Laminitis in Horses and Ponies: Vet Essentials

Laminitis is a debilitating disease of the foot. We associate it with severe pain and, all too frequently, death in horses. As a result, conservative estimates indicate that 1-3% of horses may be affected in the UK. However, some studies estimate the problem to be far worse. In the general pleasure horse population the figure is much higher.

You can find out more about this disease, and how to treat it, in Vet Essentials. Jenny Rudall explores laminitis with the help of  top vets, bringing you tips and advice on how to manage this painful condition.

Vet Essentials takes a look at some of the common health issues affecting horses. Veterinary surgeon David Rendle takes a look at laminitis – read his full article here. 

Studies show laminitis is the reason for euthanasia of 1 in 10 horses over 15 years old. This is third only to colic and lameness (both of which actually represent collections of diseases). Therefore, recent studies have shown that up to 90% of laminitis cases may have an underlying hormonal cause. We can manage these cases effectively to prevent painful recurrent episodes of laminitis.

“As horse owners, we all dread hearing the word “laminitis”. It occurs when the interlocking lamellae, which suspend the bones of the foot within the horse’s hoof, undergo degenerative changes and are ‘weakened’. Debilitating foot pain results as the lamellar changes progress, and it is very difficult to predict what the prognosis for the animal will be. As a result, lamellar damage can lead to the loss of a horse’s career – or even more tragically, their life”.