The last eight years have seen an unprecedented leap forward in our understanding of what causes laminitis, and this has significantly improved the way that we are now able to manage this debilitating and painful condition in our horses and ponies.

This year we are seeing an enormous increase in the number of cases of Laminitis and Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) compared with previous years, with horses and ponies of all shapes and sizes being caught out. Just to refresh – laminitis is inflammation of the laminae- the support system within a horses foot. This is extremely painful and often leads to pedal bone rotation. This inflammation can be induced by a multitude of factors including ‘cushing’s disease’ but most commonly just now we are seeing this as a consequence of underlying, often undiagnosed EMS. EMS causes insulin resistance, which is much like type II diabetes in humans – leaving blood sugar and insulin levels too high. Another issue EMS causes is altered fat metabolism. The most common signs of EMS are laminitis, obesity and/or abnormal fat deposits e.g. a big crest. The most common signs of laminitis are that your horse or pony may be ‘footy’ or ‘poddly’, both of which are frequently confused with stiffness. These ponies can often be painful after having seen the farrier and this can be confused with ‘nail bind’. If you are worried at all that your horse or pony is struggling or are unsure then please do not hesitate to give us a call on 0146762149. Please also have a look at this excellent website designed to raise owner awareness of laminitis, where there is lots of useful information as well as a laminitis symptom checklist. https://ift.tt/2FPmDTs

More info @ https://ift.tt/2FPmDTs

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July 02, 2019 at 06:06PM