By: Dr. Andrew Van Eps
Ever wondered what gives horses their incredible speed and agility? It all starts with their unique hooves—nature’s perfect design that supports their powerful legs and protects their bones, allowing them to sprint at surprising speeds.
Horses have a single hoof that supports their legs and helps them run quickly on different surfaces. The hoof is tough and protects the bones inside. It’s connected to the bones by special soft tissues called lamellae. These tissues hold the horse’s weight and allow the hoof to grow, keeping it strong and functional.
When these lamellae become inflamed or damaged, the horse suffers from a condition called laminitis, or founder. This condition affects the bond between the hoof and the bones, which can lead to serious problems. If the lamellae are weakened, the bone inside can shift. It might rotate slightly or sink into the hoof, which can be extremely painful. Sinking is particularly severe and can sometimes lead to the difficult decision of euthanasia to prevent further suffering. Laminitis can be very painful and can occur in two forms: acute (sudden) and chronic (long-term).
Horses naturally don’t lie down much, and if they do, they risk developing other health issues. This makes treating severe laminitis challenging because we can’t just keep them resting as we might with humans.
There are three main causes of laminitis:
- Sepsis or Endotoxemia: This often happens with severe gut diseases, like colitis.
- Endocrine Disease: Conditions like Equine Metabolic Syndrome can disrupt hormone levels, making horses more likely to develop laminitis.
- Trauma: This includes situations where the horse bears too much weight due to injury.
In racehorses, endocrine diseases are uncommon. If a racehorse gets laminitis, it’s usually due to infection from another illness or from bearing too much weight when injured, like with a fracture. Keeping horses comfortable after such injuries is crucial, as discomfort can lead to weight-bearing laminitis in the other leg.
Ongoing research into laminitis and related health issues is essential. This includes finding better ways to prevent and treat laminitis, manage injuries, and improve recovery strategies.
SOURCES
Reed, S.M., Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C. (2017) Disorders of the musculoskeletal system. In: Equine Internal Medicine, 4th Edition, pp. 542–579. Elsevier.
Baxter, G.M. (2020) Laminitis. In: Adams and Stashak’s Lameness in Horses, 7th Edition, pp. 490–512. Wiley-Blackwell.
