Equi-health io
WINTER LAMINITIS
It’s a phrase that would send a chill down most horse owners’ backs. But, what exactly is it? BY ALEESHA HARRIS “Winter laminitis is not a disease in itself. Cold alone has not been linked to laminitis,” Dr. Marielle St. Laurent, of Paton Martin Veterinary Services in Langley, BC, explains. “However, there are some reasons why horses could get laminitis specifically in the winter months.” Dr. St. Laurent points to the shift from softer foundations during the warmer months to the hard, frozen ground of the winter season as a key contributor to increased soreness in horses. A common term in horse health, “road founder,” which refers to the onset of laminitis linked to hard concussions to the hooves, can further be utilized in order to understand the term. Essentially, “winter laminitis” refers to the onset of road founder, but from climate-related ground hardness rather than poor footing alone. “Constantly being on hard frozen
ground could contribute to this disease,” Dr. St. Laurent says. “Not working on hard ground constantly is also imperative.” Laminitis is a disease that causes foot pain in horses. It usually presents as a horse taking short strides and having trouble turning, Dr. St. Laurent explains. Acute signs, occurring within the first 72 hours, also can include hot feet, increased digital pulses and — when severe — refusal to walk. Severely affected horses will often lean back in order to put weight on their heels in an attempt to relieve the pressure on the front of the hooves. “When it’s more chronic, usually we will notice an abnormal hoof capsule shape, often with horizontal lines or a dished appearance,” Dr. St. Laurent says. “They typically have very flat feet and farriers will notice abnormalities in the white line.”
38 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021
By the time a farrier sees abnormalities though, the problem has been occurring for quite some time. “Laminitis is often viewed as this very severe very painful disease, but that isn’t always the case. People are often surprised when they are told that their horse has or had an episode of laminitis and they haven’t noticed a problem themselves,” Dr. St. Laurent says. “Horses can have subtle or mild laminitis episodes. Some of them go unnoticed by owners because they are not severe and only last a day or two. “If owners recognize mild episodes, they can test to try and determine what is triggering it and hopefully prevent more severe episodes in the future.” As with many equine ailments, preexisting health conditions can contribute to the onset of the disease. Laminitis, Dr. St. Laurent says, can affect all breeds, from Miniatures to Drafts.
