Hoof Care

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Learn to Recognize the Signs of Laminitis
Every day veterinarians across the country see hundreds of cases of laminitis, a painful disease
that affects the feet of horses. Laminitis results from the disruption of blood flow to the sensitive
and insensitive laminae within the foot, which secure the coffin bone to the hoof wall. While the
exact mechanisms by which the feet are damaged remain a mystery, certain precipitating events
can produce laminitis. Although laminitis occurs in the feet, the underlying cause is often a
disturbance elsewhere in the horse’s body.
As a horse owner, it is important to recognize the signs of laminitis and seek veterinary help
immediately. Signs of acute laminitis include the following:
• Lameness, especially when a horse is turning in circles; shifting lameness when standing
• Heat in the feet
• Increased digital pulse in the feet
• Pain in the toe region when pressure is applied with hoof testers
• Reluctant or hesitant gait, as if “walking on eggshells”
• A “sawhorse stance,” with the front feet stretched out in front to alleviate pressure on the
toes and the hind feet “camped out” or positioned farther back than normal to bear more
weight
Signs of chronic laminitis may include the following:
• Rings in hoof wall that become wider as they are followed from toe to heel
• Bruised soles or “stone bruises”
• Widened white line, commonly called “seedy toe,” with occurrence of blood pockets
and/or abscesses
• Dropped soles or flat feet
• Thick, “cresty” neck
• Dished hooves, which are the result of unequal rates of hoof growth
If you suspect laminitis, consider it a medical emergency and notify your veterinarian
immediately. The sooner treatment begins, the better the chance for recovery. For information
about laminitis, ask your equine veterinarian for the “Laminitis: Prevention and Treatment”
brochure provided by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) in association
with Bayer Animal Health, an AAEP Educational Partner. Additional information can also be
found on the AAEP’s website www.aaep.org/horseowner.
Reprinted with permission from the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

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