Equine Founder - Understanding This Serious Condition

Equine founder is a very serious condition that affectscause extreme pain in the sensitive tissues underneath
the feet of horses. This condition is due to thethe hoof wall. Equine founder then occurs as the
complications and damaged tissue of the foot afterlaminae die and this causes the coffin bone to become
one or more attacks of laminitis. If this is not treatedunattached to the hoof. The arteries and veins will also
properly, founder can cause serious and permanentbecome damaged and it will crush the remaining
damage to your horse. If you believe that your horsetissues around the coffin bone. In severe cases of
has laminitis or founder you should instantly startfounder the coffin bone will rotate downwards and go
treatment before it worsens. The information below willthrough the sole of the hoof to the ground.
help you to better understand equine founder and howEquine Founder Treatment
to treat it.It is important to start treating equine founder as soon
Causes Of Laminitisas possible before it causes severe damage to your
Laminitis is caused by several factors but the mosthorse and since this is a very painful condition, it will be
common ones are: eating too much grain at one time,very stressful for him. At the first signs of laminitis or
lush pasture especially spring grass, drinking largefounder you should contact your veterinarian
amounts of cold water when overheated, overweightimmediately. He or she may want to administer fluids,
horses, too much work on a hard surface and stress.antibiotics or painkillers and give you advice on what to
Laminitis will cause the feet to become very painfuldo as treatment options will vary depending on the
and he may spend a lot of time laying down. Most ofseverity of the case. Shoeing your horse with heart
the time laminitis will only affect the front feet, but it isbars is a very effective method to cure equine
not uncommon for the hind feet to be sore as well. Iffounder, so you should also contact a farrier that has
laminitis is not immediately treated, equine founder willexperience with shoeing foundered horses.
soon follow.Laminitis and equine founder will not get better on its
What Is Laminits And Founder?own so that is why it is so important to seek
Laminits is an infection of the laminae which is thetreatment as soon as possible. By immediately getting
tissue that connects the coffin bone to the hoof wall.help for your horse, he has a better chance of making
As the layers of the laminae start separating, theya full recovery.