What Causes Stress Laminitis

In this post we ll go over what laminitis is what causes it and how to prevent it.

What causes stress laminitis.

After infection for example a mare who has recently foaled and has retained the afterbirth. Laminitis commonly known as founder is a painful disease that causes severe lameness in horses. Before we get into what causes laminitis in horses let s quickly cover what is laminitis. The horses pedal bone detaches from the inside of the hoof.

Laminitis means inflammation of the laminae of the horse s hoof. It can often cause lameness in two or all four feet at one time but it is preventable. It was once associated primarily with overweight ponies but it can affect any age or size of horse. This can all occur before any symptoms are apparent and once the process has started it is extremely difficult to stop.

These toxins provoke a response within the horse that is thought to disrupt blood flow which in the feet can cause laminitis. Laminitis involves the failure of the bond between the hoof wall and the distal phalanx commonly called the coffin bone pedal bone or third phalanx p3. Mares are also at risk shortly after foaling because of the additional physical stress. Stress induced equine laminitis there are many causes of equine stress and due to some stress laminitis in horses may be developed.

While the exact mechanisms by which the feet are damaged remain a mystery certain precipitating events can produce laminitis. Excessive intake of grass or grain engorgement for example if a horse or pony gets into the feed room. With this disease the laminae weaken which attach the pedal bone to the inside of the hoof. Understand what laminitis is.

Common causes of laminitis include. The causes vary and may include the following. Laminitis is a disease that causes lameness in horses. Although laminitis occurs in the feet the underlying cause is often a disturbance elsewhere in the horse s body.