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Although there are many possible
factors that can cause an attack of
laminitis, one of the most common is an overload of fructans.
Fructans are soluble carbohydrates
that are produced by photosynthesis.
During this process, sugar is created
which is subsequently used for
growth, or is stored within the plant.
Times where these fructans are
particularly high are spring and
autumn because of the good
growing weather, with another
danger time being on a frosty, sunny
morning as although it is too cold for the grass to grow, the plant still
photosynthesises and the fructan
level increases.
An excess of fructans is not good for
the horse due to the way that they
are processed. These carbohydrates
are unable to be digested in the small
intestine by the horse’s enzymes and
travel through to the hindgut wherethey are fermented in a similar
manner to fibre. The difference being
that the large quantities consumed in
a fairly short space of time leads to
an overload and the body is not able
to cope well. When fermentation
takes place lactic acid is produced. As the environment becomes |
increasingly uninhabitable for the
‘friendly’ bacteria that normally
digest fibre, they begin to die, their
cell walls rupture and poisons or
toxins are released.
These pass through the hindgut and
into the blood stream where they
damage vessels and organs that they
come into contact with. When the
blood vessels that supply the feet
become affected, the blood flow is
restricted and the laminae become
swollen. The more fructans that are
ingested, the more serious the
condition can become, worse case,
the horse may have to be destroyed.
Is there any way to prevent an attack?
There is, but if a horse has had laminitis before there is a far higher
chance that he will have a subsequent problem. As for
prevention, fructan levels are higher
during daylight hours, so turning
horses and ponies out late at night
and bringing in early in the morning
is definitely beneficial (providing the
animal can tolerate that length of
turn out). In addition, having sheep
or cattle graze the land is thought to
increase the leaf: stem ratio. This is
advantageous as more fructans are
found in the stems of the plant than
the leaves.
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Traditional meadow grasses are known
to be better for the laminitic than others, and newly fertilised/planted
areas are also unsuitable. In addition, stressed ground conditions will not
support growth, but provide a whole host of problems, as grass in this area
will still be able to photosynthesise.
This is particularly true in the case
of drought and frost.
Feeding is an important consideration, especially if a horse has a history
of laminitis. Working from the hoof upwards; a substance that helps to
maintain the blood flow to the laminae is essential. Hesperidin and Ascorbic
Acid (Vitamin C) have been found to be very successful at achieving this
objective. In addition, support to the hoof and structure are required to
ensure strong growthbiotin and zinc are perfect for this. The fact that the
balance of the gut has been upset must not be overlooked and this is why a
powerful strain of Saccharomyces Cerivisae live yeast which is vitally
important for fibre digestion in the hind gut may be helpful. This will help
the body to resume normal function again as soon as possible which is so
important for the horse to make a full recovery.
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