|
Laminitis
What it is, the 3 critical things to watch out for and how to correct it.
Laminitis is a condition in which the laminae of the hoof become diseased or damaged and the coffin bone loses its attachment to the outer hoof wall.
Laminitis can be caused by many things. Some causes are:
- fat horses
- too much spring grass
- too much grain (carbohydrates)
- or a retained placenta creating toxins in the blood of the foaling mare.
- In very old horses, laminitis is a frequent result of Cushing's disease.
Classic signs are excessive growth of hair, thirst, sweating and urination, muscle wasting, lethargy, loss of condition and pot belly.
Laminitis can also be caused by metabolic issues. Genetics breed type and bloodlines seem to have some influence as well. Some of the terms used by veterinarians are: insulin resistance, pre Cushing's syndrome or peripheral Cushing's or equine metabolic syndrome.
Horses with metabolic issues have a specific look about them.
- They have a cresty neck
- puffiness about the eyes
- fat deposits around the tail head and behind the withers and later a loss of body condition.
They may also be susceptible to infections because of a impaired immune system.
Metabolic health problems involve imbalances in one or more blood levels of insulin, or cortisol or glucose, certain minerals and may actually be separate conditions that are some how related or all parts of one bigger condition.
Most affected horses have become unable to process carbohydrates, correctly resulting in high blood glucose, cortisol and insulin levels.
Horses with metabolic health issues also have had low thyroid levels which are caused by other imbalances, not the primary problem.
Horses with metabolic problems that are on going means that the laminitis can still be active. Because of this it is impossible for a farrier to reduce the pain due to recurring inflammation and instability inside the feet, and the feet can not heal.
Chronic laminitis is hard to control because a horse may have several imbalances going on at the same time.
Here are a few reasons why laminitis and metabolic health problems occur:
Obese horses and "easy keepers" are especially susceptible. Their obesity can cause stress induced insulin resistance and increased cortisol levels.
Glucose intolerance is a large part of the problem. Insulin resistant horses have insulin but the cells have become resistant to it. The blood levels of insulin get high as the body continues to try to process the carbohydrates. The lamine may then starve.
Excessive cortisol is another important cause of metabolic health issues. Cortisol is naturally released into the blood stream in response to stress, pain or inflammation. If excessive cortisol is in the horses system long term, it weakens all connective tissues in the body, tearing of the laminae and chronic pain all over the horse.
Excessive carbohydrates in a horses' diet will raise the insulin response up as the body attempts to process it. Strict limitation of carbohydrates is necessary. Lowering your horses carbohydrates means no more grain, molasses, sweet feeds, sugar, apples or carrots and even some hays.
Horses with laminitis and metabolic health issues have benefited from dietary supplementation that can balance their minerals, and removal of carbohydrates from the diet has improved their conditions.
Herbal remedies have also been helpful in reducing pain and inflammation.
For more information on what you need to do to protect your horse from suffering from laminitis through a balanced nutrition program learn about an equine hair mineral analysis.
horse colic
|
