If you are looking for help because your horse has laminitis, EMS or PPID, please join Friends of TLS (FoTLS)
Most horses with laminitis should make a good recovery when you:
Identify and remove/treat the cause, and
Support and realign the feet.
Many cases of laminitis can be prevented by recognizing the risk factors, e.g. Equine Metabolic Syndrome, PPID, and taking appropriate action.
If your horse has Laminitis, EMS or PPID - start here
Identify and remove/treat the cause, and
Support and realign the feet.
Many cases of laminitis can be prevented by recognizing the risk factors, e.g. Equine Metabolic Syndrome, PPID, and taking appropriate action.
If your horse has Laminitis, EMS or PPID - start here
1. Is it laminitis?
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It's not always simple to diagnose laminitis.
Acute laminitis may be mistaken for colic or tying up.
Symptoms of chronic laminitis e.g. hoof rings and stretched or deep/disconnected white line may be missed, lameness due to laminitis may be misdiagnosed as hock lameness, bruised sole, abscess.
Generally if in doubt, assume laminitis until proven otherwise.
See Laminitis and Chronic Laminitis for a full list of symptoms.
Acute laminitis may be mistaken for colic or tying up.
Symptoms of chronic laminitis e.g. hoof rings and stretched or deep/disconnected white line may be missed, lameness due to laminitis may be misdiagnosed as hock lameness, bruised sole, abscess.
Generally if in doubt, assume laminitis until proven otherwise.
See Laminitis and Chronic Laminitis for a full list of symptoms.
2. Identify and remove/treat the cause
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Once you know your horse has got laminitis, ask WHY has it got laminitis - there is always a cause, therefore you must ALWAYS get a diagnosis. Rule out Sepsis Associated Laminitis (SAL) (or very sick horse laminitis) and Supporting Limb Laminitis (SLL) (or very lame horse laminitis), then decide whether the cause is Equine Metabolic Syndrome or PPID (Cushing's disease) (90% of laminitis, and all pasture associated laminitis, is thought to be due to EMS or PPID or corticosteroid use). Blood tests will help reach a diagnosis.
3. Support and realign the feet
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Support your horse's feet immediately to minimise damage, restrict movement and encourage him/her to lie down. Have digital radiographs (x-rays) taken, and get the feet trimmed to correct/realign rotation/distal descent as soon as possible to prevent further damage.
Failure to realign the hoof to P3 quickly can cause circulation compromise leading to infection, bone loss and eventually euthanasia.
"Too many horses fail to recover from laminitis due to incorrect trimming." ECIR Group & Dr Eleanor Kellon www.ecirhorse.com
Failure to realign the hoof to P3 quickly can cause circulation compromise leading to infection, bone loss and eventually euthanasia.
"Too many horses fail to recover from laminitis due to incorrect trimming." ECIR Group & Dr Eleanor Kellon www.ecirhorse.com
Daily checks that can help early identification of laminitis:
- Walk on hard ground e.g. concrete - does the stride shorten?
- Turn in a tight circle
- Digital pulses - normal?
- Regional fat pads - cresty neck, bulges in hollows above eyes, enlarged sheath, fat above tail?
For more information about the types of laminitis, symptoms, emergency treatment and longer-term management, see Laminitis
For a quick introduction to laminitis, Insulin Resistance/EMS & Cushing's/PPID, have a look at our slide show.
Download our Laminitis, EMS and PPID pdf sheet
For a quick introduction to laminitis, Insulin Resistance/EMS & Cushing's/PPID, have a look at our slide show.
Download our Laminitis, EMS and PPID pdf sheet
Need help or support or want to know more about laminitis, EMS and PPID?
a. Become a Friend of The Laminitis Site and access the FoTLS Facebook support group, where you can post questions, discuss articles and research, and set up a case history for your horse with x-rays, photos and blood test results so that relevant information can be suggested. There is a minimum annual donation of £10 for membership of FoTLS.
b. Many questions will be answered in the A-Z, from α-MSH to Weight loss, via Bute, Dexamethasone, Digital Pulse, Glucose, Hay soaking, Leptin, Metformin, Muzzles, NSAIDs, Obesity, Pergolide, Sheath swelling, Thyroid, Vitex Agnus Castus, and many more topics. If you don't find the information you want, let us know and we'll do our best to provide it.
c. Read the latest and most important research papers on laminitis, IR and PPID listed by author and year in the Research pages.
d. Keep up to date with new developments and research, important information for the time of year, forthcoming webinars and conferences, and more on The Laminitis Site's Facebook page.
a. Become a Friend of The Laminitis Site and access the FoTLS Facebook support group, where you can post questions, discuss articles and research, and set up a case history for your horse with x-rays, photos and blood test results so that relevant information can be suggested. There is a minimum annual donation of £10 for membership of FoTLS.
b. Many questions will be answered in the A-Z, from α-MSH to Weight loss, via Bute, Dexamethasone, Digital Pulse, Glucose, Hay soaking, Leptin, Metformin, Muzzles, NSAIDs, Obesity, Pergolide, Sheath swelling, Thyroid, Vitex Agnus Castus, and many more topics. If you don't find the information you want, let us know and we'll do our best to provide it.
c. Read the latest and most important research papers on laminitis, IR and PPID listed by author and year in the Research pages.
d. Keep up to date with new developments and research, important information for the time of year, forthcoming webinars and conferences, and more on The Laminitis Site's Facebook page.