What makes a horse prone to laminitis?

High amounts of sugars in grasses can bring about laminitis in horses susceptible to the disease. Susceptible horses should have limited grazing or no grazing. If you do graze, do it between 3 a.m. and 10 a.m. Carefully select pasture plants.

Can worming a horse bring on laminitis?

When horses are subjected to fast or prolonged work on hard surfaces. In rare cases worming, vaccination, traveling or separation from a “friend” can trigger an attack of laminitis.

What causes stress laminitis?

Stress: Any stress, such as overworking unfit horses, a dramatic change in environment and/or frequent travelling, particularly for overweight animals, can trigger laminitis.

How do you prevent laminitis in Shetland ponies?

Maintain a good exercise programme to prevent obesity. Ensure a farrier attends to their feet strictly every four to five weeks, depending on the horse. This will ensure that the foot is in the best possible condition to prevent laminitis. Feed supplements can be given to promote good hoof growth.

Does sugar cause laminitis?

When large quantities of sugar are absorbed into the blood stream there is a spike of insulin release – intended to drive the sugar into cells for energy production or storage. However, in extreme circumstances, especially when there is underlying insulin resistance, this can cause laminitis.

How do I stop my pony from getting laminitis?

Fortunately, metabolic disorders in horses can be controlled, reducing the risk of laminitis, with these basic steps:

1. Identify at-risk horses.
2. Treat PPID.
3. Minimize sugars and starches in the diet.
4. Limit access to lush pasture.
5. Manage body weight.
6. Prevent starch overloads.
7. Make dietary changes gradually.

How is early laminitis treated?

Laminitis is a medical emergency and horses should be seen by a vet so that they can receive treatment as soon as possible. Various medicines can be given to control the pain including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as phenylbutazone (‘bute’) or flunixin and opiates like morphine and pethidine.