BAREFOOT
BOOTED
By Carole Herder
President of Cavallo Horse & Rider
The Trusted Authority in barefoot
and booting.
If you would like to send us your horse’s hoof measurements, we would be happy to help you choose the best size and style. Please call Cavallo Customer Service at 1-877-818-0037 or email [email protected].
Laminitis School for the Faint of Heart
&
48 / Sport and Trail Magazine
The
Perhaps your ‘easy keeper’ has stuffed himself with too much fresh grass. Ponies and minis, especially, may develop Grass Founder, resulting in insulin resistant problems. Certain medications, wormers, antibiotics, vaccinations, infections, injuries, birthing and various illnesses can activate a bout of laminitis. Stress can cause it and concussive forces may activate it as well.
If your horse contracts Laminitis, you have been invited to the school of horse health which is not for the faint of heart. This is a stressful and emotional journey which requires investigation and knowledge to cure. Yes, it is a serious disease and can indeed be fatal. Laminitis can also be cured, never to appear again. An abundance of information exists on the internet, explaining what may initiate an attack. You can simply search to find the extensive listings.
You may have left the feed room door open - your horse has gorged on the entire barrel of grain and now has a serious concentration of starchy sugar in his gut.
antibiotics, vaccinations, infections, injuries, birthing and
various illnesses can activate a bout of laminitis. Stress can
cause it and concussive forces may activate it as well.
Laminitis is Like Ripping Velcro
Laminitis, simply put, is like a breakdown of interlacing fingers,
but the ‘fingers’ are made of tissue (called lamellae) that attach
the bone to the hoof wall. It can be compared to a Velcro
attachment which, instead of synthetic material, is made of live
tissue. You can imagine that living matter, ripping apart, can be
very painful. When the strength and quality of lamellae fails,
these tissues are compromised; the bone may tear away from
the hoof wall. The toe of the coffin bone could even plunge
through the sole of the hoof, delivering merciless agony.
There are various signs to indicating symptoms of laminitis,
such as shifting weight from one foot to another, appearing
sore, frequently lying down, protuberances in the hoof,
irregular appearance, reluctance to move, unwillingness,
rocking back and forth, sweating, increased heartrate, and even
staggering. If you suspect a problem, you should consult a
veterinarian immediately.
Immediate Action Plan
The instant you have a diagnosis of laminitis, you must act to
make your horse more comfortable. Provide a soft bed for him
to lie in and if he prefers to remain standing, place his hoofs in
Cavallo Boots with padded insoles. Cavallo offers a range of
padding depending on the severity. It may be appropriate to
provide more cushion at the beginning and then maintain the
natural counter-effect of a somewhat harder insole to help
stimulate blood flow. You could even tape foam to his feet while
you are waiting for your boots to arrive. Ice therapy treatment
performed in a timely manner will improve the situation
dramatically. Unfortunately, this window of opportunity is only
about 48 hours, so you must move quickly.
Make your patient feel well by providing the comfort of relaxed
companionship, plenty of fresh water and hay that has been
soaked to remove the sugars. Offer free choice salt and minerals
of the highest absorptive quality to increase immunity, hoof
health and the healing process. Above all, if you have identified
the cause of the attack, remove it. When appropriate, have your
horse tested for hormone levels, particularly insulin, so that you
can adapt his diet accordingly.
Microbiome Standing Guard
Everything your horse ingests influences his microbiome. The
gut acts as a guard for the immune system, being constantly
exposed to new microbes, bugs, germs and bacteria that come
from the food and water. The process begins in the stomach
and small intestine with dizzying amounts of bacteria
colonizing the upper intestinal tract. This commotion of sugars
and starch produce lactate and volatile fatty acids, which are