Page 255 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

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Figures 6.41a and b Typical stance of a pony with laminitis

• Reluctance to walk and variable degrees of lameness Affected horses and ponies are

often extremely reluctant to move. When they do, they bring the hind limbs well forward
under the body and land carefully on the heels of the front feet, so the gait is very stilted

or ‘pottery’. They sometimes appear to lean backwards and the lameness is often much
worse on turning. It is also accentuated on hard or uneven ground. Very mild cases may

appear slightly stiff rather than lame or the lameness may only be observed on uneven
ground or when the animal is turning.

• Frequent shifting of weight from one foot to another If one observes these animals at
rest they frequently shift their weight between the feet in an attempt to relieve the

constant discomfort. They may resist or refuse to lift a foot when asked because of the
increased discomfort of taking more weight on the opposite limb.

• Increased or bounding digital pulses If the digital pulse is taken at the point where the
digital artery crosses the sesamoid bones, it is often stronger than normal and described

as ‘bounding’.
• Reaction to hoof testers Most horses and ponies with laminitis will flinch when hoof

testers are applied to the sole in front of the point of the frog.
• If the pain is very severe, the pulse and respiration rates increase and some animals

have a temperature. They may seem very anxious and tremble and sweat.

• Heat may be felt in the hoof wall during the acute stage of the disease.
• Coronary band depression An abnormal depression may be palpated on the coronary

band at the front of the foot if the pedal bone has started to move. Palpation may cause