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AQHA VET NEWS
LAMINITIS emergency management & managing risks
ARTICLE BY : DR JENNIFER STEWART - BVSC BSC PHD EQUINE VETERINARIAN AND CONSULTANT NUTRITIONIST
LAMINITIS - inflammation of the deep structures of the foot - often it occurs for no identifiable reason - you come out in the morning and your horse - who was perfectly sound yesterday is today showing signs of foot pain ( TABLE 1 ).
TABLE 1 . SIGNS OF LAMINITIS may include any or all of the following : Difficulty turning Increased hoof temperature Shifting weight from leg to leg Recumbent Reluctance for foot to be lifted Lame at walk Short , stiff gait at trot Hoof sole pain Short , stiff gait at walk Front feet placed in front of body Reluctance to walk Refusal to move unless forced Coronary band depression Coronary band swelling Crescent shaped bruising dorsal to frog Hoof wall pain Hind feet placed underneath body Increased digital pulse Leg trembling Lame at trot Unilateral weightbearing
least 48 hours . At home , while waiting for the vet you can start immersing the legs in an ice slurry . This is really important because continuous icing for 48 to 72 hours reduces the damage inside the hoof – but if infection is suspected ( abcess FIGURE 1 .) or seedy toe icing should not be done .
FIGURE 1 .
Infection of the sole and coronary band
If your horse shows any of these signs , it ’ s really important to act quickly and begin emergency treatment until veterinary support arrives – because once your horse shows clinical signs , the disease has been present for at
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