With this disease, the laminae weaken, which attach the pedal bone to the inside of the hoof. The horses pedal bone detaches from the inside of the hoof. Therefore, the pedal bone can turn, and sometimes, it even pushes through the sole. When it pushes through the sole, it’s called “founder. " This bond is composed of a non-living layer and a sensitive living layer, much like nails and the nail beds. The detachment happens when this layer disconnects.
Pay attention to your horse’s mood. He may seem down, and his appetite may be less than normal. [2] X Research source He’ll try to avoid exercise, as walking will be painful. He also might be standing differently than normal because he is trying to relieve the pain. For instance, he may push his front feet forward to relieve stress. [3] X Research source Look for changes in walking, such as not being able to turn easily, especially on hard surfaces. Even if he seems fine while walking on soft surfaces, how he acts on hard surfaces can be a dead giveaway. [4] X Research source Also, the horse may want to shift from foot to foot all the time. [5] X Research source
Also, feel the hooves, as they may be warm to the touch during the early stages. [7] X Research source
Watch for the horse wanting to rest. If the horse wants to lay down or rest more often than normal, that can be a sign of a problem. Similarly, if the horse refuses to come out of his stall or is reluctant to walk, that is likely a sign that laminitis has reached the chronic stage. [11] X Research source
Use cold therapy. Cold therapy is much the same as it is in humans. [12] X Research source You ice down the horse’s feet just as you would an injured knee or ankle in a human. You can either use a muck tub with ice and water or use ice boots to apply the ice to the horse. Do not leave it on for more than 30 minutes. [13] X Research source Provide an NSAID painkiller. These types of painkillers help relieve pain, of course, but they can also help with inflammation. You can give your horse Equioxx, Danilon, or Phenylbutazone (“Bute”), for instance. [14] X Research source These are not to be given if the horse is on steroids, as the two drugs are contra-indicated together and can be a fatal combination. Always speak to your vet before giving any prescription medication to your horse. Treatment for laminitis can vary, depending on the severity of the condition, but the mainstay for years is to get your horse started on a regimen of Phenylbutazone, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory. That, along with proper and supportive footing, are two of the treatments used in helping to alleviate the pain/disease.
Ask how long you should provide anti-inflammatories to your horse. When you are giving your horse some of these drugs, such as Bute, you may need to skip a day after about a week. [16] X Research source
You can cut a piece of thick foam to the size of the hoof. It should be a couple of inches thick to provide padding for the horse. [19] X Research source
One important test when looking for the cause is to test the blood sugar level of the horse, as too much sugar in the system is one risk factor for this disease. [21] X Research source
Avoid feeding your horse on cattle pasture, and also avoid putting your horse to pasture soon after a frost. In addition, closely grazed grass can result in pasture that is too sugar-rich for your horse.
Don’t feed more than 3 to 4 pounds of cereal to your horse at one time.
Other sicknesses can lead to laminitis, too, such as Cushing’s Disease. Be on the lookout for laminitis if your horse has Cushing’s.
Please note, steroids and bute must not be given together; it can be fatal. If you horse develops post-steroid laminitis, always speak to your vet before giving bute to relieve the pain.
Hire a local farrier to keep your horse’s hooves trimmed. In addition to keeping the hooves trimmed, the farrier will know what to look for with laminitis, so he or she may catch it earlier than you.
