Mar2012_DAYBORO VETERINARY SURGERY
ON LAMINITIS – Summer hoof complaints
This summer we are experiencing hot, humid weather and again frequent rain, often in heavy downpours. This can mean our paddocks, yards and even stables can become muddy and water-logged, sometimes for a period of days or weeks at a time, creating the ideal environment for the development of foot or hoof abscesses in our 4-legged friends
This summer we are experiencing hot, humid weather and again frequent rain, often in heavy downpours. This can mean our paddocks, yards and even stables can become muddy and water-logged, sometimes for a period of days or weeks at a time, creating the ideal environment for the development of foot or hoof abscesses in our 4-legged friends
Coinciding with this we have the peak grass growing season so most of our paddocks are filled with lush green carbohydrate-packed feed. Excellent you say? Maybe not….
Some horses can be very sensitive to easily digestible carbohydrates in feed, particularly if they have not been adjusted to it. They can have issues if they are transferred to a lush green paddock, or their paddock or yard suddenly erupts with lush green shoots. Excess or sudden increase in carbohydrates can cause insulin resistance and inflammation which can cause episodes of laminitis or “founder”.
The typical scenario we think of for laminitis is a ‘well-conditioned’ or overweight horse or pony that has found itself in a yard or paddock with lush feed after rains. These animals can be profoundly lame, sometimes reluctant to move. Lameness is usually most notable in the fore feet, often both are affected. Many horse people will recognize this scenario, and these horses may be described colloquially as having “founder”.
It is important to know that laminitis can be a very subtle process too. We see a lot of horses who have had long term laminitis problems, probably without ever showing bad enough signs to seem lame. Owners will often contact us because they are concerned their horse has smelly feet, foot abscess or bruised sole. Many of these horses once examined are found to be suffering from chronic laminitis which has led to hoof damage and the development of foot abscesses.
What can I do to reduce the risk of carbohydrate-induced laminitis for my pony or horse?
Exercise and diet management are the critical factors in lowering the risk of developing laminitis for your horse.
Moderate daily exercise is essential. Obviously this is not recommended if your horse is still in recovery and/or lame but for all otherwise healthy horses and ponies and especially all those who have suffered from an episode of laminitis in the past, exercise is the key. How much exercise? 30 minutes at a trot every day. This can be achieved via lunge or under saddle.
Diet management
Aim to keep your horse in trim body condition rather than “well conditioned” at all times
Susceptible horses should preferably be fed on grassy hay rather than Lucerne.
Absolutely NO GRAIN should be fed! (grain, cereal grains and grain-based pelleted formulas are all high in complex carbohydrates which may trigger or exacerbate a laminitis episode).
Careful pasture management – You may need to confine your animal so that their intake of lush carbohydrate-rich pasture is limited. The requirement will vary for the individual animal but in general we recommend no more than 2 hours a day free grazing under these conditions. Sometimes even the use of a grazing muzzle is required. Animals that are currently suffering from laminitis should be withdrawn completely and not allowed to graze on rich feed at all during the recovery period.
Please contact us at Dayboro Veterinary Surgery on 3425 1544 for more information on how to help prevent laminitis and other hoof complaints.
Some horses can be very sensitive to easily digestible carbohydrates in feed, particularly if they have not been adjusted to it. They can have issues if they are transferred to a lush green paddock, or their paddock or yard suddenly erupts with lush green shoots. Excess or sudden increase in carbohydrates can cause insulin resistance and inflammation which can cause episodes of laminitis or “founder”.
The typical scenario we think of for laminitis is a ‘well-conditioned’ or overweight horse or pony that has found itself in a yard or paddock with lush feed after rains. These animals can be profoundly lame, sometimes reluctant to move. Lameness is usually most notable in the fore feet, often both are affected. Many horse people will recognize this scenario, and these horses may be described colloquially as having “founder”.
It is important to know that laminitis can be a very subtle process too. We see a lot of horses who have had long term laminitis problems, probably without ever showing bad enough signs to seem lame. Owners will often contact us because they are concerned their horse has smelly feet, foot abscess or bruised sole. Many of these horses once examined are found to be suffering from chronic laminitis which has led to hoof damage and the development of foot abscesses.
What can I do to reduce the risk of carbohydrate-induced laminitis for my pony or horse?
Exercise and diet management are the critical factors in lowering the risk of developing laminitis for your horse.
Moderate daily exercise is essential. Obviously this is not recommended if your horse is still in recovery and/or lame but for all otherwise healthy horses and ponies and especially all those who have suffered from an episode of laminitis in the past, exercise is the key. How much exercise? 30 minutes at a trot every day. This can be achieved via lunge or under saddle.
Diet management
Aim to keep your horse in trim body condition rather than “well conditioned” at all times
Susceptible horses should preferably be fed on grassy hay rather than Lucerne.
Absolutely NO GRAIN should be fed! (grain, cereal grains and grain-based pelleted formulas are all high in complex carbohydrates which may trigger or exacerbate a laminitis episode).
Careful pasture management – You may need to confine your animal so that their intake of lush carbohydrate-rich pasture is limited. The requirement will vary for the individual animal but in general we recommend no more than 2 hours a day free grazing under these conditions. Sometimes even the use of a grazing muzzle is required. Animals that are currently suffering from laminitis should be withdrawn completely and not allowed to graze on rich feed at all during the recovery period.
Please contact us at Dayboro Veterinary Surgery on 3425 1544 for more information on how to help prevent laminitis and other hoof complaints.
