Laminitis And Founder

Similar in cause and effect to laminitis and founder in equines it is the result of too much high protein feed or grass often damp new grass which causes the laminae in the hoof to break down hence the name laminitis.

Laminitis and founder. However founder usually refers to a chronic long term condition associated with rotation of the coffin bone whereas acute laminitis refers to symptoms associated with a sudden initial attack including pain and inflammation of the laminae. Laminitis is a disease that causes lameness in horses. Understand what laminitis is. Grain or grass overload are the most common causes and ponies are most susceptible to laminitis caused by grass overload.

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. Laminitis damage to or failure of the laminae inflammation is not significant in most cases of laminitis founder loss of normal orientation between the hoof capsule and the pedal bone i e. The terms laminitis and founder are used interchangeably. The foot bone is suspended inside the hoof by sheet like tissue called lamina and during founder this tissue stretches.

Support limb laminitis is most common in horses suffering from severe injury to one limb such as fracture. The development of laminitis and founder can often be due to a variety of causes sometimes acting together and sometimes individually. Laminitis the separation or failure of laminae which connect the hoof wall to the coffin bone within can cause permanent structural changes in a horse s foot leading to repeated bouts of. It was once associated primarily with overweight ponies but it can affect any age or size of horse.

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 many reasons horses develop laminitis. One of the more common causes however is overeating of feeds rich in soluble carbohydrates also referred to as non structural carbohydrates or nsc mainly found in cereal grains and lush stressed pasture. Ponies can live on very spartan rations and can easily overeat on good pasture.

Causes of laminitis. Rotation or sinking distal descent sinking laminae lamellae pedal bone coffin bone p3 third phalanx. Mechanical laminitis can occur when a horse habitually paws is ridden or driven on hard surfaces road founder or in cases of excessive weight bearing due to compensation for the opposing limb a process called support limb laminitis. After it stretches the foot bone is no longer suspended and droops to the ground pressing against the sole of the foot.