Laminitis in horses – an inflammation of the hoof laminae
Laminitis in horses describes an inflammation of the sensitive laminae of the hoof. Due to impaired blood flow to the laminae within the hoof, fluid leaks from the blood vessels, causing the laminae to detach from the horn plate. Consequences of laminitis can include sinking of the coffin bone and rotation of the coffin joint. Worst-case scenarios include the coffin bone breaking through the sole or hoof detachment.
★ Laminitis is a very serious and extremely painful condition for horses, requiring immediate veterinary treatment. With timely diagnosis and treatment, as well as attentive follow-up care, laminitis can usually be managed well. However, it is unfortunately not completely curable.
Laminitis – A year-round risk for horses
Laminitis in horses poses a year-round risk. Even though large parts of Germany and Austria – the home of our Steinkraft team – experienced temperature swings of up to 20 degrees Celsius and sometimes even freezing temperatures last month, spring is now slowly but surely approaching. Finally! Our horses can hardly wait for the grazing season to begin and the gate to the lush green grass to open. However, especially after the long winter break, during which our four-legged friends' diets likely consisted mainly of hay, straw, and some concentrated feed, the gate shouldn't be opened without caution. Spring grass harbors hidden dangers that become apparent, particularly during the frosty evenings and mornings of spring: glucose and starch.
Causes of laminitis
For a long time, it was assumed that a diet too high in protein was responsible for the development of laminitis and so-called laminitis attacks. However, more recent findings refute this assumption and reveal an excess of glucose and starch as the true culprit and a possible trigger for laminitis. Besides pasture grass, these so-called "easily digestible carbohydrates" are also found in oats, corn, barley, carrots, apples, etc. (to name just a few examples) – they not only taste delicious to our horses, but are also considered quick and reliable sources of energy. To avoid overloading our horses' digestive tract and metabolism and to prevent opening the door to certain diseases, such glucose- and starch-rich foods – which clearly include the lush green of spring pastures – should be consumed in moderation.
★ Pasture grass poses a fairly high risk of developing laminitis.
Therefore: Keep your eyes open when grazing (or starting to graze), all year round!
Don't be fooled by the relatively short grass, especially in spring. The idea that spring grass is less nutrient-rich and therefore less dangerous for horses with laminitis is a misconception.
Why is spring grass so dangerous for horses with laminitis?
But how can this be explained? Doesn't it seem much more logical that the long, green, fully flowering summer grass far surpasses the relatively short spring grass in nutrients? In fact, the exact opposite is true!
It's been a while, but we all probably learned about photosynthesis in biology class during our school days. I don't know about you, but I didn't retain the details of photosynthesis, considered the most important process on Earth. Nevertheless, before the grazing season begins, it's worthwhile to take a closer look at the composition of pastures and understand what actually happens to the pasture grass in spring. Through the interplay 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 standstill, and it stores the excess reserves of sugar and starch in the carbohydrate stores in its stems, essentially for the duration of the night.
During the cooler hours of the day, grass is therefore particularly rich in glucose and starch, with their concentration being highest in the plant's stems. If our horses are exposed to this carbohydrate surplus after a long winter break, their digestive tract and metabolism can become overwhelmed by this highly concentrated sugar cocktail. It is not uncommon for some horses to develop laminitis or suffer recurring bouts of it under these circumstances.
★ Cold-zone grasses cease growing when temperatures drop and store an excess of glucose and starch in their stems. Especially during the dewy mornings of spring, the (pasture) table is therefore richly set with easily digestible carbohydrates, which, highly concentrated and consumed in excess, can severely overload both the digestive tract and metabolism of the horse and thus promote or even cause laminitis.
Is laminitis in horses curable?
Even though laminitis, once it has developed, is not completely curable, significant long-term improvements can be achieved with a diet tailored to the individual needs of the affected horse. Since any diet inevitably involves a certain degree of restriction, it should be accompanied by nutritional supplements from the outset. This helps prevent nutritional deficiencies and maintain vitality and well-being. Furthermore, grazing muzzles can be a useful tool throughout the grazing season to reduce the amount of grass consumed per grazing session. Similar to hay nets, they are often used for horses with laminitis because, in addition to regulating feed intake, they can also have a positive effect on the horse's weight. Of course, any dietary changes necessitated by illness should be approved by a veterinarian.
★ A diet tailored to the needs of a horse with laminitis can significantly improve the course of the disease. Nutritional supplements prevent deficiencies in vital nutrients and maintain the horse's well-being. Using grazing muzzles and hay nets can also regulate feed intake and promote weight loss. Furthermore, to ease the horse into grazing, it's advisable to initially fence off smaller sections of the pasture and allow the horse to graze there before introducing a new, more lush area.
More information about laminitis
Zeolite as a natural preventative measure against laminitis in horses
Pure zeolite powder and pellets from Steinkraft can provide optimal support when preparing for the warmer months and the associated grazing season. In addition to optimizing metabolic processes and strengthening the immune system, the addition of pure zeolite also makes shedding easier, especially for older horses. Dosage and feeding instructions can be found directly on the packaging of each product. The Steinkraft team is, of course, always available to answer any questions you may have.
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