What is Laminitis in Horses?
Laminitis is a common disease found in horses that is damage and inflammation of the tissues between the hoof and coffin bone due to hormonal disorder. It is a painful condition that affects 1 horse in every 10 horses every year, so it should be diagnosed and treated at its early stages.
Founder Vs. Laminitis: Are they the Same or Different?
Many horse owners feel confused while differentiating between founder and laminitis, so they consider both the same disease. Laminitis is inflammation within the laminae of the horse feet, whereas founder is a broad term that is a severe form of laminitis used to describe this disease.
We can call them almost the same diseases but different in severity. When a horse is experiencing founder, then its hoof is inflamed, and the blood supply is compromised. Bones become separate from the hoof wall due to the weight of the horse’s body. Many factors contribute to horses’ laminitis, but it is mainly in senior horses.
Symptoms and Early Signs of Laminitis In Horses:
1. Pain:
If your equine faces much pain in its toe region when it is applying pressure on them during work or performance, it may be a sign of laminitis. It is due to the separation of bone from the hoof wall that is observed easily when the feet handle the body’s weight.
2. Lameness:
Laminitis is responsible for lameness in horses because their feet do not bear body weight. You can experience this situation when a horse is turning in circles.
3. Flat Feet:
Hooves of the healthy horse grow from the front and slower in heels, which are essential for the smooth functioning of their feet. In the case of laminitis, the growth of heels will be more rapid than the toe. So your horse will experience a distorted hoof shape and unusual rings.
4. Hot Hoof:
Horses must undergo challenging exercises and a strict daily working routine that can result in hot hooves, but this situation should not last for hours. Blood is supplied in large quantities into their feet that cause hotness in feet. But if it does not last after a couple of hours, it might be a sign of laminitis in the equine.
5. Increased Heart Rate:
Laminitis is also responsible for increased heart rate in horses because their painful hooves lead to enhanced heart rate.
6. Infection:
If your equine hooves got some infection, it might be possible that it is an early sign of laminitis. When the bones of the horses separate from the hoof wall, there are more chances that it will happen due to any infection in their feet.
How to Make a Diagnosis for Laminitis in Horse?
Proper monitoring of physical changes in the hooves of your equine is the best and easy way to diagnose laminitis. If you experience any lameness in one or more feet of equine, you should consult a vet immediately, as it is an early sign of laminitis.
You can diagnose Hot hooves for an extended period can be diagnosed physically to identify laminitis in equine. The appearance of growth rings around the hoof wall indicates laminitis.
There are a few common causes of laminitis in horses. If you own a horse, then you should be familiar with them. They are the following:
1. Hard Surfaces:
If your horse works on hard surfaces like on the road, it will lead to laminitis in them easily. If a horse works fast on hard surfaces for a prolonged time, it will affect the laminae, and bone will separate from the hoof.
2. Overeating:
Horses have relatively small stomachs. Feeding excess sugar and starch will produce lactic acid and cause acidity of the hindgut. Uncontrolled obesity will cause a metabolic disturbances, such as insulin resistance, chronic lameness, and laminitis.
3. Inflammation:
Inflammation in the tissues between the bone and hoof will result in laminitis. It will change the standard shape and instability of the pedal bone within the foot.
Early diagnosis and treatment of laminitis are essential for a better chance of recovery. So you can choose the following options for treating this disease in your equine.
1. Natural Treatment:
Natural treatment of laminitis has shown impressive results. If your equine is experiencing this disease, you can follow natural remedies.
2. Good Diet:
The nutritional requirements of a horse suffering from laminitis are enhanced. So it is better to supply it with low-sugar, low-carb, and high-fiber feed. Low protein hay and good quality grass hay will help your equine to overcome this situation conveniently.
3. Bots and Pads:
Using bots and pads is beneficial for reducing the pain of laminitis in horses. If the hoof wall of your equine is not too distorted, then it will be an excellent natural remedy for them to overcome this disease.
4. Peaceful Environment:
A horse suffering from laminitis requires a peaceful environment for proper movement and exercise. Provide a stress-free environment for your horse to move through soft terrains to repair damaged hooves.
5. Herbs:
Comfrey, rosehips, nettle, and kelp are natural herbs that are beneficial for horses to increase blood circulation in their hooves. Turmeric is another good option that is a pain killer and anti-inflammatory, so your horse will start recovering from laminitis effectively.
Adding the best natural supplement to horses’ diet is a good way of treating laminitis, so that you can go for the following supplements.
1. Equinety Ultimate OEC:
Equniety Ultimate OEC is one of the best products that are beneficial for horses suffering from laminitis. It contains natural ingredients that will help your equine support their joint and bone health. This product includes natural vitamin E, colloidal silver, and flaxseed-based omega 3, which will boost your equine’s immunity system and enable it for speedy and safe recovery. It is antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial to maintain healthy muscles and the immune system.
2. Equniety Horse XL:
Equinety Horse XL is another natural product that will promote cellular repair with the help of 8 different amino acids that are present in it. It will provide strong bones and a healthier coat for your horse. Cracked and torn hooves and laminitis can be cured with the help of this fantastic product.
Combining Equintey Horse XL and Equinety Ultimate OEC will make a powerful natural supplement. It will not provide the best results in laminitis but also improve the overall health of your equine will also be improved.
3. New Treatments and Safe Methods:
Pain relief therapies are beneficial and considered a safe method to treat horses passing from laminitis. With the help of cold therapy temperature of hooves will be controlled, which is beneficial for overcoming laminitis.
Antioxidants are required to reverse the free radical damage. So providing a natural supplement like a combination of Equinety Horse XL and Equniety Ultimate OEC will be a great source of sufficient quantity of antioxidants in their diet, and it is also completely safe.
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How to Prevent Laminitis in Horses?
Laminitis is not uncommon in horses, but with the help of a few prevention measures, you can reduce the risk of disease in your horse. Monitor the weight of your equine regularly and go for mild-level exercise to keep it healthy and efficient.
Final Thoughts:
Laminitis is a severe disease that can ruin the whole career of a performance horse and affect their health badly. It is better to regularly check the equine’s physical appearance and feed quality.
The use of natural herbs and a good diet is beneficial to cure this disease more conveniently. You can use natural supplements like Equinety Ultimate OEC and Equinety Horse XL in your diet. They will enable your equine to fight laminitis and improve overall health.
