Study of EMS cases has revealed several measurable plasma analytes that serve as markers for dysregulation of glucose and lipid metabolism that culminates in increased laminitis susceptibility. Although the exact pathophysiologic pathways leading to laminitis have not been elucidated, it is likely that some of these analytes may have direct pathologic relevance whilst others simply act as indir...

Although the treatment and management of laminitis in the horse requires a holistic and often multidisciplinary approach from the veterinarian, farrier, and nutritionist, this review focuses on pharmacologic interventions that might have prophylactic benefit, specifically in the horse with laminitis as a result of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction and equine metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate genetic and metabolic predispositions and nutritional risk factors for development of pasture-associated laminitis in ponies. DESIGN Observational cohort study. ANIMALS 160 ponies. PROCEDURES A previous diagnosis of laminitis was used to differentiate 54 ponies (PL group) from 106 nonlaminitic ponies (NL group). Pedigree analysis was used to determine a mode of inher...

Acute laminitis is a common equine disease characterized by intense foot pain, both acutely and chronically. The Obel grading system is the most widely accepted method for describing the severity of laminitis by equine practitioners, however this method requires movement (walk and trot) of the horse, causing further intense pain. The recently developed Horse Grimace Scale (HGS), a facial-expres...

The potential for participation of the arginine-nitric oxide system in the aetiology of acute equine laminitis has been assessed. Nitric oxide (NO), produced by the action of NO synthase (NOS) on its substrate l-arginine, relaxes vascular smooth muscle to cause vasodilation. An attenuated normal vasodilatory tone may characterise the pathogenesis of acute equine laminitis. An intravenous infusi...

A dairy cow’s environment may influence the onset of laminitis and associated claw horn lesions by exacerbating changes in the hoof triggered by events at parturition, onset of subacute ruminal acidosis, or claw horn growth and wear and ground reaction forces on different walking surfaces. Environmental risk factors for laminitis and associated claw horn lesions include feed bunk space and desi...

Laminitis has been described in many species, but is most common in the equine and bovine. Although bovine laminitis is most common in lactating dairy cows, it has been reported in all ages and sexes. Laminitis is an inflammation of the laminar corium of the hoof wall, and also includes the sole corium in the bovine definition. In general, the term laminitis is used to describe a systemic disea...

Introduction Laminitis is an expensive and emotionally draining disease for the equine industry, whose pathophysiology remains unclear. The disease carries a higher morbidity and mortality rate compared to other causes of equine lameness. The appearance of chronic laminitis with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in cadavers has been described, but the usefulness of MRI in evaluating laminitis in...

Pasture-induced laminitis in the horse is associated with the overconsumption of fermentable carbohydrate, in the form of simple sugars, fructans, or starch. The fermentation of carbohydrate in the cecum and large intestine results in the production of lactic acid and other toxins or "laminitis trigger factors." Vasoactive amines have been suggested as possible initiating factors. The aim of th...

Over the past 20 yr, extensive research efforts as well as clinical experience has greatly increased our knowledge base of equine laminitis. Our present understanding of the disease is that there is failure of the lamellar attachment between the distal phalanx and hoof wall. This, in turn, initiates a sequence of events ranging from no permanent structural damage to loss of the hoof capsule. Af...