Laminitis is an acute inflammation of the laminar corium within the hoof. Laminitis has the potential to cause severe pain and structural instability within the hoof. Even if the horse is barefoot, it can still suffer from a laminitis attack if there are specific causes that have not been eliminated or controlled. It should be of special concern when the horse is transitioned from shoes or pathological contraction.
Triggers for laminitis in the barefoot horse may include: allergies, reactions to vaccinations or wormer, toxins in the environment, insulin resistance or Cushings, retained placenta, direct trauma or an incorrect trim.
Horses transitioning from shoes to barefoot can experience laminitis due to residual damage from shoeing or contraction. As damaged tissue is recognized by the body's defense mechanism, a certain amount of inflammation is necessary to repair the damage. Too much inflammation can do more damage. Holistic treatment of laminitis is very different from conventional treatment. It requires a knowledgable hoofcare professional (The Horses Hoof has an extensive listing of hoofcare professionals) and a holistic veterinarian to provide supportive therapies.
Signs and Symptoms of Laminits
It is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of laminitis in the barefoot horse. Early signs of the onset of laminitis are:
- unwillingness to move, lying down
- depression, laziness or dullness
- biting at the coronet band
- shifting weight uncomfortably
- racing digital pulse
- increased heat in the feet
- rocking back to weight hinds
When any of these signs are recognized,the owner should take steps to reduce the damage as soon as possible. The hoofcare professional will be able to determine if the veterinarian needs to be called.
Determining Position of the Coffin Bone
If the horse is regularly trimmed to have a ground parallel coffin bone and the owner can recognize mechanism in the hoof, it should be determined if the concavity he has now is consistent with the concavity he's had in the past. If the sole seems flatter or an obvious bulge is apparent, pads should be applied to the frogs and soles. These can be taped on with duct tape or put into boots. During transition or anytime there is laminitis, it is possible for the coffin bone to descend into the hoof capsule to a greater or lesser degree. This can be slight or a full "sinker".
If the horse was trimmed for a ground parallel coffin bone, there will be no "rotation". (Rotation of the coffin bone is something that happens to shod horses, or horses that have contracted heels with excess bar horn. If the horse is comfortably weighting the heel, there is no 'pull' from the deep digital flexor tendon.) However, the hoofcare professional may wish to determine if or how far down the coffin bone has descended by having the vet do an X-ray.
Holistic Treatment
If symptoms seem mild and there is no obvious change in the concavity, soak the feet in cool water and walk the horse. Be sure to change the water frequently and do not leave the boots on the horse if the feet are very hot. Make sure he is landing heel first. If symptoms seem more severe, wait for your hoofcare professional to trim your horse and be sure he is landing heel first afterwards.
- Do not to walk him on rough, uneven or rocky ground
- Do not turn him in tight turns
- Do not confine him or put him in a stall with bedding
- Do not turn him out with horses that may harrass him
- Do not ride your horse
He should be walked at least 5 minutes every hour on smooth, level, non-concussive surfaces and allow him to lay down if he wants. Walking helps the congested blood and metabolic wastes to exit the hoof and the fresh blood to enter and provide oxygen and nutrients to heal tissues. Arnica and Rescue Remedy may be given. Fish oil or flax oil (kept refrigerated) or freshly ground flax seed (6 to 8 oz.) may be fed to combat the inflammation. Feeding chromium picolinate (4 X 500 mg) and magnesium citrate (1-3 mg) along with free choice salt-free minerals will also help to provide necessary cell-rebuilding blocks. Massage therapy is also a good idea.
Laminitis does not need to be a death sentence or a reason to give up on going barefoot. Repeated bouts of laminitis or a past history of conventional treatment ("orthopedic" shoes; hoof wall resections or surgeries) may make recovery more difficult, but a barefoot horse has the natural healing ability of good circulation.
References "Founder Prevention & Cure The Natural Way" by Jaime Jackson
"Who's Afraid of Founder?" by Hiltrud Strasser, DVM
For more information, go to Natural Horse Trim
Also All Natural Horse Care "Laminitis in Horses"
Sandra Judy - An avid horse woman for all of her life, Sandra has providedholistic hoofcare education through clinics and her website. She began with ...
