On the increase over the last couple of years in the North West we have heard of more and more cases of 'winter' laminitis. Yes, it may sound rather bizarre when in general people believe it is mainly grass related however, what happens in laminitis? the basic principle is the blood supply is restricted to the foot.
What esle have we seen change over the last couple of years? The weather! Winter has now become a very cold, freezing and snowy climate. When have most new outbreaks been reported? In the freezing snowy conditions!
This time of year,It is not, in bioligical terms due to the nutrition content of grass rising through snow trying its hardest to peak to the sky to find the sun. In biology we all know that grass needs the sun to turn it into food. With regards to horses, winter grass is of very poor nutritional value , hence why it stops growing and lays dormant for a few months, the winter sun does not turn it into yummy nutritional stuff for our nedslets to endulge on in the way that we know. What can cause early winter laminitis is the immediate changes in climate which will stress the starch content on seasonal change etc, however when it has been at least a couple of months of the 'same' sort of climate you have to ask yourself "its not (in many cases) going to be nutrition based lameness so what will it be?"
'Winter' laminitis, can quite simply mean your horse has poor circulation in these freezing conditions. If your horse is out all day in snow with no release do you think sometime it might be getting a bit too cold to stand in? Popular sufferers are veteran horses, horses with poor heart conditions, horses with cushings, horses prone to laminitis, horses on high starch diets,horses with a history of high blood pressure, peripheral problems and so on. Horses on high grain high fructan based haylages / hay are too at high risk. It could be related to that of Raynauds disease in people as a comparison. Its a lot to take in but it can all boil down to equine management and keeping a good 'eye' on things. If you see some slight lameness and stiffness eliminate any potential causes.
If you have one that may come down with it, why not give it some relief by stabling on occasions and wrapping their legs in warm fleece lined soft travel boots or stable bandages to encourage circulation and blood flow to their lower legs.
This sort of laminitis has quite a controversial way in the way people treat horses with this complaint. Its one of those types of horsey topics that is of a taboo status that can cause a lot of banter, like that of....... do you, or do you not, wash a horses legs if they are caked in mud and wet from turn out? well, like usual, I like to stir up a bit of banter, but I 'NEVER' wash horses legs if they are caked in mud and wet through if they come in from turn out that way. Never!!! I leave it to nature to do its job. In the 20 Plus years I have Owned horses, I have never had a horse with any skin complaints, no cracked heels, mud fever etc etc, so thats a good enough standing for me to say "leave their dirty legs alone,wait until they are dry and brush the mud off!!" yep, even the pink skinned ones!!! See, I am a little boogerlugs when it comes to these horsey topics. lol xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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| my old boy with his bed socks on dec 2010 |
