Laminitis is a painful and potentially serious condition in which the sensitive laminae connecting the hoof wall to the coffin bone become inflamed. In severe cases, this can allow the coffin bone to rotate or sink within the hoof, causing lasting damage.
What Is Laminitis?
The laminae are delicate, interlocking tissue structures that suspend the coffin bone within the hoof capsule. When they become inflamed, the resulting pain and structural weakening is what's known as laminitis.
Causes & Risk Factors
Overeating rich pasture or grain, metabolic conditions like equine Cushing's disease or insulin resistance, excessive weight-bearing on one leg due to an injury elsewhere, and certain systemic illnesses can all trigger laminitis.
Laminitis often strikes suddenly after a horse gets into a grain bin or rich spring pasture, which is why controlled grazing is so important for at-risk horses.
Warning Signs
A reluctance to move, a "rocked back" stance to relieve pressure on the front feet, increased digital pulse, and heat in the hooves are all warning signs that call for an immediate vet visit.
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