as the most effective therapeutic procedure for the recovery of a hoof damaged by Laminitis.
If you are going to use anything for the sustained relief of pain, use something other than a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as Bute. The side effects for long term use of this medication are detrimental and well recorded for both human and horse use. Such medications are best used for specific events in which immediate pain relief is required. The removal of shoes on a horse in severe pain during the acute stage of Laminitis may necessitate its use. Otherwise, use a product that is safe and designed for sustained relief of pain such as our Natural Pain Relief Solution.
Begin your horse on Hoof Ailments Solution as soon as possible as it has anti-inflammatory and analgesic herbs as well as herbs that will help repair the separated laminae.
Chronic Laminitis – Some horses have a genetic predisposition for laminitis and without special care, they will have repeated acute episodes of laminae separation with increasing damage. As this is a chronic metabolic issue for these horses, it is especially important that you learn to listen to the early signs described in the information on the Developmental Stage and respond accordingly.
- Never give such a horse sugar in any form or a diet high in fructan or carbohydrates.
- Limit their access to pasture and monitor them carefully.
If your horse has such a predisposition or has had a laminitic episode start him on a program of our Laminitis Solution maintenance blend as soon as possible. This herbal formulation is designed to correct the metabolic problem that has an end result of glucose deprivation to the basal cells of the hoof wall. This metabolic dysfunction is deeply embedded in the body, so it does require a long term program to reverse it.
For a thorough understanding of this issue read The Metabolic Aspect of Laminitis on our Laminitis product page.
Your horse can recover and have a full and happy life.
To gain a more complete understanding of the brief presentation of the theoretical aspects of laminitis described in this care and Management section, read Dr. Thomas’ article “The Relationship Between Natural Hoof Wall Growth and Laminitis”
<< Back |
