|
|
|
HELP! FOUNDER!
Nothing strikes fear in your heart quite like the diagnosis of founder or laminitis. Fat horses and ponies are at greatest risk of laminitis and metabolic founder, but it “can” happen to thin, fit horses as well. You have to be aware of the warning signs, and the acute presentation of the condition, and how to treat it. Hopefully this article will address a few of these concerns.
Laminitis vs. Founder
Is there a difference? YES! Laminitis refers to inflammation of the sensitive laminae of the hoof. Founder is a nautical term which means “to sink.” A ship that is foundering in the water is losing it’s orientation and buoyancy. Radiographs can determine if your horse has actually foundered, or if only laminitis is present without any rotation or sinking of the bone within the capsule. Laminitis does not always precede founder.
Types of Founder
Founder can be either mechanical or metabolic in nature. Mechanical founder refers to a physical force mechanically separating the hoof wall from the bone, causing trauma, swelling, and subsequent death of sensitive laminae. Another type of mechanical founder is from concussion (too much hard riding on asphalt, for instance, also known as road founder.) Metabolic founder refers to a systemic issue where the body has suffered some type of metabolic insult, whether it be a flood of mycotoxins, sustained high glucose levels in the blood (Insulin Resistance or Cushings Disease) or some other type of inflammation or fever. One way that mares develop founder is through a retained placenta. Founder caused by Insulin Resistance or Cushings Disease can be the most difficult to manage.
What actually happens when a horse founders?
There is a tremendous amount of controversy on what “exactly” happens to cause a horse to founder, and what happens during the acute phase. However, one thing most experts agree on is that when a horse founders, there is acute swelling and inflammation inside the hoof capsule causing pain, tissue death, and severe lameness. Circulation is often affected as the distal phalanx (coffin bone) loses adhesion with the hoof wall and migrates from its normal position.
Radiograph showing rotation of distal phalanx of a foundered pony.
I found my horse in the founder stance. Now what?!
CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN IMMEDIATELY! Articles and independent research are never an adequate substitute for a qualified Veterinary opinion, diagnosis, and prognosis. The nature of this article is to give you general information, but when your horse is in serious trouble, always call a qualified equine Veterinarian immediately.
After you have called the Veterinarian, it is crucial that you provide the horse with sole support immediately. Any type of firm supportive foam can be used in an emergency. Building supply stores sell sheets of construction grade foam, or you can use garden kneeling pads. Otherwise any type of dense foam chair cushion or a neoprene saddle pad can be cut up. You can also use thick clay poultice packed into the bottom of the foot though the foam is preferred over the poultice. Cut the foam to fit about ¼” larger than the circumference of the hoof, and secure with vet-wrap and duct tape. If you absolutely cannot secure any of these supplies, bed a stall deeply with shavings, and get the horse to stand in there until the Veterinarian arrives.
It is CRUCIAL to limit movement during acute laminitis, especially if pain medications have been given. Excess movement can cause more separation of bone from hoof capsule.
Standing the horse in ice or cold hosing the legs might be beneficial though most experts agree that it is most important to provide complete solar support as the first line of defense.
Your Veterinarian will administer phenylbutazone or banamine, and then instruct you on continued care during the acute phase. It is important to ask your Veterinarian about lateral radiographs, and when they suggest they be taken. They will likely also instruct you to hire a therapeutic farrier to shoe the horse. Many horses have gotten better without the shoeing process, and left barefoot, but that decision is one only you can make.
How aggressively and effectively you treat the horse NOW will help to determine the horse’s long term recovery.
We Survived the Acute Stage, But Now What?
It is extremely important that you identify WHY the horse foundered. If it was mechanical, has the leverage or source of trauma been identified and removed? If it was metabolic, was the source of the insult identified and removed? If the horse got into the feed room and at 25 pounds of sweet feed, it’s fairly safe to say that the horse may not necessarily have a long-standing metabolic disease, but that this was a one time insult. However if the horse foundered on spring grass even after being properly introduced to it, or without a single identifiable insult, then you may have a metabolic horse on your hands that needs proper diagnosis, dietary changes, proper exercise, and possibly medication to keep the horse healthy and as sound as possible.
