What Causes Winter Laminitis

Although laminitis occurs in the feet the underlying cause is often a disturbance elsewhere in the horse s body.

What causes winter laminitis.

Laminitis has become one of the most heavily researched aspects of lameness because it affects so many horses. While the exact mechanisms by which the feet are damaged remain a mystery certain precipitating events can produce laminitis. Are some horses more susceptible than others. Every winter some owners and caretakers are faced with the onset of obvious foot pain in their horses for no apparent reason.

It s a laminitis like syndrome triggered by cold weather. Many have a history of laminitis at other times of the year but some do not. Winter laminitis pain is a significant problem for some of these horses. 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 horse does not necessarily have a prior history of laminitis. Many questions need to be answered but significant headway has been made in understanding and controlling this issue. 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. The causes vary and may include the following.

In all species cold causes a reflex shunting of blood away from the extremities and toward the core to. Horses normally have a very high tolerance for cold. The pain is often severe but the feet are not hot as they are in classical acute laminitis cases. Many horses seem to struggle with laminitis in winter.

Here s how to spot the warning signs and act fast to manage them. The pain is often severe but the feet aren t hot as they are in classical acute laminitis cases. The digital pulses may or may not be elevated. Winter laminitis strikes with n0 change in diet or management.

Here in the uk our winters are long and wet.