Autumn Laminitis: The Risk is Real

With the days getting darker and the thoughts of Summer grazing beginning to dwindle, you could think that the risk of laminitis is decreasing. Sadly, that may well not be the case…

While many British horse owners are familiar with the rise in Laminitis cases in the Spring, there is an almost equal rise seen coming into Autumn as the temperature cools.

We’ve had plenty of warm Summer days, followed by a drop in temperature and an onset of Autumn rain, which is the ‘perfect storm’ for grass growth, and that grass is likely to be packed with Water Soluble Carbohydrates (WSCs). For many, the dry summer will have dried out the grass leaving it brown and tough, but the arrival of rain has provided optimum conditions for grass growth and sadly the risk of Laminitis that comes with it.

What is Laminitis

Laminitis is a serious hoof disease, causing changes in the hoof anatomy which can have long term and crippling effects on the horse’s function, and is known as one of the biggest causes of death in horses. The condition affects the horse’s laminae (the soft tissue which connects the hoof wall to the pedal bone) and can cause a significant amount of pain and resulting lameness.

Signs of Laminitis

There are some obvious signs your horse may be suffering from Laminitis, and the earlier these are caught the less damage is likely to have been done in the hoof structure. If your horse is displaying these symptoms, contact your vet, or farrier, to investigate immediately. The likely first step will be box rest on a comfortable and supportive bedding.

Stance – a Laminitic horse will find it comfortable to stand with their weight shifted to the hind legs with their front legs stretched out in front of them.

Rocking – you may see your horse shift weight from foot to foot, or rock back and forth in their stable or paddock.

Walking – when walking, they may walk gingerly, slowly or tentatively and feel more comfortable on grass or a soft surface.

Turning – the horse may struggle to turn in a circle when walking in hand.

Lying down – a horse with sore feet is likely to spend more time lying down to ease the pressure on their feet.

Pulse – a horse with Laminitis may have a strong digital pulse and/or excessive heat in the hoof – these are very important signs to look out for.

Prevention

Condition – Keep an eye on your horse’s weight and regularly record their weight with a weight-tape, an obese horse is more likely to be at risk of Laminitis than one of a healthy weight. Also remember a high sugar diet will trigger weight gain and can result in Laminitis. Winter is the perfect opportunity to allow those ‘good-doers’ to shift a little weight; don’t be tempted to over-rug and allow them to use their own body fat to keep themselves warm.

Exercise – keep your horse physically active to keep the weight off them.

Analyse hay & grass– get your grass and hay analysed to check their NSC (non-structural carbohydrate) content.

Soak hay – soaking hay in clean water and rinsing it after will go a long way in reducing your horse’s sugar intake. It’s important to maintain your horse’s fibre intake even if suffering from Laminitis, so soaking your hay and putting it inside a slow-feeder hay net will help to prolong their hay ration.

Use a grazing muzzle – a muzzle to slow down your horse’s grass intake can be beneficial when on grass, even if only used for short periods of time.

Other Causes

A large number of Laminitis cases are attributed towards hormonal problems like Equine Metabolic Syndrome or Equine Cushings Disease; these impact on a horse’s ability to regulate specific hormones and can cause laminitis. Other triggers can include drug reactions, high fevers, stress and steroid induced causes. So, although grass is frequently blamed, some have other underlying causes which still need addressing.

What Next?

If your horse is diagnosed with Laminitis, there are a few medical treatments as well as shoeing options, but box rest is likely to be the primary advice as well as reducing sugar from their diet (and cutting the treats!). Prevention is always better than cure, so keep an eye out for any of these signs of Laminitis this Autumn. Remember even when controlling your horse’s diet, it’s important they are receiving the necessary nutrients to maintain their health, consider adding either a balancer to their feed or a vitamin & mineral supplement.

See our full range of Hoof Care Supplements Here

Why not check out our other equine blogs for more fantastic tips & advice