Insulin Resistance, and Cushings Disease are two metabolic disorders that make horses very likely to suffer laminitis or founder. Talk to your Veterinarian about the appropriate blood tests to identify these diseases.
Dietary and Exercise Changes
The dietary needs of a metabolically foundered horse can be intense, expensive, and time consuming. It is best to consult an Equine Nutritionist or Veterinarian who is well advised in the dietary needs of metabolic equines. They can help you to develop a vitamin/mineral supplementation and dietary program to address all the horse’s needs, without increasing the carbohydrate load.
Feeding no-molasses beet pulp or other low sugar, founder safe feed, low NSC (Non Structural Carbohydrates) grass and/or alfalfa hays, and moving the horse to a dry lot are all indicated in the treatment of metabolic founder. It is essential that carbohydrates and sugars in the diet be maintained at the lowest level possible. Non Structural Carbohydrates refers to simple sugars that cause the body to secrete more insulin. Horses that are insulin resistant cannot effectively control their blood glucose levels.
Exercise that pony!!!!
Exercise is essential for the laminitic, foundered or founder-prone horse once they have moved out of the acute phase, and pain is under control. Supportive hoof boots and pads or shoeing is important to keep the horse comfortable during exercise. Even if you can provide 15 minutes per day of walking or jogging, the horse will be better able to utilize insulin. Try to keep the horse on soft footing like grass, even while using hoof boots and pads. Concussion can cause more pain and inflammation.
Trimming/Shoeing for the Long Haul
I am in favor of keeping horses shoeless as much as possible. That’s a whole ‘nother article in itself, but I will summarize it by saying that shoeing should be used when it is clear that it is not possible to keep the horse comfortable while barefoot. I advocate the use of hoof boots and pads as much as possible.
Foundered hooves usually grow differently than normal hooves due to an interrupted blood supply and nerve damage causing the horse to weight the feet differently than she would normally. The heels tend to grow very fast while the toe seems to hardly grow at all. Keeping foundered horses on a short trim cycle – 4 to 5 weeks – is crucial to long term success. The worst thing you can do for a foundered horse, next to a poor diet, is a trimming cycle that is too long. Many foundered horses develop what is known as a laminar wedge. The photo below shows the evidence of this. As the dorsal aspect of the coffin bone rotates downward away from the hoof wall, the void that is left fills with hyperkeratanized laminae. This laminar wedge must be addressed frequently and thoroughly if the horse is to regain optimal hoof form and function. It’s important to work with a trimmer or farrier who has some experience in working with foundered horses.
Foundered hooves over a 2 1/2 year span
Medications and Supplements
It has been shown that magnesium and chromium supplementation is very beneficial for the support of metabolically challenged horses. Be sure to talk to your Veterinarian and Equine Nutritionist about this in more detail. A wealth of information is available on the Equine Cushings Group, which is linked on this page. Some sources have reported that their horse’s blood sugar levels improved when fed a teaspoon of cinnamon everyday. This is subjective, but cinnamon makes a great flavoring for no-molasses beet pulp and certainly cannot hurt anything.
Daily or long-term bute therapy carries certain risks including gastric ulcers and right dorsal colitis, so be sure to thoroughly discuss this with your Veterinarian. However, in certain cases this medication will extend the comfort and happiness of the horse for many years. Another option is Equioxx or any number of natural pain relievers.
Summary
No two foundered horses are the same. No two foundered horses are the same. No two foundered horses are the same. What works for one might not work for another. Some foundered horses get better despite lacking good palliative care and some horses deteriorate even under the watchful eyes of the most noted founder experts in the world. NO TWO FOUNDERED HORSES ARE THE SAME!
Be prepared to change little things, such as giving an anti-fatigue mat to stand on while in the crossties, or bedding the stall deeper than normal. Understand that foundered or laminitic horses have difficulty turning tight circles or going down hills. In other words, you may need to rethink many aspects of your horse’s management protocol to be sure that they are comfortable and happy. Most natural hoof care experts agree that once the acute phase is safely behind you, MOVEMENT, low coffin bone angle (short heels), and very frequent trimming are your best allies. I don't like stalling my foundered horse any more than necessary. You want to keep circulation at its peak.
Same pony, but looking good at last!
|
|
