Laminitis in Horses – An Inflammation of the Hoof Laminae
Laminitis in horses describes an inflammation of the hoof laminae. Due to a circulatory disorder of the laminae within the horse's hoof, fluid leaks from the vessels, which can cause the laminae to detach from the horn laminae. Consequences of laminitis can include a sinking of the pedal bone and a rotation of the coffin joint. Worst-case scenarios are the penetration of the pedal bone through the sole or the complete detachment of the hoof capsule (shoewing).
★ Laminitis is a very serious and extremely painful condition for horses, requiring immediate veterinary treatment. With timely diagnosis, treatment, and careful follow-up care, laminitis can usually be managed well. However, unfortunately, laminitis is not fully curable.
Laminitis – A Year-Round Risk for Horses
Laminitis in horses poses a year-round risk. Even though in large parts of Germany and Austria – the home of our Steinkraft team – temperature fluctuations of up to 20 degrees and sometimes icy temperatures prevailed last month, spring is now slowly but surely at the door. Finally!!! Our horses can probably hardly wait until the grazing season begins and the gate to the lush green pastures is opened for them. Especially after the long winter break, during which our four-legged friends' diet probably consisted mainly of hay, straw, and some concentrated feed, the pasture gate should not be opened carelessly. Spring grass harbors ghosts that appear especially during the frosty evening and morning hours of spring: glucose & starch.
Causes of Laminitis
For a long time, it was assumed that a diet too rich in protein was responsible for the development of laminitis and so-called laminitis attacks. However, recent findings refute this assumption and expose an excess of glucose and starch as the true culprits and possible triggers for laminitis. In addition to pasture grass, these so-called "easily digestible carbohydrates" can also be found in oats, corn, barley, carrots, apples, etc. (to name just a few examples) – they not only taste excellent to our horses but are also considered fast and reliable energy suppliers. To avoid overtaxing the digestive tract and metabolism of our horses and not risking opening the door to certain diseases, such glucose and starch-rich foods – which clearly include the lush green of spring pastures – should be enjoyed in moderation.
★ Pasture grass carries a relatively high risk for the development of laminitis.
Therefore: Be careful when grazing, and all year round!
Don't be fooled by the relatively short grass, especially in spring. It's a misconception that spring grass is less nutritious and therefore less dangerous for laminitis patients.
Why is Spring Grass so Dangerous for Horses with Laminitis?
But how can this be explained? Doesn't it seem much more logical that long, green, full-blown summer grass far surpasses comparatively short spring grass in nutrients? In fact, the exact opposite is true!
It's been a while, but we probably all learned about photosynthesis in biology class during our school years. I don't know about you, but I don't remember the details of the photosynthesis process, known as the most significant process on Earth. Nevertheless, it's worth taking a closer look at the nature of pastures before the grazing season begins and understanding what actually happens with pasture grass in spring. Through the interaction of light, water, and CO2, plants produce and release energy-rich organic substances. These substances include glucose and starch, which are produced by the plant and serve its growth. In spring, when it can still get quite cold in the late evening and early morning hours, the plant's nutrient processing comes to a halt, and it stores excess reserves of sugar and starch, practically for the duration of a night, in the carbohydrate stores of its stems.
During the cooler hours of the day, grass is therefore particularly rich in glucose and starch, and their concentration is highest in the plant's stems. If our horses are exposed to this carbohydrate surplus after a long winter break, it can happen that their digestive tract and metabolism are overwhelmed by this highly concentrated sugar cocktail. It is not uncommon for some horses to develop laminitis or suffer laminitis attacks under these circumstances.
★ Cool-season grasses stop their growth when temperatures drop and store an excess of glucose and starch in their stems. Especially during the spring, dewy morning hours, the (pasture) table is therefore richly set with easily digestible carbohydrates, which, when consumed in high concentrations and excess, can severely overtax both the horse's digestive tract and metabolism, thereby promoting or even causing laminitis.
Is Laminitis in Horses Curable?
Even though laminitis, once it has occurred, is not fully curable, significant long-term improvements can be achieved with a diet tailored to the individual needs of the affected horse. Since every diet always involves a certain degree of deprivation, it should be accompanied by dietary supplements from the beginning. In this way, nutritionally related vital substance deficiencies can be avoided, and vitality and well-being are maintained. Furthermore, grazing muzzles can be a useful way to reduce the amount of grass consumed per grazing session throughout the grazing season. Similar to hay nets, they are also often used for laminitis patients, as they can have a positive effect on the horse's weight in addition to regulating food intake. Of course, any diet change due to illness should be approved by a specialist.
★ A diet tailored to the needs of the laminitis patient can significantly influence the course of the disease positively. With dietary supplements, a deficiency of vital substances is avoided, and the horse's well-being is maintained. The use of grazing muzzles and hay nets can also regulate food intake and achieve weight reduction. Furthermore, for slow acclimatization during initial grazing, it is worthwhile to first section off smaller parts of the pasture and let them graze before adding a new, lusher section of pasture.
Zeolite as a Natural Prevention of Laminitis in Horses
Pure zeolite powder and pellets from Steinkraft can optimally support preparation for the warm season and the associated grazing season. Especially for older horses, in addition to optimizing metabolic processes and strengthening the immune system, the addition of pure zeolite also facilitates coat change. Information on dosage and feeding instructions can be found directly on the product packaging. If you have any questions, the Steinkraft team is of course always available to help.
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Elisa Pfeiffer
Author STEINKRAFT | Natural Riding Talent | Bristol, UK
Elisa grew up on her father Andreas' farm in Schleswig-Holstein - surrounded by horses, open stables and everything that goes with it. What others had to learn laboriously came naturally to her: riding. Today she lives in Bristol, but her connection to horses and the experiences from her childhood and youth in the stable flow directly into her articles.
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