Chronic laminitis: foot management.

The research article discusses laminitis, a chronic disease related to the structural failure of a horse’s foot, and explores the importance of a foot management plan in treating the disease effectively, aiming to rehabilitate the foot back to normal use.

Understanding Laminitis

• Laminitis is a disease that impacts the supporting structure of a horse’s foot, known as the distal phalanx. This can progress to a chronic state which ultimately results in varying levels of structural failure within the foot.
• Advanced stages of the disease can lead to mechanical failure of the digit, greatly impacting the mobility and comfort of the horse.

Importance of Foot Management

• The research emphasizes the need for a diligent foot management plan as a means to treat cases of laminitis mechanically and effectively.
• The goal of such plans is to rehabilitate the foot back to a state of athletic soundness, light use, or at the very least, pasture soundness. This means enabling the horse to return to sport, general activity or to a quality of life that permits comfortable roaming and grazing.
• However, this may not always be possible. Some horses may suffer from repeated instability and discomfort, unable to achieve an accepted level of comfort or normal function.

Role of the Veterinarian

• To minimize damage in acute instances of laminitis and rehabilitate a chronic laminitic foot, the veterinarian needs to have a comprehensive understanding of the relevant anatomy and biomechanics.
• This involves a familiarity with the normal supporting structures of a horse’s digit, the biomechanical forces that normally act upon the foot, and the structural failure that results when these forces interact with a diseased or damaged foot.