Causes Of Laminitis In Winter

Winter laminitis pain is a significant problem for some of these horses.

Causes of laminitis in winter.

While the exact mechanisms by which the feet are damaged remain a mystery certain precipitating events can produce laminitis. Something like winter related hoof pain syndrome would be a better name. However this is in fact not a true laminitis. Many have a history of laminitis at other times of the year but some do not.

Here in the uk our winters are long and wet. Cold weather can cause laminitis in horses. It can also be caused by overenthusiastic hoof trimming. Severe lameness in one limb will cause a horse or pony to carry excessive weight on his other limbs which may cause laminitis.

Here s how to spot the warning signs and act fast to manage them. Seasonal variation of the disease is seen. Traumatic laminitis is caused by repeated physical trauma to the feet during e g. Every winter some owners and caretakers are faced with the onset of obvious foot pain in their horses for no apparent reason.

With the early growth of pasture in the spring overweight horses especially ponies on pasture are susceptible. Suddenly plummeting temperatures cause the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol. Although laminitis occurs in the feet the underlying cause is often a disturbance elsewhere in the horse s body. Laminitis has become one of the most heavily researched aspects of lameness because it affects so many horses.

Winter laminitis can strike with no change in diet or management. Some horses have a history of winter laminitis that strikes the same time every year and is resistant to all efforts at treatment until one day in early spring it suddenly goes away. Many horses seem to struggle with laminitis in winter. Common causes of laminitis in horses.

Are some horses more susceptible than others. Another explanation for the sore feet of your horse during the winter cold is what we call winter laminitis. Should you protect a laminitic horse when the weather is cold discover how you can help your horse and avoid laminitis due to the cold. The incidence of laminitis in horses is highest in ponies lower in geldings and lest in stallions and mares.

Many questions need to be answered but significant headway has been made in understanding and controlling this issue.