Preventing Laminitis in Horses : a Practical Guide to Decreasing the Risk of Laminitis (Founder) in Your Horse

Laminitis, or founder, is a potentially devastating foot condition that can affect any horse or pony. In this informative booklet, the authors begin by explaining the events that lead to laminitis-breakdown of the bond between the hoof wall and the pedal (or coffin) bone-and why this condition can have such serious and long-lasting consequences. Although laminitis is a complex condition, the authors describe the process using simple terms and helpful diagrams. The text is further enhanced by boxes containing additional explanations, related items of interest, and particularly important pieces of information.

The second section discusses the various causes and contributing factors-conditions or situations that can cause laminitis or increase the potential for it to occur. These factors include diet (lush pasture, excess grain), body condition (overweight, cresty neck), breed (ponies, Morgans, donkeys, Thoroughbreds), age (over 15 years), activity level (inactivity, occasional strenuous exercise, exhaustion, concussion), various diseases, drugs and toxins (cortisone, black walnut, selenium, fescue), the horse's history (previous laminitis, stress), various foot problems, and shoeing. The authors explain why each of these factors may increase a horse's laminitis risk.

As the authors note, many of the possible causes of laminitis can be foreseen, and therefore prevented. This is the basis of the third section, which discusses management strategies aimed at decreasing a horse's laminitis risk. The advice is a solid combination of science and horsemanship. For example, the section on Dietary Management provides some practical suggestions for limiting access to lush pasture, such as restricting turnout time, using a grazing muzzle, and fencing off part of the pasture. At the same time, the authors show how the riskiest time for a laminitis-prone horse to be on lush pasture is between late morning and late afternoon, based on fructan (soluble carbohydrate) levels in the grass. The chart on estimating your horse's ideal body weight, using a simple measurement of his hoof size, is a useful supplement to the section on weight management.

The booklet finishes with a page on assessing your horse's laminitis risk, based on the number of risk factors that apply to your horse, and a page of emergency care instructions if you suspect your horse has laminitis. Rather than taking an alarmist approach to the topic, the authors present the information in a matter-of-fact way and offer sensible advice for decreasing a horse's laminitis risk. This short book contains a wealth of information that will help you protect your horse or pony from this disease.

Richard A. Mansmann, VMD, PhD

Dr. Dick Mansmann is a 1968 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and a 4th-generation horseman. After completing a PhD at the University of California, Davis, and working at the Ohio State University for 2 years, he practiced in California for 20 years. He now owns and operates Central Carolina Equine Practice, an applied equine sports medicine practice in Chapel Hill, NC.

Dr. Mansmann has always had an interest in the horse's foot. This booklet was born of his frustration at seeing many cases of laminitis that could have been prevented, if only someone had been aware of the potential for it to develop and taken some simple steps toward prevention.

Christine King, BVSc*, MACVSc, MVetClinStud (*Australian equivalent of DVM)

Dr. Chris King is a 1985 graduate of the University of Queensland (Australia). She spent several years in equine practice before doing a residency in equine medicine and surgery and a Masters degree in equine exercise physiology at the University of Sydney. Dr. King moved to the United States in 1993 to work at North Carolina State University.

Seeing a need for good educational materials for horse owners and managers, Dr. King left NCSU and began working as a veterinary medical writer. In addition to "Preventing Laminitis in Horses," Dr. King's writing credits include numerous articles in veterinary journals and horse magazines, an on-line "Ask the Vet" column, and two books for horse owners: "Equine Lameness" (Equine Research, Inc., 1997, with Dr. Richard Mansmann) and "Preventing Colic in Horses" (Paper Horse, 1999). These books are also available on Amazon.com.