Laminitis Signs And Symptoms

In this post we ll go over what laminitis is what causes it and how to prevent it.

Laminitis signs and symptoms. The first obvious sign of laminitis is lameness. Some owners notice the horses shuffling its feet this is a classic laminitic sign and should always be investigated. Laminitis commonly known as founder is a painful disease that causes severe lameness in horses. For instance a horse that doesn t deliver all the afterbirth may develop an infection.

Every horse is different and will show different symptoms and different degrees of pain recognise and investigate any of these signs too many horses go undiagnosed because the early signs of laminitis are not picked up the earlier you recognise the symptoms remove the cause and support the feet the better the outcome is likely to be. Horse s affected by laminitis stand badly in a characteristic way in order to take weight off their toes. It can often cause lameness in two or all four feet at one time but it is preventable. A horse seems tender footed and doesn t want to bear complete weight on a hoof.

Signs of discomfort may include. Watch for signs of laminitis after infection. Keep reading for early signs to watch for with laminitis. Laminitis symptoms and the signs to look out for laminitis most commonly affects the front feet but can also affect only one or all of the horse s feet.

This can all occur before any symptoms are apparent and once the process has started it is extremely difficult to stop. Careful horse owners can learn to recognize the subtle signs caused by microscopic changes call their veterinarian. Laminitis affects nearly 10 of the equine population and can occur with sudden onset in horses ponies and even donkeys. Laminitis is quite unlike any other equine disease.

In this article we will take a look at equine laminitis symptoms and treatment because a prompt recognition of horse laminitis and its treatment is essential to reduce the long term severity and improve the horse s overall health. By learning more about laminitis and its causes signs and treatments you may be able to minimize the risks of laminitis in your horse or control the long term damage if it does occur. A horse with laminitis may rock their weight from one side of their body to the other. In turn that horse can develop laminitis.

Laminitis is a complex cascade of events that causes the soft tissues laminae within the hoof to swell weaken and die. Other sicknesses can lead to laminitis too such as cushing s disease. Laminitis starts at a microscopic level well before actual lameness sets in.