Inside the Laminitic Foot

Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Multiple Authors
July 01 2008, Article # 11359

Learn how equine podiatrists assess, treat, and monitor laminitis

Laminitis is a terrifying mystery to many horse owners, in part because in the early stages a horse with tremendous damage can look and act much like a mild case. A great deal of damage can occur even when the horse appears to have a favorable response to treatment.

What's going on inside that laminitic foot, and how do you tell if it's a really bad case?

To answer these questions, we'll take a look inside the laminitic foot using radiographs (X rays) and venograms, because understanding the mechanical changes that occur within these feet helps us understand how to treat laminitis more successfully.

Laminitis Basics

The job of the laminae is to hold the hoof wall onto the coffin bone. The "laminae" actually include two sets of leaflike laminae--one around the inside of the hoof wall and one around the face of the coffin bone. Together, these interlocking laminae provide a very secure, yet flexible anchor that keeps the coffin bone in place...

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