Laminitis can start quickly or slowly. Owners
may be distressed to suddenly find there horse lying on the ground
unable to rise because of laminitis pain or their horse may just be
a little lame with slight warmth in one or more feet.
Acute Laminitis
Generally however laminitis will start as an acute event. This means
that it starts quite quickly and causes quite a lot of pain. If
such a condition is treated quickly it can stop quite quickly and
be over in 10-14 days but if not treated quickly and effectively
and if preventative measures are not used it can progress to become
a chronic (long term) case.
Chronic laminitis
Chronic laminitis is that type of disease problem which drags on and
on and never really goes away. The horse in question has repeated
mild attacks of the disease and the feet are so changed that any little
change in diet brings on the problem again. A horse may be a chronic
laminitic case but still get one or two acute attacks each year. Of
course one acute attack always makes it more likely that your horse
will become chronic and prevention is very important from that time
on.
Stephen Ashdown's
Free Vet Advice Helpline: 01243 773363
