Voluntary limb-load distribution in horses with acute and chronic laminitis.

This research investigates how horses with acute and chronic laminitis distribute their weight across their limbs compared to healthy horses. It suggests that analyzing limb-load distribution might be useful for identifying and grading the severity of laminitis, and monitoring the rehabilitation process.

Study Participants

• This study involved 50 horses divided into three groups: 10 horses with carbohydrate-induced acute laminitis, 20 horses with naturally occurring chronic laminitis, and 20 healthy control horses without any foot abnormalities.

Methods

• The researchers used a specially designed system to determine the mean amount of body weight a horse voluntarily placed on each limb, known as the mean limb load, and the variation of this load over a five-minute period, termed the load distribution profile (LDP).
• The LDP was used as an indicator of how frequently the load was redistributed between the horse’s limbs.

Results

• In healthy control horses, the mean loads on the front and hind limbs were found to be 58% and 42% of the total weight, respectively. The weight was evenly distributed between left and right limbs. Additionally, the LDP of the front limbs was higher, affected by head and neck movements.
• However, the limb-load distribution in horses with chronic laminitis was notably different – these horses exhibited a tendency to load a single front limb more heavily, a reduction in total front limb load, and an increased LDP which correlated to the severity of their lameness.
• In horses with carbohydrate-induced acute laminitis, the mean limb loads before and after the onset of lameness did not significantly change. However, their LDP substantially decreased after they became lame.

Conclusions

• The findings suggest that quantification of a horse’s limb-load distribution could be a practical method for identifying the onset of acute laminitis, assessing the severity of lameness, and monitoring the recovery process in horses with chronic laminitis.