What does it mean to founder?

[amanti20]

What does it mean when a horse founders?

[Tharg]

I think founder is the american term for laminitas but don`t quote me on it!.

[chickflick1066]

I am not sure either. As far as I was aware, founder is the further stages of laminitis - when rotation occurs, but dont take my word for it.

Whatever it means, it has something to do with laminitis

[goldmine]

Founder is the american term for Laminitis.

[eventerbabe]

founder is used to describe a condition ASSOCIATED with laminitis where the bone column in the leg drops and hence the pedal bone is then closer to the sole of the foot. you can do a simple check for founder, run your finger around the coronary band at the very top of the hoof. if you feel any "dents" then thats an indication of founder.

[parsharainbow]

founder is NOT a term for laminitis, it can be linked to laminitis but not necessarily, founder is when the pedal bone either drops (sinks) or rotates, this is usually caused by a blood disorder which CAN be caused by laminitis and/or circulatory problems caused by numerous things, founder can also occur during foaling.

The difference between laminitis and founder -

Laminitis is an inflammation of the supportive tissues that join the foot bone to the hoof. It is a very painful condition.

Founder often follows laminitis. Founder is where laminae weaken, allowing the pedal bone, to sink downwards into an abnormal position. In severe founder, the pedal bone moves so much it starts to come through the sole of the hoof and can rotate

Hope this helps :)

[chev]

parsharainbow has explained that very well!

When the laminae die in an attack of laminitis, they tear, and seperate. The laminae are what holds the hoof onto the foot - when they tear apart, the hoof pulls away and the pedal bone, suspended in the foot, can start to move. It rotates downwards - how much is measured in degrees.

Laminitis does not always result in founder, even when the attack is acute.

It's not that common before or during foaling, but if a mare retains part or all of the membranes, then laminitis is a high risk, and founder often follows.

[Big Ears]

most horses that founder don't recover, but many horses with laminitis recover. Rosie had laminitis and her pedal bone rotated, but it didn't sink so she still had a depth of sole beneath the bone which protected her pedal bone and she has made a full recovery.

if the bone rotates more than a certain percentage, or the bone sinks, as in founder, then there is a much more limited chance of recovery

[eventerbabe]

most horses that founder don't recover, but many horses with laminitis recover.

my mare has rotation and founder and is 100% sound thanks to good farriery so it doesn't spell disaster if they do founder.

[Big Ears]

I know you're right with your horse but from speaking to my farrier, who did an excellent job on Rosie's feet and remedial shoeing, there are some cases he has attended where he is saying the chances of it recovering are 10% or less having seen the xrays and based on his experience of similar cases.

It also comes down to how much the horse is suffering at the time and whether pain relief works for them.

Founder isn't the end of the world, they can recover, but it is a less optimistic diagnosis.

[chickflick1066]

Ah thanks for clearing that up - shows I have lots to learn.