Are there different 'types' of laminitus??

raggydoll

Hattie & Bimble
May 16, 2005
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North Lincolnshire
Just wondering about this last night. Bim has had laminitis in the past probably about 2 1/2 yrs ago before i had her. No idea what the cause was. Since she has been with me there have been many occasions where she has escaped onto lovely long lush grass for a day and i havent always been as strict as i probably should have been with a laminatic although i am fairly careful. Bim has never had laminitus with me. I know there are other causes than just to much rich grass so i was wondering...if she had laminitus caused by say, stress, would she then be more prone to it again through the same cause but not necessarily other causes like grass of concussion (is that the right word??) or would she just be prone to it generally, caused by anything??

Not sure whether that makes sense or not :confused:
 
my late horse Flash suffered laminitis but seemed to be different types.

She had colic and took a bout just after and the vet said it was toxic laminitis.

She also broke out of her field and galloped full tilt up the road with 3 other horses, couple of days later she took a bout of laminitis and the vet said it was due to concussion.

I think its all the same in the fact that the effects and the "condition" as such are the same but there are difference "causes" which might be a better way to look at the condition, if you understand what I'm trying to say.

Anyhow, I believe that laminitis us a condition that occurs when any upset has been caused to the bloodflow of the sensitive laminae in the foot.

What you need to discover is what is causing this upset - be it toxic/concussion or the access to rich pasture.
 
so would the horse be prone to getting it due to one cause or once its been casued by one thing it could just as easily be casued by other things? Ie if bims was caused by stress is she still more likely to get it due to grass or just more likely to get it again if very stressed??

Im still not sure im making sense :rolleyes:
 
once a horse has had laminitis from one trigger YES they have a greater risk of getting it again from ANY other trigger. Stress, concussion, cold legs/feet, wormers, vaccinations, steroids and grass/feed overload ALL cause laminitis.

Bonnie got stress related laminitis. She had bouts caused by concussion and cold legs subsequently as she was at a greater risk having had it once.
 
As EB just said I do believe (and so does my vet) that once a horse has had a bout of lammy that they are pre-disposed to the condition from any cause.

Some others may argue the point and yes, I've known horses take lammy from overeating etc and then never have it again even though they have been on similar pasture.

I've also known other horses who don't fit the "type" for lammy, be put on box rest and come out of the stable with lammy!

Its a horrible condition and everyone is still learning about its causes and treatment and long term effects.

If you are really worried have a wee chat with your vet and see what they think/advise.
 
i was wondering this too ,it is rife round here at the moment the local smithy says he hasnt known anything like it there are non typical types falling foul from it too ie TBs..
bruno is recovering from it and I suspect bailey had a touch of it,they havent had it before and are on the same grazing as last year which is pants..i fed haylage with no ill effects all winter..my only trigger is the farmer was spraying the field behind when it was windy and can only assume they have eaten contaminated grass:mad: causing toxic lamimitis.
 
some fertlisers can trigger attacks too although my vet believes global warming has alot to do with it too.

year before last he reported having record numbers of cases!
 
some fertlisers can trigger attacks too although my vet believes global warming has alot to do with it too.

year before last he reported having record numbers of cases!

absolutely! i'd never, ever graze mine on land that had been fertilised with your bog standard chemical stuff. We use seaweed fertiliser as it does not produce rapid grass growth. And with our climate being a bit mucked up, the grass has never really stopped growing for long.

Anything that upsets the gut really can trigger laminitis too, so new feed/an overload of feed. Undigested starch reaching the hind gut is a common trigger of laminitis and this can be caused by a multitude of things...
 
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