What Is Laminitis In Ponies

Horse owners should not be tempted to stand horses or ponies suffering from laminitis in a stream or to cold hose their hooves.

What is laminitis in ponies.

Laminitis has multiple causes some of which commonly occur together. Laminitis can be managed but not cured which is why prevention is so important. Although laminitis occurs in the feet the underlying cause is often a disturbance elsewhere in the horse s body. Laminitis commonly known as founder is a painful disease that causes severe lameness in horses.

Laminitis the separation or failure of laminae which connect the hoof wall to the coffin bone within can cause permanent structural changes in a horse s foot leading to repeated bouts of. Digestive upsets due to grain overload such as excess grain fruit or snacks or abrupt changes in diet. Understand what laminitis is. Most horses and ponies can recover from laminitis but the extent of their recovery depends on many factors including how severe the problem was when it was first spotted and how soon treatment commences.

Although it may initially make the animal more comfortable prolonged cold will make the condition worse. Once a horse has had an episode of laminitis they are particularly susceptible to future episodes. Laminitis is an extremely painful condition affecting 1 in 10 horses ponies every year 1 and can cause permanent damage to the hooves. Laminitis is a disease that causes lameness in horses.

The very mildest sub clinical nutritionally triggered cases can often be nipped in the bud by changes in management notably feeding. The causes vary and may include the following. It was once associated primarily with overweight ponies but it can affect any age or size of horse. It can often cause lameness in two or all four feet at one time but it is preventable.

Laminitis can affect any horse pony donkey or their hybrid at any time of the year and not just in spring there is no safe season. Although the front feet are most commonly affected all four feet may be involved. Equine laminitis is the acute form that should be treated as an emergency requiring immediate attention. Lameness develops rapidly and animals shift their weight from one foot to another.

These causes can be grouped into broad categories.