Laminitis Management & Prevention

At the start of treatment for laminitis horses are better stabled on a deep clean bed (shavings may be best which gives support and comfort). As you see improvement the horse can be let out onto an even concrete yard or small starvation paddock with no grass. Do not feed any concentrates or allow grazing and just feed hay or other pure roughage material. The horse should not be overstarved and supplements in the feed will help proper recovery of the foot and rest of the body. Simple hoof growth formulae may be useful, MSM and minerals and vitamins as well as Laminitis Prone Supplement. Immune support may also help with healing of the damaged tissues within the foot.

Walking too early on may make laminitis worse. Forcing exercise may encourage separation of the sensitive laminae but when things are more stable walking on soft ground may encourage circulation.

Hoof Care:

Foot care is very important in confirmed cases of laminitis. Quick removal of the shoes may further traumatise the feet and if the sole has already dropped, then shoes will make the feet more comfortable by raising the sole off the ground. Frog support is often important in laminitis cases and temporary padding placed over the frog may provide useful support until Xrays can be done or the farrier used.

Once the laminitis has settled down, corrective shoeing aims to restore the natural shape and conformation of the foot. Vet and farrier should work together and trimming is carried out once a month. Using Xrays as a guide, farriers will aim to shorten long toes, rasp back the front hoof wall to make it parallel with the pedal bone, remove excessive heel length and fit corrective shoes as required. In special cases heart bar shoes provide support to the pedal bone through the frog. Glue on shoes or plastic strap on shoes may help to eliminate trauma.

Management Prevention:

1. Diet: Restrict intake of food that may be causing the problem e.g. grass. This is particularly important for fat ponies which have more pressure on the feet and in all horses prone to the problem. Diet should also contain supplements and nutrients that are known to help limit laminitis damage and improve digestion of food thus helping prevent the problem. Most ponies are safe if they are only allowed to graze for an hour in the morning or an hour in the evening.

2. Make use of starvation paddocks to restrict intake of grass and think about using muzzles to prevent ponies and horses that are prone to laminitis eating too much.

3. Avoid using your horse on the road and on hard surfaces as this traumatises the feet and may cause laminitis to come back.

4. Make sure that medical conditions such as colic and infections are treated quickly as these can result in release of toxins which can bring on laminitis.

5. Ensure that rich food is locked away safely.