Page 266 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

• With improved methods of assessing blood flow through the laminae, the efficacy of these

drugs is now being questioned. They should not be used in the developmental stage of
VetBooks.ir toxin-induced laminitis as any increase in blood flow would increase the delivery of trigger
factors to the laminae.

Acepromazine is helpful for reducing the anxiety of horses and ponies in severe pain. The

sedative effect discourages movement and encourages them to lie down.

Management

FEEDING

Horses and ponies should be kept on a strict forage diet, supplemented with vitamins and

minerals. This can be made up of low nutrient hay plus an alfalfa or alfalfa/straw mix.
Soaking the hay for 30–60 minutes is a good way of reducing the levels of water-soluble
carbohydrates, and unmolassed sugar beet can be added. Your vet or equine nutritionist will

advise you the amount to feed. There is a range of feeds approved by The Laminitis Trust for
feeding to laminitis-prone horses and ponies (www.laminitis.org). Drastic starvation must be

avoided or the horse will be at risk of hyperlipaemia syndrome (see page 534).

SUPPLEMENTS

• biotin and methionine may be added to improve the growth rate and quality of horn

• there are a number of proprietary mixes that provide essential nutrients for hoof growth

• a liquid extract of ‘chasteberry’, Vitex agnus castus may provide symptomatic relief for
some animals with PPID (Cushing’s disease), but it does not reliably control ACTH

levels or check the progress of the disease (see Chapter 20).

STABLING

Ideally horses and ponies with acute laminitis should be stabled with a thick bed of sand, peat

or wood shavings. Where this is not possible a small area of field should be fenced off and
mowed very short with the clippings removed. Part of the area may be covered with a thick

layer of sand to provide a comfortable bed.

EXERCISE

Exercise is harmful at any stage until the pedal bone is stable in the foot. Forced exercise is

contraindicated, contrary to earlier beliefs. All horses and ponies experiencing laminitis
should have restricted exercise for at least 4 weeks after they are comfortable at walk and trot

in a straight line on a hard surface without any painkillers. This is to allow the laminae time