Treatment of acute laminitis. Supportive therapy.
Abstract: Over the last decade, both the farriery and veterinary professions have greatly increased their collective experience and understanding of the treatment of acute laminitis. Many horses that would have not been considered candidates for treatment 10 to 15 years ago are now saved, and some progress to successful careers as athletes. Unfortunately, the difficulties over prediction of the course of the disease persist, which continues to complicate treatment decisions. By its nature, supportive therapy is designed to make the horse more comfortable and limit further laminar injury by countering adverse biomechanical forces. Therefore, the success of treatment depends on the degree of instability between the distal phalanx and the hoof when treatment is started as well as the effectiveness of medical and supportive therapy.
Publication Date: 1999-09-03 PubMed ID: 10472117DOI: 10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30150-5Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article discusses the recent developments in the treatment of acute laminitis in horses, highlighting the success rate of supportive therapy based on the initial condition of the horse, and the relevance of medical intervention.
Understanding Acute Laminitis
- Laminitis is a severe disease that affects horses, characterized by inflammation of the laminae – the soft tissue structures that attach the horse’s foot bone to the inner lining of the hoof.
- Acute laminitis refers to the initial stages of the disease, often accompanied by intense pain and difficulty in movement.
Treatment Progression Over The Years
- The past decade has seen significant advancements in the understanding and treatment of acute laminitis. Horses that were not deemed treatable 10-15 years ago can now be treated successfully.
- Some previously afflicted horses even recover fully to become successful athletes.
Supportive Therapy as Effective Treatment
- Supportive therapy involves measures to comfort the horse and prevent further damage to the laminar tissue by countering adverse biomechanical forces.
- The effectiveness of supportive therapy depends on the level of instability between the distal phalanx (foot bone) and the hoof at the time of commencing treatment, along with the efficient application of medical and supportive therapy.
Challenges in Prediction and Treatment Decision
- Predicting the course of this disease remains a challenge for veterinarians and farriery professionals.
- This unpredictability complicates treatment decisions, making it sometimes challenging to determine the appropriate course of action for each individual case.
Success of Treatment
- The success of the treatment in large part depends on the time of the intervention and the extent to which the disease has progressed by the time it’s diagnosed.
- Early detection and treatment can significantly increase the likelihood of Full recovery and even return the horse to its athletic capabilities.
Cite This Article
APA
Parks AH, Balch OK, Collier MA.
(1999).
Treatment of acute laminitis. Supportive therapy.
Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 15(2), 363-374.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30150-5 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Acute Disease
- Animals
- Foot Diseases / physiopathology
- Foot Diseases / therapy
- Foot Diseases / veterinary
- Hoof and Claw / anatomy & histology
- Hoof and Claw / blood supply
- Hoof and Claw / physiopathology
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Inflammation / physiopathology
- Inflammation / therapy
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Shoes
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Al Naem M, Litzke LF, Geburek F, Failing K, Hoffmann J, Röcken M. Effect of heel elevation on breakover phase in horses with laminitis.. BMC Vet Res 2020 Oct 1;16(1):370.
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