Laminitis

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Laminitis

• Brianne Bowman
• 12 yrs. old D3
• Alligator Creek Pony Club
• Sunshine Region

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Research Fair Project

• Purpose To determine if being in Pony Club
  improves your knowledge base on laminitis, its
  causes, symptoms and treatments, above that of
  the general horse riders.
• Hypothesis Since Pony Club educates its
  members on all aspects of pony care, they will be
  more knowledgeable about laminitis.

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Research Fair Project

• Background Two of my favorite horse racing
  legends, Barbaro and Secretariat, died from
  complications of laminitis.
• Several other horses that I know, suffer from
  laminitis.
• This spurred an interest into this disease.

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Research Fair Project

• Procedures
• Compiled a survey questionnaire to be given to
  Pony Club members, Show Jumping friends and
  general horse persons.
• Compiled information about laminitis to use as a
  guide to judge correctness of responses to
  survey.

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Background and Research Findings
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Definition of Laminitis

• Laminitis literally means inflammation of the
  laminae. The laminae is a layer of tissue that
  carries blood to all the components of the hoof.

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• The laminae attach to the hoof wall and to the
  coffin bone. Laminitis is a result of problems
  in these connective sites.

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Acute VS. Chronic Laminitis

• The difference between acute and chronic stable
  and unstable, is very important when deciding on
  treatment options.

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Clarifying laminitis types

• Acute laminitis is defined as The initial onset
  of laminitis and lasts for variable periods of
  time, may progress to chronic laminitis.
• Chronic stable laminitis is defined as Laminitis
  that the coffin bone becomes stable. Healing has
  begun.
• Chronic unstable laminitis is defined as
  Laminitis that requires frequent and prolonged
  treatment because the coffin bone continues to
  rotate and or sink.

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lt Acute laminitis
Chronic laminitis gt
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Common Causes

• Excess of carbohydrates (to much grain, lush
  pastures)
• Excessive weight (draft horses are prone to
  laminitis of this cause)
• GI problems
• Prolonged transportation
• Excessive work on hard surface
• Bedding containing black walnut shavings

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Common Causes

• Ingestion of cold water when horse is overheated
• Cushing's syndrome
• Renal problems
• Immune disorders
• Respiratory problems

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Signs and Symptoms in Laminitis

• Stiffness
• Lameness
• Standing on heels
• Reluctance to move
• Heat in the hooves
• Increase of fetlock pulse
• Sensitivity to hoof testers

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Signs and symptoms in laminitis

• Dropped soles
• Laminitic rings

Laminitic rings gt
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Treatments

• Encouraging the horse to lie down to relieve
  pressure on the hoof/hooves
• Imposing dietary restrictions to prevent
  overeating and obesity
• administering fluids if the horse is ill or
  dehydrated
• Administration of pain medications

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Treatments

• Use of magnetic hoof pad
• Stabling the horse on soft ground such as sand or
  deep bedding
• Opening or draining of any abscesses that may
  develop
• Correct shoeing
• Working closely with your ferrier, trimming as
  needed

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Survey Questionnaire

• T or F There is a difference between founder
  and laminitis.
• T or F Chronic laminitis is not harmful or
  painful to the pony.
• T or F It is ok to give an overheated pony
  cold water to cool off.
• T or F Ponies who wear shoes do not get
  laminitis.
• T or F It is best to wait and see for a few
  days if you think your
  pony might have laminitis.
• T or F Laminitis can be acute, chronicstable
  or unstable.
• Define laminitis.
• List 5 causes of laminitis.
• List 3 symptoms of laminitis.
• List 3 treatment options for laminitis.

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The Survey Said

• T or F There is a difference between founder
  and laminitis.

