Main Causes Of Laminitis In Horses

Severe lameness in one limb will cause a horse or pony to carry excessive weight on his other limbs which may cause laminitis.

Main causes of laminitis in horses. While the exact mechanisms by which the feet are damaged remain a mystery certain precipitating events can produce laminitis. There are 3 main causes of laminitis. Naturally there are many possible causes of laminitis in horses but as mentioned above properly identifying the source is the first step to recovery. The causes vary and may include the following.

Overload inflammatory and metabolic. We ve all heard the saying no hoof no horse and laminitis in horses is one of the most worrying concerns that many horse owners have. Several factors can also predispose a horse to developing laminitis such as being overweight or especially those horses that have had laminitis previously. The media has made a significant push on the unfortunately high rate of human obesity but companion animals such as horses dogs and cats are also suffering from alarming rates of obesity.

Laminitis commonly known as founder is a painful disease that causes severe lameness in horses. Traumatic laminitis is caused by repeated physical trauma to the feet during e g. There are many causes of equine stress and due to some stress laminitis in horses may be developed. What causes laminitis in horses.

Laminitis inflammation of the lamina of the hoof is a common and potentially devastating foot problem that affects all members of the equine family. There are a number of contributing factors overload inflammation metabolic issues and physical trauma among them. Although laminitis occurs in the feet the underlying cause is often a disturbance elsewhere in the horse s body. In this post we ll go over what laminitis is what causes it and how to prevent it.

Laminitis tends to be a secondary condition arising from a variety of sources so we ll guide you through the most common. It can often cause lameness in two or all four feet at one time but it is preventable. Causes of laminitis in horses. Horses ponies donkeys mules and wild equids the disease process involves a breakdown of the bond between the hoof wall and the distal phalanx commonly called the coffin bone pedal bone or third phalanx p3.

Relatively less commonly horses can get laminitis from overload typically associated with non weight bearing conditions in one limb thereby overloading the opposite limb. What causes laminitis in horses. Endurance riding driving or jumping on hard ground. After a long journey due to the transportation of horses introduction to the new environment staying a long time in hard standing riding horses in the unknown trail and unfamiliar stablemates may also lead to laminitis.