Equimins specialises in producing natural horse supplies, products and supplements for the major areas associated with caring for a horse. All products are proudly made in the UK and excellent specification quality products are of paramount importance. Using this blog we want to share some of the knowledge we have gained through nearly 30 years of experience. 
What is laminitis?
Laminitis is a horrible, potentially life threatening condition that causes huge amounts of pain and discomfort to horses and ponies. It’s often associated with fat ponies, but any horse can suffer with laminitis, and there’s a lot more to it than you might think.
First of all, let’s answer the question- what is laminitis? Laminitis causes a reduction in blood flow to the sensitive laminae inside the horse’s hoof. This causes inflammation inside the hoof and, as the hoof can’t expand to accommodate this, causes serious pain. The cells become damaged, the laminae can die, and as this important part of the hoof helps to hold structures like the pedal bone in place, this can rotate and, in severe cases, penetrate the sole of the hoof. Something has to cause the condition…but it’s not always clear what the cause is. Here are some possible causes:
- Obesity
- Too much starch and sugar
- Trauma/concussion
- Stress
- Hormones
- Lameness
- Other illnesses can trigger laminitis too
Signs and symptoms
Some horses have ‘text book’ symptoms, such as hot hooves and leaning backwards to try and relieve the pain in their hooves. He may not be happy to move and could lie down- again, to try and help relieve the pain. In addition, he could show signs of lameness and a strong digital pulse may be felt. He could also be showing signs of pain, such as increased respiration and pulse.
IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR HORSE OR PONY HAS LAMINITIS- CALL THE VET. Laminitis should be treated as an emergency.
To find out more about Equimins, see the website.