FALSE. The responses varied. My
research shows that laminitis is the technical
term used to describe the process of inflammation
of the laminae. This inflammation causes
delamination. This inflammation interferes with
the hoof wall to bone bond. Thus allowing the
coffin bone to detach from the hoof wall, it may
rotate or sink. In lay terms this is known as
founder. It came from the nautical term meaning
to sink. Some argued that founder was only the
sinking of the coffin bone, while others said it
was the whole inflammation process.
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The Survey Said

• T or F Chronic laminitis is not harmful or
  painful to the pony. FALSE
• T or F It is ok to give an overheated pony
  cold water. FALSE (One endurance rider stated
  that they provide water to the horses at
  any time they can, since the horses are
  working so hard and need re-hydration.)

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The Survey Said

• T or F It is best to wait and see for a few
  days if you think your pony might have laminitis.
  FALSE
• T or F Ponies who wear shoes do not get
  laminitis. FALSE

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The Survey Said

• T or F Laminitis can be acute, chronic
  stable
• or unstable or acute on chronic. TRUE

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The Survey Said

• Define laminitis An inflammation of the
  laminae (sensitive laminae).

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The Survey Said

• List 5 causes of laminitis
• Top 5 results from the surveys.

• Overfeeding of grain
• Giving cold water when horse is overheated
• Too much work on hard/rocky footing
• Excessive weight
• Uneven weight distribution from various causes

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The Survey Said

• List 3 symptoms of laminitis.
• Top 3 results from the surveys

• Not bearing weight on affected hoof.
• Excessive pulse in affected hoofs fetlock area.
• Heat in affected hoof.

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The Survey Said

• List 3 treatment options for laminitis.
• Top 3 results from the surveys

• Pain Medications
• Rest
• Corrective shoeing

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Survey Results

• (29 surveys sent out 19 responses)

• Pony Club Members responded correctly to 16 out
  of 18 questions. 88
• Show Jumper friends responded correctly to
• 13 out of 18 questions. 71
• General horse owners responded correctly to 10
  out of 18 questions. 56

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Research Fair Project

• Conclusion The Pony Clubbers I know, are more
  knowledgeable about laminitis, its causes,
  symptoms and treatments than the general horse
  riding population and other organized equine
  groups.
• Also I noted that other organized equine groups
  are more knowledgeable than the general horse
  owner.

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Resources

• Wikipedia Barbaro, Secretariat, Laminitis
• www.recoveryeq.com/laminitis_founder_pro.htm
• Harris, Susan E. . The United States Pony Club
  Manual of Horsemanship, Basics for Beginners, D
  Level. Hoboken, N.J. Wiley Publishing, 1994.
• Stashak, Ted S.. AdamsLameness in horses(Fourth
  Edition). South Washington square Lea and
  febiger, 1976.
• O'Grady, DVM, MRCVS , Stephen E. "Acute and
  Chronic Laminitis An Equine Podiatrist's
  Perspective ". theHorse.com. lthttp//www.thehorse.
  com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID9428gt

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Thanks to the persons who completed the survey!
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For your Information
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Barbaro April 29, 2003 January 29, 2007
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• On May 20, 2006, Barbaro ran in the Preakness
  Stakes as a heavy favorite.
• After a false start, he broke his right hind leg
  in more than 20 places.
• He underwent several surgeries at the University
  of Pennsylvanias New Bolton Center.
• That July he developed laminitis in his left hind
  leg. He had an additional 5 surgeries, and
  remained in the Intensive Care Unit.
• While his hind legs were healing, a final risky
  surgery was performed, which proved futile
  because Barbaro soon developed laminitis in both
  front legs.

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lt Barbaro at the New Bolton Center
On January 29, 2007 Barbaro was euthanized.
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Secretariat March 30, 1970 October 4,
1989

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• Secretariat was the Triple Crown Winner in 1973,
  becoming the first Triple Crown Winner in 25
  years.
• In the fall of 1989 Secretariat was afflicted
  with laminitis.
• On October 4, 1989 he was euthanized when his
  conditions failed to improve.

lt Secretariat is one of the few horses who have
been buried whole. It is customary to bury the
head, heart, and hooves only.
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What is Laminitis, and why are these 2 racing
legends in this project?
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They both suffered and died due to complications
from laminitis.