Causes of Laminitis - Horse Hoof Anatomy

There are many things that can lead to the causes of laminitis and founder. One is overeating grain, the other is too much rich pasture. Especially if the horse isn't used to being on pasture. Horses not used to being on pasture should be out there only 15-30 minutes in the beginning. Then each day you can increase that time into small increments until the horse can be out for the desired time you require him to be turned out in pasture.

Ponies and cresty-necked horses, such as morgans are thought to be more prone to laminitis and founder, but any breed of horse can be prone to develop this condition. Some medications especially steroids, may have the side effect of causing laminitis. All medications should be used only under the advice of a vet.
Another type of founder, known as road-founder is caused by a concussion to the feet. This can happen if your horse is used fast and hard on solid surfaces such as gravel roads streets etc.... It can also happen if your horse is worked unusually hard just after a big change in shoeing. For example, horses that have always been barefoot, but then are shoed for a show, parade or fair and then worked really hard at the show can road-founder. Also horses that have always worn shoes, then has them pulled to go bare foot and then worked hard can road founder. So it is very important to always monitor your horses feet every single day.

For me personally my horses' feet are the most important thing when it comes to caring for my horse. If my horses' feet are bad, well then I can't have the pleasure of riding him & my pockets will then be paying for it with the headache of trying to get his feet correct or them not being correct in the long run.



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Equine Navicular Disease Explained - Horse Navicular Disease

The navicular bone is a smooth small pyramid shaped bone that is located deep in the center of the foot. Its purpose is to act as sort of a pulley for a tendon. When a horse has navicular disease the little navicular bone becomes rough and the tendon fails to slide over it smoothly, this causes the horse extreme pain. Though nobody is sure of the exact cause of equine navicular.

The worst aspect of navicular is that it gets worse over time and there is no exact cure. In the early stages of navicular, the horses discomfort can be eased with pain relievers, bute etc... This condition can also be helped by special shoeing. I have personally seen this done with some success. Eventually though the horse can become un-ride able on nly used as a pasture ornament.

Equine navicular disease seems to be more common in heavy bodied horses with small feet. Such as some quarter horses, paint horses, and appaloosa horses that are bred with small feet. That is why it is important to purchase a horse with big feet. In these breeds it is very common among horses that have been kept fat that get no type of work or exercise. Can also pop up in some horses that are used hard in eventing such as hunter jumping & some horse can get navicular disease for no apparent reason. So make sure you always pay close attention to your horses feet. As I have said so many times, a horses feet are the most important part of the body if you have no feet then you have no horse that you can have the pleasure of riding.

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Signs of Laminitis in Horses - Symptoms of Laminitis

A horse with laminitis will likely have sore feet. If you notice your horse doesn't seem to feel good & seems extremely unwilling to walk even out of his stall, it could be laminitis. Sometimes horses with laminitis will stand with their legs tucked underneath their body. This happens because laminitis most often affects the front feet. Your horse is trying to take the weight off the painful areas by supporting a much of himself as he can with his back feet. I some cases laminitis and founder can also affect the rear feet.
If you think your horse has laminitis, call a vet immediately! If the condition is allowed to progress, the laminae break down and resulting founder can get so bad that the coffin bone can actually come through the bottom of the sole. A horse left suffering with this case will more than likely have to be euthanized.
In a less serious case the horse can probably be saved, but will usually require a long painful recovery and sometimes surgery. In the mildest case your horse may need special shoes. How it all plays out depends on how fast you get your horse to a vet.
Laminitis and founder are serious conditions. The two words are often used interchangeably, but actually refer to two different conditions. Laminitis involves an inflammation of the laminae, which are sensitive tissue I horse's feet. If it progresses, a bone in the bottom of the foot known as the coffin bone actually rotates, and this is called founder.
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Laminitis and Founder Exposed

This is a wondeful book. Im a big fan of taking care of my horses legs and feet & this book has been a great help to preventing laminitis and founder in my horses. Teaches you how to recognize the symptoms and causes of founder & laminitis. What to do and what not to do when the symptoms are discovered. I didn't even know that founder & laminitis were to different things. This book goes into great detail about that as well. I highly recommend this book very easy to undertand. It has some great remedies for treatment that wont break your arm like the vet. If you're looking for a book on laminites and founder then this is it.

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