• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
I Heart Horses
  • Contribute
  • Horse Care
  • News
  • Horse Videos & Fun
  • Horse Fun
  • Rescue
  • Tips For Riders
  • Videos
  • Heartwarming
  • Fun Facts
  • Stories
  • Contact Us
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Contribute
  • Horse Care
  • News
  • Horse Videos & Fun
  • Horse Fun
  • Rescue
  • Tips For Riders
  • Videos
  • Heartwarming
  • Fun Facts
  • Stories
  • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Uncategorized

    7 Early Warning Signs of Laminitis in Horses

    Published: Feb 6, 2020 · Modified: Jun 12, 2020 by Dani Buckley · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Laminitis is not something we ever want to see our horses go through. For those who have heard the term but don’t know the description of the diagnosis, laminitis is when the laminae of the foot becomes inflamed (whenever you hear “itis” at the end of a word, think inflammation). The laminae is the tissue in the foot that attaches the coffin bone to the hoof wall. If not caught and treated, it can progress quickly and becomes unimaginably painful. Keep reading for early signs to watch for with laminitis.

    Lameness

    The first obvious sign of laminitis is lameness. A horse seems tender footed and doesn’t want to bear complete weight on a hoof.

    Sawhorse Stance

    A horse with laminitis may rock their weight from one side of their body to the other. They may keep their front feet stretched out and have the majority of the weight supported by their back legs. They also may want to not be on their feet at all and prefer to lay down.

    Skinny Horse outside in fenced yard area with ribs showing

    Hesitant to walk

    Horses with a start of laminitis may look like they are walking on eggshells or like a kid tip-toeing to the kitchen for a midnight snack. Bigger strides mean bearing full weight on their feet, so they may act hesitant about it, especially turning.

    Strong digital pulse

    First of all, what is a digital pulse? It’s from the digital artery that runs over the fetlock between the flex tendons and the suspensory ligament. Place your fingers in the space between the fetlock and the heel and you should be able to feel a pulse. Think of it as feeling your pulse on your wrist. You should be aware of what your horse’s digital pulse feels like so if it is off or feeling like its pulsing harder, it could be a sign of laminitis in that foot.

    Change in hoof shape

    Keep an eye on the shape of your horse’s hoof. Laminitis will cause a hoof to look more dis-shapeed. If you notice the change in shape, call your veterinarian and get your horse on some soft bedding.

    Portrait of a dark brown horse with a white spot on forehead, looking down with sad eyes, an image with selective focus in the morning light.

    Hot Hoof

    Inflammation will give off heat. A hoof that is suffering from the start of laminitis will feel warmer when touched. Especially up around the coronary band.

    Pain with Pressure

    If your horse is suddenly more sensitive when putting pressure on their hoof with hoof testers, they may be having an onset symptom of laminitis.

    The girl looks into the eyes of a beautiful horse

    Many things can cause a horse to have laminitis, from changes to diet and environment to already having a fever and diarrhea. Here are a couple of ways to help prevent laminitis from doing more damage:

    Well-balanced diet

    Ensuring your horse is being fed the correct diet for their lifestyle is super important. We all like to feed grain, but if your horse is already overweight and not active, grain probably isn’t the best pick for their diet.

    Seek Veterinary Attention

    If you exhibit any of the early symptoms, call your veterinarian immediately. They will be able to choose the right treatment plan for your horse. Remember, no hoof no horse. Give those hooves as much attention as you give your horse’s muzzle!

    Wondering if your horse should wear shoes this winter? Check out our article on Winter Hoof Care.

    Sources: [1], [2], [3]

     

    Horse Courses by Elaine Heney

    • Listening to the Horse - The Documentary by Elaine Heney & Grey Pony Films
    • Shoulder In & Out Training for better balance, bend & topline development with your horse
    • Over 110+ Polework Exercises & Challenges to Download
    • Dancing at Liberty & Creating Connection with Your Horse (11 lessons) - Grey Pony Films
     

     

     

    More recipes you may enjoy

    • The Legal Work Involved In Selling A Horse
    • 15 Of Our Favorite Pictures Of Paint Horses
    • 2019 Movie Shows How Wild Mustangs Can Help Rehabilitate Prisoners
    • How To Adopt A Wild Mustang From The BLM

    Sharing is caring!

    2.9K shares
    • Share2.7K
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    Search

    Recent Posts

    • 15 Fantastic Pictures of Horse's Jumping to Make You Smile
    • Pros and Cons of Braiding Your Horse's Mane or Tail
    • 10 Things to Do with Your Horse That Aren't Riding
    • 30 Stunning Pictures of White Horses You Must See
    • 17 Inspirational TikTok Horse Accounts To Lift Your Spirits

    Categories

    Follow Us

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    iHeartHorses.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 · iHeartHorses Inc.

    2.9K shares
    • 2.7K

    Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy