Laminits in Horses–Prevention is Better than Cure
Abstract
Horses have been domesticated since prehistoric times and hold a special place in our history and culture. It is the source of employment and income for the poor farmers and landless labourers. It also plays a significant role in elite sections of society, sports and national security. The managemental disease are the major problems in equine which imposes a heavy economic burden on farmers. There is a list of major managemental diseases reported in horses like equine rhabdomyolysis syndrome, big head disease, colic and laminitis. Out of all, laminitis is the second biggest killer of horses after colic. This condition is in utmost need of being promptly diagnosed to carry out a better approach for its prevention and management.
Key words- Laminitis, horse, prevention, managemental
INTRODUCTION
When it comes to laminitis, prevention is always better than cure. In many cases, laminitis is preventable through appropriate everyday management of the horse’s weight, diet and general health.
Horses have been domesticated since prehistoric times and hold a special place in our history and culture. Domestication of wild horses played a key role in the rise of larger human settlements and great civilisations. With the advent of modern means of transportation, utility of equines is decreasing resulting in decline in their population. Besides that, 98% of equine population in India is the source of employment and income to the poor farmers and landless labourers. Remaining 2% of the equine population plays a significant role in elite sections of society, sports (racing, polo) and national security (military and paramilitary forces). The managemental disease are the major problems in equine which imposes a heavy economic burden on farmers and equine sector stakeholders. There is a list of major managemental diseases reported in horses like equine rhabdomyolysis syndrome, big head disease, colic and laminitis. Out of all, laminitis is the second biggest killer of horses after colic.It is a crippling condition which can be fatal in severe cases Laminitis (often called founder) commonly affects horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. It has also been diagnosed in zebras and some cloven-hooved animals.It is the inflammation of the laminae of the foot – the soft tissue structures that attach the coffin or pedal bone of the foot to the hoof wall. The inflammation and damage to the laminae causes extreme pain and leads to instability of the coffin bone in the hoof. It is an extremely painful condition and has a significant welfare implications for owners. Once a horse has had an episode of laminitis, they are particularly susceptible to future episodes. Laminitis can be managed but not cured which is why prevention and management is so important.
Causes
1) Diseases associated with inflammation e.g. certain types of colic, diarrhoea, retained placenta, severe pneumonia 2) Endocrine (hormone) disease e.g. Equine Cushing’s disease (pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction; PPID), equine, metabolic syndrome, excessive pasture consumption 3) Mechanical overload (supporting limb laminitis; SLL)
Symptoms of Laminitis
1. Acute laminitis For animals suffering acute laminitis symptoms generally come on very suddenly and are severe. The horse will show an inability or reluctance to walk or move and may possibly lie down, displaying an unwillingness to get up. The horse will be visibly lame especially when moving on a circle or on a hard surface, and will have an increased digital pulse in the foot. The horse, when standing, may well lean back on to its hind feet in order to relieve the pressure on its front feet. The horse will have pain in front of the point of frog and when walking may place its heels down first rather than its toes. There can also be symptoms shown vaguely similar to colic.
2. Chronic laminitis A horse with chronic laminitis will show signs of ongoing symptoms that are generally a result of a relapse from previous attacks.The horse’s hoof will have the appearance of growth rings around the hoof wall, which generally indicates that it has suffered from laminitis in the past. However, these should not be confused with hoof rings, which are due to changes in nutrition or to stress.The heel will often grow faster than the toe and the white line in the hoof will have widened. The horse may well have a large crest, which runs along its neckline.Laminitis an inflammatory condition of the tissues (laminae) bonding the hoof wall to pedal bone in the hoof. It is often recurrent for individual horse Warning signs of laminitis- bounding digital pulse, a hoof that’s hot for hours, a distorted hoof shape, an increased heart rate, too little or too much foot lifting, apparent stretched or bleeding laminae, shortened stride, increased insulin level, obesity, diarrhoea, infection por inflammatory response.
Diagnosis · Diagnosis is based on the clinical signs usually · X-rays may be taken if there is concern that the pedal bone has sunk or rotated, or if the animal is not improving despite appropriate therapy · Blood tests may be performed in cases where an underlying endocrine disease is suspected.
Treatment Laminitis is a medical emergency and horses should be treated as soon as possible. Various medicine can be given to control the pain.
Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as phenylbutazone or flunixin and opiates like morphine and pethidine can be given.
· Acepromazine has traditionally been used to increase the blood supply to the feet.
· Use of ice to cool the feet may be beneficial in cases of laminitis associated with inflammation. If the laminitis is the result of conditions, such as an endocrine disorder, that disease should be treated accordingly.
Potential complications following treatment · Due to overweight bearing, the opposite limb may develop contralateral limb laminitis
· Abnormal hoof growth
· Repeated flare-ups of laminitis
· Increased predilection for developing hoof abscesses
PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT
· Minimizing turnout, providing a deeply bedded stall or finding a turnout area that is of soft ground/sand with reduced grazing area
· Change in diet to a low carbohydrate/starch, minimizing grass intake (especially in the spring), soaking/steaming hay
· Corrective shoeing on a frequent schedule (every 3–5 weeks) · Daily administration of anti-inflammatory medication (phenylbutazone (bute) or banamine) to help manage pain and make standing more comfortable
· Regular recheck radiographs (every 3 months to yearly based on your veterinarians recommendation)
CONCLUSION
Managerial diseases may impose an unnecessary burden on the equine sector stakeholders and may damage the economic growth associated with it. Laminitis is a complicated disease of which the origin is not clearly understood, hence the condition is in a desperate need of better understanding to pursue a streamlined approach for its prevention and control.
Compiled & Shared by- This paper is a compilation of groupwork provided by the
Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)
Image-Courtesy-Google
Reference-On Request.
