Horse Laminitis in Winter

Laminitis or founder is one of the most dreaded diseases for horses and horse owners. While most of us know to be on the look out for laminitis during spring when grass is lush, this insidious disease can also strike in the dead of winter.

I recently did an interview with Dr. Brandy Snedden DVM of Flying Horse Vet Services located in Licking County Ohio on horse laminitis in winter.

Sneeden reports that laminitis can and does occur during winter for a variety of reasons. For young horses with lamnitis symptoms she recommends looking for Equine Metabolic Syndrome, especially if that horse is an "easy keeper."

"Laminitis: Current Concepts" written by Dr. Chris Pollitt states "Horses and ponies affected by Equine Metabolic Syndrome are often obese, have cresty necks and increased adipose tissue deposits in the withers and dorsal area of the back. Plasma insulin concentrations above 100 μIU/ml indicate insulin resistance (hyperinsulinaemia) and a high risk of laminitis. Insulin alone, when administered in excess to normal ponies, caused laminitis. Management strategies that control insulin resistance and carbohydrate intake decrease the likelihood of laminitis."

Sneeden also said that winter grass holds on to sugar even while it is in it's dormant stage, so while most of us think winter grass is safe, it maybe very high in sugar which can lead to laminitis.

For older horses that develop laminitis Sneeden states "Insulin resistance or Cushing's disease should be looked at and tested for." One of the most obvious symptoms of Cushing's Disease is a rough curly coat that never sheds even in the heat of summer.

Treatment

Cryrotherapy has been known for years for its effectiveness in preventing laminitis in horses that have suffered an episode such as getting into the grain bin. By placing the horses hooves in ice water, laminitis can be stopped before it occurs. Crytotherapy works by restricting blood vessels in the hoof which in turn keeps toxins from entering the hoof and causing laminitis. Dr. Chris Pollitt has written several papers on the effectiveness of icing a horses hooves to prevent laminitis. Some more current research shows it can also be beneficial to a horse with chronic laminitis.

I also discussed with Dr. Sneeden effective pain relief for horses suffering from laminitis. While banamine (Flunixin meglumine) can help, it is not as effective at reducing inflammation as Bute (Phenylbutazone). Another pain reliever recommended by Dr. Sneeden is Equioxx (Firocoxib), which is another NSAID pain reliever. For horse's suffering from chronic laminitis, it can be an advantage to rotate the pain relievers.

Bottom line: Laminitis is a crippling disease and an experienced veterinarian should always be called at the first sign of pain in a horse's hooves.

Dr. Chris Pollitt:: Laminitis, Current Concepts: laminitisreasearch.org