Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Laminitis is a common but devastating condition, and affected horses are often euthanized or influenced a very long time. Many horses never return to their original capacity. Laminitis is often associated with severe pain and a long time of convalescence. Symthoms includes lameness, hoof hyperthermia, strenghthened digital pulse and pain. The horse often tries to move the body weight away from the forelegs which are often more severly affected than the hindlimbs. The lamellae in the hoof are partly or totally destroyed when affected by laminitis. The cells are destroyed and disconnected from each other, which is called lamellar separation. This can lead to hoof dislocation because the lamellae is no longer connected to the coffin bone and the hoof capsule. Much is written about the condition, but the exact mechanism concerning how laminitis arises is still unknown. Conditions proposed to be triggers of the development of laminitis include sepsis mainly caused by gram negative bacteria, equine metabolic syndrome, excess intake of carbohydrates, cushings disease or treatment with cortisone, high body weight and lack of exercise. This literary study will compile research done concerning laminitis and suggest how veterinary nursing can help horses affected by laminitis. Cryotherapy is a method that seems to help horses in the initiate phase of laminitis, but more research is needed to develop a good method. Feeding, shoeing, treatment of conditions causing laminitis and exercise are some of the things considered. These are of big interest in this study for treatment and prevention of laminitis.

Research accentuate the importance of feeding the laminitic horse with hoof sthrengthening nutrients like calcium, biotin and high quality proteins. This is of greatest interest during the first three months of treatment, because the body needs extra nutrition for tissue healing. Shoeing of the horse is suggested in the chronic phase. Factors to be considered includes distribution of body weight, reducing the pressure on the lamellae and reducing the pull of the deep flexor tendon. In the acute phase of laminitis the horse needs box rest at a soft and pressure equalizing material. Analgesia is needed because of the severe pain often seen in the acute phase. A diet with low content of carbohydrates, normal body weight, regular exercise and good shoeing seems to be of great value for laminitis affected horses, both in the chronic phase of laminitis and for prevention of a relapse.