Testing Diagnosing Equine Laminitis

A hoof that s hot for hours.

Testing diagnosing equine laminitis.

Diagnosing and treating the primary problem laminitis is often due to a systemic or general problem elsewhere in the horse s body. In acute laminitis it often presents as a bounding pulse making it a universally recognised diagnostic criterion. This will most likely require blood tests and a review of your horse s lifestyle and work schedule. Ppid short for pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction formerly called equine cushing s disease should be considered for any horse with laminitis particularly if the horse is aged 10 or older or if laminitis occurs in the autumn.

Stop feeding all grain based feeds and pasture. Many of the clinical signs are clearly apparent when the laminitis is acute. Acute laminitis is in its acute phase during the first two or three days and at this point the coffin bone is unmoved. In acute laminitis diagnosis is usually straightforward and is based on the history eg grain overload and posture of the horse increased temperature of the hooves a hard pulse in the digital arteries and reluctance to move.

Catching and diagnosing equine lameness early when you first notice something is not quite right gives your horse a better chance for a quick recovery. Whilst radiography and venogram methods are current diagnostic possibilities for laminitis both veterinarians and horse owners would benefit from the identification of reliable non invasive methods of laminitis recognition. Blood tests will help reach a diagnosis. A strong digital pulse can indicate other foot pain as well but a bounding digital pulse in both feet is a major clue that laminitis is to blame.

Diagnosis of ppid should be made on the history clinical signs and blood tests. A diagnosis of laminitis is based on clinical signs of lameness bounding digital pulses and radiographic findings. Rule out sepsis associated laminitis sal or very sick horse laminitis and supporting limb laminitis sll or very lame horse laminitis then decide whether the cause is equine metabolic syndrome or ppid cushing s disease 90 of laminitis and all pasture associated laminitis is thought to be due to ems or ppid or corticosteroid use.