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Equine Laminitis - The Condition
the
Symptoms and the Treatment
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Laminitis is a highly traumatic and painful condition, that
can affect ponies and horses, and requires immediate first aid treatment provided by your veterinary
surgeon and farrier. This condition is ideally treated using the Imprint®
Equine Foot Care System together with other medication and advice as
prescribed by your veterinary surgeon. |
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It is important that
laminitis treatment begins swiftly and advice followed carefully to increase the likelihood
of a full recovery for your horse. |
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WHAT IS LAMINITIS?
Laminitis is a major
vascular crisis that results in inflammation and weakening of the
laminal structures and bonds within the horses hoof. The damage to the hoof
tissue could be severe and may cause rotation and sinking of the
pedal bone.
The following symptoms
may indicate the presence of laminitis:
• Difficulty in walking and
turning
• Standing awkwardly with more
weight on hind legs, whilst shifting weight from one
foot to
another.
• Hooves may feel warm to touch
with increased digital artery pulse rate.
• Depression at coronary band |
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Laminitis - The Inside Story
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• The blood supply to the hoof
has been
disturbed through a laminitic trigger
factor that
affects the horse’s
metabolism.
Possible trigger factors
include diet,
toxaemia,
stress, hoof
concussion or another
condition e.g.
Equine Cushing’s Disease.
• As a result of metabolic
disturbance,
blood vessels
have become constricted,
thereby reducing
oxygen and other
nutrients to the hoof and laminal tissues.
• The laminae become damaged and
weakened and
pull away from the hoof
wall.
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In a healthy foot, the front of the pedal bone would
be parallel with the hoof. This x-ray shows how deterioration of the laminal
structure has resulted in pedal bone rotation.
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• The pedal bone is no longer
supported by laminal structure and begins to rotate and
descend
towards the sole.
• The tissue in the sole of the
foot becomes compressed, more blood vessels collapse
leading to further crushing and subsequent infection. |
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Laminitis - The Treatment
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Recommended Imprint Emergency
Treatment for Laminitis
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Stable your horse on a
clean, deep, shavings bed
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Administer medication
as prescribed by your vet
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Review your horse’s
diet with your vet
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Your vet will organise
radiographs (X-rays) of the affected hooves
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Your farrier or
referral farrier will trim & re-balance hooves using radiographs
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Your farrier or
referral farrier will apply Imprint First shoes
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Imprint First - Aid for Laminitis |
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The
Imprint Laminitis Treatment Programme
The Imprint Equine Foot Care System was
developed by Andrew Poynton, FWCF, after many years of research,
development and consultation with veterinarians and
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farriers into
suitable treatments for laminitis. Imprint Equine Foot
Care System utilises patented, low-melt, thermoplastic
technology that enables the Imprint shoe to be moulded and glued
to the hoof without the need for nails. Their application to a
carefully trimmed and balanced foot, with the aid of
radiographs, is non-traumatic and the recovery rates are
consistently good. Imprint First shoes provide immediate
support by stabilising and inhibiting pedal bone movement via
the unique Imprint Frog Cradle™.
Once the shoes have been
applied, the horse should experience immediate comfort and pain
relief - the pressure now being taken by the Imprint shoe and not
the sole.The
shoes are generally fitted in pairs to provide even support, and
laminitis normally affects both front or in more severe cases,
all four feet.
The Imprint Equine Foot
Care System is prescribed by leading equine veterinarians and
fitted by qualified farriers both nationally and
internationally.
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Horse
before laminitis treatment
showing typical
laminitic stance
Horse standing normally
after laminitis treatment with Imprint First
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Laminitis - On-going Care
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Continue with box rest for
at least 30 days or until advised by your vet
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Provide a deep, supportive
bed of clean, dry wood shavings or another material that moulds to the
underside of the foot.
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Review the horse’s diet
with your vet.
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Pick out and thoroughly
disinfect hooves twice a day to avoid build up of foreign matter.
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Re-application of Imprint
shoes as directed by your farrier approximately every 5 weeks to
ensure ‘ideal’ pedal bone/ hoof capsule alignment. Further
radiographs may be required or
requested by your farrier. |
Imprint Plus
For next stage recovery from laminitis |
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6. During the next stage of recovery, when
the horse is being given gentle exercise,
Imprint Plus shoes
should now be applied. With their improved polymer
formulation,
Imprint Plus shoes provide all the support and flexibility together
with
increased wear and grip qualities on most surfaces. |
| The information on this page is available as a leaflet, to
receive a copy please go to this page
Aid for Laminitis
and enter your details. |
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