Laminitis in horses

What is laminitis? 

Laminitis is an extremely painful condition of the feet in which there is inflammation and weakening of the sensitive tissues (laminae or lamellae) that bond the pedal bone (the main bone within the hoof) to the hoof wall and it can affect any horse, pony, donkey or their hybrids.  

Risk factors can include: 

• Diets high in sugar 
• Lack of movement 
• Hormonal disorders such as equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) 
• Weight gain 

The weight of the horse pushing down on these weakened tissues can cause the pedal bone to separate from the hoof wall and rotate or drop towards the sole. In severe cases the pedal bone may penetrate through the sole of the foot. It is an emergency, and you must contact your vet immediately if you think your horse might be suffering from laminitis. 

Prevention of laminitis is essential whenever possible as once a horse has suffered from it they are at increased risk of developing it again. 

In 2010 World Horse Welfare, alongside Dodson & Horrell, the Royal Veterinary College, the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the University of Liverpool held a series of lectures on the dangers of laminitis. 

You can view some of these lectures in the playlist above. The topics covered in these videos are: 

• The horse’s foot and how it can go wrong 
• Recognising the early signs of laminitis 
• Managing your laminitic horse and minimising their pain 
• Using ultrasound to show the difference between fat and muscle and how to fat score a horse. 

Not sure how to check your horse’s digital pulse? Watch our video to learn how.