| TRACE MINERALS |
 |
The use of naturally chelated trace minerals as an aid to improve and prevent laminitis and founder, and as a supplement. (Laminitis Prevention Document)
What is Laminitis?
Laminitis in horses is a very painful condition of the foot .
Laminitis results from the disruption (constant, intermittent, or short-term) of
blood flow to the sensitive and insensitive laminae. These laminae structures
within the foot secure the coffin bone (the wedge-shaped bone within the foot)
to the hoof wall. Inflammation often permanently weakens the laminae and
interferes with the wall/bone bond. In severe cases, the bone and the hoof wall
can separate. In these situations, the coffin bone may rotate within the foot,
be displaced downward, “sink” and eventually penetrate the sole. Laminitis can affect one or all feet, but it is most often seen in the front feet concurrently. The terms “laminitis” and “founder” are used interchangeably. However, founder usually refers to a chronic (long-term) condition associated with rotation of the coffin bone. Acute laminitis refers to symptoms associated with a sudden initial attack, including pain and inflammation of the laminae.
What are the causes of laminitis?
While the exact mechanisms by which the feet are damaged remain a mystery, certain precipitating events can produce laminitis. Although laminitis occurs in the feet, the underlying cause is often a disturbance elsewhere in the horse’s body. The causes vary and may include the following:
• Digestive upsets due to grain overload (such as excess grain, fruit, or snacks) or abrupt changes in diet
• Sudden access to excessive amounts of lush forage before the horse’s system has had time to adapt; this type of laminitis is known as “grass founder”
• Toxins released within the horse’s system
• High fever or illness; any illness that causes high fever or serious metabolic disturbances has the potential to cause laminitis, e.g., Potomac Horse Fever
• Severe colic
• Retained placenta in the mare after foaling
• Consumption of cold water by an overheated horse
• Excessive concussion to the feet, often referred to as “road founder”
• Excessive weight-bearing on one leg due to injury of another leg, or any other alteration of the normal gait
• Various primary foot diseases
• Bedding that contains black walnut shavings
• Prolonged use or high doses of corticosteroids
Laminits Treatment
The first line of treatment is to determine the cause of the laminitis equine and correct this condition if possible. Initial treatment may vary depending on the cause of the laminitis but may include intravenous fluid therapy and systemic antimicrobials. What are the signs?
Laminitis equine can occur in two forms acute and chronic. In acute cases the onset of signs is rapid and can be severe. In chronic cases the symptoms can develop over time or may result from previous acute attacks that fail to heal completely.
Signs of acute laminitis include the following:
• Lameness, especially when a horse is turning in circles: shifting lameness when standing
• Heat in the feet
• Increased digital pulse in the feet
• Pain in the toe region when pressure is applied with hoof testers
• Reluctant or hesitant gait, “walking on eggshells”
 • A “sawhorse stance,” with the front feet stretched out in front to alleviate pressure on the toes and the hind feet “camped out” or positioned farther back than normal to bear more weight
Signs of chronic laminitis may include the following:
• Rings in hoof wall that become wider as they are followed from toe to heel
• Bruised soles or “stone bruises”
• Widened white line, commonly called “seedy toe,” with occurrence of seromas (blood pockets) and/or abscesses
• Dropped soles or flat feet
• Thick, “cresty” neck
• Dished hooves, which are the result of unequal rates of hoof growth (The heels grow at a faster rate than the rest of the hoof, resulting in an “Aladdin-slipper” appearance.)
|
