By: Aprylsnow
This article is in memory of my beloved horse, who lived many years with severe founder.
What is Laminitis?
Many horse owners have heard of Laminitis or founder, but have been lucky enough to have not experienced it. Laminitis is a disease of the hoof, which affects the delicate Laminae tissue between the hoof wall and the Coffin Bone. The purpose of the Laminae is to hold the coffin bone in place, aligned with the hoof wall. When the Laminae becomes severely damaged rotation of the Coffin Bone takes place and this is referred to as founder, an old maritime term meaning sink. This is a very painful disease that not only afflicts horses, but other hoofed species as well.
What happens to the hoof?
There are various reasons why horses get Laminitis and Founder, but we will discuss this later. Laminitis happens when the blood supply to the Laminae has been disrupted. When the blood flow has been disrupted the Laminae becomes weak and starts to pull apart.
Laminitis increases excess serous fluid, which fills the Laminae tissue spaces. Since the laminae are between two hard places (hoof wall and coffin bone) it cannot expand to accommodate the accumulation of fluid (edema) and produces pressure on the sensitive tissues. This pressure alters the blood supply to the tissues and cause the Laminae to weaken and die. The front of the hoof contains the longest Laminae and supports most of the horse's weight. As the laminae weakens it tears with the weight of the Coffin Bone and as the Laminae tears the Coffin Bone breaks away from the hoof wall. The Coffin Bone is no longer supported by the Laminae and can tilt out of position pointing downward, no longer parallel with the hoof wall.
Part 2 - Cause and Prevention - coming soon
