How to Help a Horse Overcome Laminite

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Laminitis - or podophlemmatitis - is a debilitating and painful inflammatory disease affecting the horse's hoof. The bony part is suspended inside the hoof thanks to very thin tissues called “laminae” which, in case of laminitis, are stretched. Once the fabric stretches, the bone no longer hangs and gives way, putting pressure on the sole. In severe cases, the horse's weight can pierce the bone all the way to the sole of the hoof. To help the horse recover from laminitis, it is necessary to intervene with medical treatment and eliminate the triggering causes of the disease.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Relieve Pain with Medicines

Step 1. Consult the veterinarian and provide the horse with the first treatment as soon as you notice the onset of laminitis

It can occur suddenly and is a very serious pathology, so it is necessary to contact the veterinarian and intervene promptly to relieve the pain of the horse.

• While waiting for the vet, have the horse walk on soft ground.
• Walking slowly promotes blood circulation and helps relieve pain by expelling toxins from the hooves themselves.
• If the horse refuses to move, the pain is unbearable, so do not put any additional strain on it.

Step 2. Administer the AniPrin to relieve pain

If you have aspirin available, give the animal a dose immediately, while waiting for the veterinarian.

• Some types of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) do not require a prescription and therefore can be used for first aid.
• Make sure the horse has enough fresh water to aid in digestion and absorption of aspirin.
• Never give aspirin to horses if they are taking other medicines without first consulting your veterinarian.

• The AniPrin contains acetylsalicylic acid with a base with a pleasant taste of molasses, and can be easily mixed with food.

  • The dose is 10 / mg per kg once a day. For a 500 kg horse, the recommended dose is 5000 mg (5 g).
  • Two measuring spoons are provided with the drug: a larger one of 28.35g and a smaller one of 3.75g.
  • Therefore a horse weighing 500 kg will need a small and a half scoop of AniPrin once a day.

  

  Step 3. Treat the horse with NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) for long-term pain relief

  Full recovery from a severe problem can take 6 to 12 months and, especially in the first few weeks, effective pain relievers should be given to relieve pain.

  • In a long-term care, a valid intervention against pain is obtained with the administration of NSAIDs, including aspirin.
  • There is no better medicine than another, but the most effective one must be found for each animal.
  • What is good for one horse may not be suitable for another, so the vet must suggest alternative medications.
  • NSAIDs inhibit the release of prostaglandin, which causes inflammation and pain.
  • Never give these medicines on an empty stomach to avoid liver and stomach damage.
  • Never give NSAIDs to a dehydrated pet, as they may concentrate and cause kidney damage.
  • Lack of appetite and heat may depend on the side effects of the drugs you are taking; therefore suspend the administration of NSAIDs and contact your veterinarian to request other medicines.

  

  Step 4. Try phenylbutazone for pain relief

  Sometimes referred to as "bute" by horse owners, it reduces pain and lowers fever.

  • It is a drug belonging to the category of NSAIDs that must be prescribed by the veterinarian.
  • It must not be administered concomitantly with other NSAIDs or on an empty stomach.

  • A typical equine preparation is Butazolidin.

    • The dose for a 45 kg horse is 2-4 g once a day, to be taken with meals.
    • It is available in 1 g tablets and in the form of an oral cream or powder, which contains 1 g of phenylbutazone in a 10 g sachet.
    • It is advisable not to exceed the dose of 4 g per day, rather to always administer a lower dosage.

    

    Step 5. Give flunixin if other medications are not effective against pain

    Fluinixin is another NSAID and the equine formula is Banamine.

    • It acts like other NSAIDs, ie by inhibiting prostaglandin and thus reducing both inflammation and pain.
    • The drug is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and intestines, so each dose has an effect that lasts 24-30 hours.
    • Banamin's dose is 1.1 mg / kg once a day; a 500kg horse requires 550mg (0.5g) which is the equivalent of a 20g sachet containing 500g of flunixin.
    • Flunixin has been shown to block some effects of endotoxins (natural toxins produced due to inflammation), released during the inflammation process of laminitis.
    • In some severe cases of laminitis, the vet recommends flunixin as the first treatment, because of its added effect.

    Part 2 of 2: Helping the Horse Recover

    

    Step 1. Trim the horse's hooves to reduce the pressure on the foil

    Laminitis is a complex disease that weakens the support for the bones within the hoof; therefore make sure the hoof is not strained to avoid further damage.

