Signs of Laminitis

How can you tell if your horse has laminitis?

  

Laminitic episodes have very characteristic signs that usually cannot be confused with other diseases. Laminitis usually occurs only in the front feet (although rarely it does occur in the hind), creating a very typical stance, where the horses front feet are held out in front and the hind are tucked more underneath. Since their front feet are very painful, this is the horse’s attempt to shift as much weight from the front feet to the hind. Some horses may even look like they are buckling in the hind end, but the primary problem is the front feet. When they walk, their gait is described as “walking on eggshells” because they move very delicately and deliberately. When they turn, they may shift all of their weight to the hind end, and quickly spin around. When they are standing still, they often continuously shift their weight from one front foot to the other.

When looking at the hoof, there are several signs you may see that indicate that the horse has had previous episodes of laminitis. They will often (but not always) have very noticeable thick rings, and these rings usually create a wave pattern (see picture) instead of a straight line. Even if you have never seen your horse lame before, this does not mean they have not been dealing with this disease before – there is a “subclinical” version of laminitis, where the disease IS happening, but they do not show any obvious signs.

In very severe and chronically laminitic horses, their hooves may start to loop upwards as they grow, and some may begin walking on the hind side of their foot, leading to other issues, such as luxated (displaced) joints. In severe individual episodes, if enough rotation or sinking occurs, the blood supply to the tip of the coffin bone can be disrupted due to pressure on the vessels. Unfortunately, this blood supply usually cannot be restored. This, combined with continued rotation of the bone, will often result in the tip of the coffin bone being seen through the sole. These horses generally cannot recover, which is why prevention is so key.