Laminitis

In laminitis, various triggering factors lead to a disturbance of blood flow in the hoof dermis. This results in the separation of the horny laminae from the cell-forming layer. This separation loosens the suspensory apparatus of the pedal bone. With every step the horse takes, the deep digital flexor tendon, which is anchored to the bone at the rear of the pedal bone, pulls on the pedal bone. As a result, a laminitis attack can very quickly cause a change in the position of the pedal bone in the form of rotation. In the worst case, the rotation and sinking can be so severe that the pedal bone breaks through the horn sole. In some particularly severe cases, the entire horn capsule can even detach, which is referred to as sloughing.

In addition to the highly acute form of laminitis, which can lead to very severe symptoms within a few hours, there is also the slower-progressing subacute form or the chronic form, which often occurs in episodes. Every case of laminitis is extremely painful and manifests itself through lameness (usually in the front legs), ranging up to a rocked-back stance to relieve pressure and complete refusal to move.
According to current scientific findings, possible triggers of laminitis include: excess fructans or other sugars, undigested starch in the large intestine, conditions such as insulin resistance, EMS or Cushing’s syndrome (PPID), medications, plant toxins, retained placenta-related laminitis, work-related laminitis, etc.