SIGNS OF LAMINITIS

Call your veterinarian right away when you notice any of these signs; tell her what you’ve observed and explain that it’s an emergency:

• Your horse is “ouchy” and reluctant to move. He may shift his weight back and forth between his front feet, or he may lean back on his haunches with his forefeet splayed in front of him. In some cases, he may stand with all four feet pulled in under his barrel.

• He lies down and is reluctant to rise.

• He shows evidence of pain, which may include sweating, shallow breathing and a rapid heart rate.

• The affected hoof or hooves feel warm to the touch.

• You feel a “bounding” pulse on the back of the pastern on the affected legs. This pulse can be difficult to locate on a healthy horse, but it becomes more prominent either just above or just below the joint when a horse has laminitis. Continued