    • As in the case of a broken nail, there is no complete recovery until the damaged part of the hoof is completely reformed and for this it takes 6-12 months.
    • During illness, the angle on which the hoof exerts force changes (due to the lack of support of the lamina) and the hooves grow inadequately.
    • Chucking the hooves in such a way that the animal maintains a correct posture is important in both the short and long term (for a calm gait).
    • Not ticking the hooves means obtaining a result similar to Aladdin's slippers with elongated toes and short heels that predispose the horse to lameness.
    • Hooves need to be trimmed and the tip shortened every 2-4 weeks.

    

    Step 2. Remove the irons to reduce inflammation

    The ideal for a horse with laminitis would be to remove the shoes.

    • Doing so would save the horse from bearing the weight of the shoes that hit the ground with each movement.
    • Furthermore, their removal allows the walls of the hoof to widen instead of being limited.
    • But you have to make sure that the plant is concave with respect to the ground, so that it remains raised.
    • If sag occurs, then pads will be needed to avoid damaging the paws.

    

    Step 3. Obtain corrective shoeing to protect the hoof

    If the horny part of the hoof wall is brittle and brittle, then it is likely to shatter, causing the animal more pain.

    • Furthermore, a fragile horny wall of the hoof also leads to the lowering of the sole (which loses its concave shape and is in contact with the ground).
    • In this case corrective shoeing will be required, to keep the hoof walls intact, lift the sole and keep the angle of the toe bones as close as possible to the natural anatomical position.

    • Some very common types of shoeing are:

      • The reversed irons. The hooves are trimmed to reduce the length of the phalanx and the normal shoes are reversed from the front to the hind legs. The goal would be to raise the heel and lower the toe in such a way as to realign the bone with the walls of the hoof.
      • Egg-shaped irons. Instead of having the back open like traditional horseshoes, they form a full oval, which serves to provide support for the heel, lifting it slightly and reducing pressure on the back of the foot.
      • Heart irons. These are complete irons with a V-shaped insert (hence the definition of "heart") adhering to the frog which contrasts the rotation of the third phalanx, avoiding contact of the painful part with the ground, lifting the heel and favoring the alignment of the breech bone with soil.

      

      Step 4. Apply pads to support and cushion the plant

      Helping the horse to be able to move promotes its recovery. It is therefore necessary to insert pads on the hooves to avoid the pain that comes from contact with the sole.

      • There are different types of bearings on the market, including polystyrene ones, suitable for any type of plinth.
      • They are pads about 5 cm deep, available in three sizes: small, medium and large.
      • They are attached to the clean hoof with special supports and fixed with bands and bandages.
      • The weight of the horse crushes and deforms the bearing, cushioning the impact where it is needed.
      • After two days, the pad will have shrunk by about an inch in its thickness, so you will need to add another layer for added convenience.
      • The pads serve to help the horse move slowly to stimulate circulation to the heels and help the horse recover.
      • They should be replaced when they are completely squeezed, then every two weeks, or according to the severity of the problem.
      • When the initial pain subsides, the pads can be removed and the hoof filed, as mentioned above.

      

      Step 5. Move the horse to stimulate blood circulation

      Wild horses need to move to stimulate circulation in the hooves and expel toxins.

      • Horses with mild laminitis can be left in the pasture with other animals for movement.
      • The pastures should not be too lush, so if they are not suitable, the horse should be kept in the stable and accompanied for short walks every 3-4 hours.
      • When a horse is affected by laminitis, have it walk at a slow pace and on a straight path, avoiding sharp turns and lunges.
      • This is because the bone support inside the hoof is weak and excessive effort could completely tear the tendon.
      • The best surface would be solid ground.
      • Avoid sandy soils, as this could get into the hooves.
      • If you do not have suitable terrain, let the horse walk on the asphalt with special hoof protectors.

      

      Step 6. Eliminate abscesses to promote healing and relieve pain

      These can develop inside the hoof as a result of the increase in white blood cells that counteract inflammation.

      • The resulting pressure must be eliminated.
      • You can administer compounds such as Animalintex or you can wet the hoof with warm water mixed with vinegar to soften the horny part and allow the abscess to come out, relieving the pressure.

      

      Step 7. Have the horse eat a low-sugar diet to reduce inflammation

      In some animals, there is a link between laminitis and nutrition.

      • During the recovery period he pays particular attention to the horse's nutrition.
      • Simple sugars increase insulin levels, which in some cases worsens laminitis.
      • It is therefore necessary to administer a diet low in sugar.
      • The most suitable diet is based on mature grass and hay.
      • If you use hay, soak it for at least a couple of hours before giving it to the animal so that it can lose sugars and soften to avoid colic.
      • Avoid feeding your horse grains and lush grass.