Vascular perfusion in horses with chronic laminitis.
Abstract: Vascular perfusion casts were used to define and characterise the macroscopic perfusion defects present in the distal digit of 11 horses affected by chronic laminitis. Five clinically normal horses were used as controls. Based on clinical history and clinical status, horses with chronic laminitis were classified as being potentially treatable or clinically refractory. Eleven macroscopic vascular defects were noted in the casts from horses with laminitis. Four types of lesions were identified in the submural laminar circulation, 3 in the coronary bed and 4 were associated with the solar circulation. Multiple defects were present and a definite trend was noted for the perfusion defects to be worse in the casts of clinically refractory subjects than in those considered treatable. This information suggests that evaluation of circulatory status should add significantly to the ability to separate treatable from clinically refractory patients. Results also indicated that ventral displacement of the third phalanx (sinkers) and compression of the solar vasculature are more prevalent than is presently thought.
Publication Date: 1994-05-01 PubMed ID: 8542837DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1994.tb04368.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study investigates vascular abnormalities in horses with chronic laminitis by examining the blood flow patterns in their feet, comparing those considered clinically treatable to horses who are refractory to treatment. The findings suggest the state of blood circulation can determine the treatability of chronic laminitis in horses and cast new light on the prevalence of specific deformities related to the condition.
Research Method
- The research employed vascular perfusion casts to identify and characterise macroscopic perfusion defects in the lower part of the hoof (distal digit) of 11 horses suffering from chronic laminitis.
- As a control group, the researchers used five clinically healthy horses to compare the vasculature in the hooves.
- The horses with laminitis were classified into two categories based on their clinical history and status. Some were classified as potentially treatable, while others were categorized as clinically refractory or unresponsive to treatment.
Research Findings and Observations
- A total of eleven macroscopic vascular defects were identified in the blood flow casts from the horses with laminitis.
- These defects were categorized into four types. Four were found in the submural laminar circulation (the layers of tissue beneath the hoof wall), three in the coronary bed (the part of the hoof where new hoof wall grows), and four were connected to the solar circulation (the blood circulation in the sole of the horse’s hoof).
- The study showed that multiple defects were present in each horse, with a clear tendency for the perfusion defects to be worse in the casts of clinically refractory subjects compared to those considered treatable.
Implications and Conclusions
- The study suggests that evaluating the circulatory status in the hooves of horses with chronic laminitis might greatly contribute to distinguishing between treatable and refractory cases.
- The results also indicated that certain defects, specifically ventral displacement of the third phalanx (known as “sinkers”) and the compression of the vasculature in the sole of the hoof, are more common than currently assumed within the veterinary community.
Cite This Article
APA
Hood DM, Grosenbaugh DA, Slater MR.
(1994).
Vascular perfusion in horses with chronic laminitis.
Equine Vet J, 26(3), 191-196.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1994.tb04368.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University College Station 77843-4466, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Chronic Disease
- Foot Diseases / pathology
- Foot Diseases / physiopathology
- Foot Diseases / veterinary
- Hoof and Claw / blood supply
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Perfusion / veterinary
- Regional Blood Flow / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Morgan R, Keen J, Halligan D, O'Callaghan A, Andrew R, Livingstone D, Abernethie A, Maltese G, Walker B, Hadoke P. Species-specific regulation of angiogenesis by glucocorticoids reveals contrasting effects on inflammatory and angiogenic pathways. PLoS One 2018;13(2):e0192746.
- Hargitaiova K, Maleas G. High-metacarpal deep digital flexor tenotomy and Steward clog shoeing for managing chronic refractory laminitis: A retrospective clinical study. Vet Surg 2026 Jan;55(1):236-247.
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