General Clinical Aspects of the Laminitis Case

Laminitis is a disease of adult horses, and is generally not reported in horses aged less than one year, with the exception of congenital mechanobullous disorders that may cause similar lesions and rarely avascular necrosis of the distal limbs in critical neonates. There is wide variation in the history and clinical presentation of horses and ponies with laminitis. As most cases of laminitis occurring in the field are linked to reduced insulin sensitivity, any changes in body condition, feeding practices, and exercise levels should be determined. The ingestion of lush pasture is considered the most common cause of laminitis. The administration of exogenous corticosteroids has been empirically linked with sporadic cases of laminitis. It is important to establish the recent shoeing and trimming history in any horse with foot-related lameness. Increases in hoof wall surface temperature (HWST) often precede or coincide with the onset of lameness in acute laminitis cases