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.

Many horses seem to struggle with laminitis in winter. Here in the uk our winters are long and wet. The causes vary and may include the following. Are some horses more susceptible than others.

The pain is often severe but the feet are not hot as they are in classical acute laminitis cases. 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. Horses normally have a very high tolerance for cold. While the exact mechanisms by which the feet are damaged remain a mystery certain precipitating events can produce laminitis.

The pain is often severe but the feet aren t hot as they are in classical acute laminitis cases. Every winter some owners and caretakers are faced with the onset of obvious foot pain in their horses for no apparent reason. 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 have a history of laminitis at other times of the year but some do not. Winter laminitis can strike with no change in diet or management. 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.

In all species cold causes a reflex shunting of blood away from the extremities and toward the core to. Many questions need to be answered but significant headway has been made in understanding and controlling this issue. It s a laminitis like syndrome triggered by cold weather. Veterinarians working with many laminitic horses are well acquainted with the problem but others may be unfamiliar with it.

Winter laminitis pain is a significant problem for some of these horses.