What Causes Winter Laminitis

Here s how to spot the warning signs and act fast to manage them.

What causes winter laminitis.

Although laminitis occurs in the feet the underlying cause is often a disturbance elsewhere in the horse s body. 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. Every winter some owners and caretakers are faced with the onset of obvious foot pain in their horses for no apparent reason. Laminitis has become one of the most heavily researched aspects of lameness because it affects so many horses.

Winter laminitis strikes with n0 change in diet or management. The causes vary and may include the following. It s a laminitis like syndrome triggered by cold weather. Here in the uk our winters are long and wet.

Many have a history of laminitis at other times of the year but some do not. Veterinarians working with many laminitic horses are well acquainted with the problem but others may be unfamiliar with it. Horses normally have a very high tolerance for cold. Many questions need to be answered but significant headway has been made in understanding and controlling this issue.

Many horses seem to struggle with laminitis in winter. Winter laminitis can strike with no change in diet or management. Are some horses more susceptible than others. The pain is often severe but the feet aren t hot as they are in classical acute laminitis cases.

While the exact mechanisms by which the feet are damaged remain a mystery certain precipitating events can produce 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 pain is often severe but the feet are not hot as they are in classical acute laminitis cases. Cold weather can cause laminitis in horses.

The digital pulses may or may not be elevated.