New laminitis research shows gaining weight is a risky business

A study conducted by the Animal Health Trust in collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College and Rossdales Equine Hospital, and funded by World Horse Welfare, has identified that weight gain more than doubled the risk of horses and ponies developing laminitis.

Weight and body condition were regularly estimated and recorded by horse/pony owners over 29 months, with over half of the participating owners opting to use a custom-designed online weight tracker.

Worryingly, weight gain was often occurring unintentionally, even when owners were aiming for weight maintenance or loss. This emphasises the importance of consistent weight and body condition recording, so that undesirable weight gain can be recognised before it negatively impacts health. Owners need to review their animal’s current diet, exercise and health management routines as soon as undesirable weight gain is detected and take action.

This study also identified high risk groups particularly susceptible to developing laminitis. Owners of native pony breeds and their crosses, animals with a laminitis history and those with lameness or soreness after routine hoof care should be particularly vigilant. A high risk of future laminitis episodes was identified in animals shod/trimmed at intervals of more than 8 weeks, and those with a lengthy return to soundness following the most recent episode.

Earlier recognition of laminitis, along with adequate and prompt veterinary attention, farriery support and diagnostic testing of underlying metabolic disorders should give animals the best chance of recovery and a potential to reduce the risk of future episodes.

Features of diet, grazing management and health were also associated with the development of laminitis and require further investigation. For example, horses and ponies with short-term morning grass access, and those that wore grazing muzzles for only part of their grazing time were more likely to develop laminitis. These findings suggest that some grazing management interventions were not optimal at preventing laminitis.