| Every day many horses are diagnosed with laminitis, | | | | - Horses that have previously had laminitis |
| which is a painful condition that affects the feet of | | | | Signs of laminitis: |
| horses. Most of the time laminitis is preventable so it is | | | | - Sore feet (most often only the front feet are |
| important that you know laminitis prevention so that | | | | affected, but all four feet can be affected as well) |
| your horse does not have to suffer with this painful | | | | - Anxiety |
| condition. | | | | - Rapid breathing or pulse rate |
| Causes of laminitis: | | | | - Heat in the feet |
| - Grain overload (eating too much grain at one time | | | | - Increased digital pulse in the feet |
| such as your horse breaking into the feed room and | | | | - Reluctance to stand or get up |
| eating too much) | | | | Treatment of laminitis: (the treatment of laminitis by |
| - Too much lush pasture (this happens many times in | | | | your veterinarian will depend upon the severity of his |
| the spring when your horse eats too much grass | | | | condition.) Treatment methods may include: |
| before his body has time to adapt to the sudden | | | | - Administering fluids |
| changes) | | | | - Administering pain killers |
| - Retained placenta in a mare after foaling | | | | - Soft bedding for the horse to lay down or stand in |
| - Drinking too much cold water when overheated | | | | - Dietary restrictions |
| - Severe colic | | | | - Corrective shoeing (heart bars) |
| - Excessive work on a hard surface | | | | As mentioned earlier, the best cure for laminitis is |
| Horses that are at risk for laminitis: | | | | laminitis prevention. If you have an at risk horse you |
| - Draft horses | | | | should make sure that you are not contributing to the |
| - Ponies | | | | cause. If you think that your horse has laminitis, you |
| - Older horses with Cushing's Disease | | | | should start treatment immediately as it will not get |
| - Overweight or obese horses | | | | better on its own. |