Laminitis – Founder Chart
April showers brings spring grass (which is too rich in non-structural carbohydrates for many horses) resulting in equine laminitis / founder. For many Arabians, ponies, drafts, donkeys, “easy keepers” and horses with cresty necks and/or fat pads these guidelines can help you avoid a spring (and fall) disaster.
First stop is Dr. Eleanor Kellon’s Yahoo Group: Equine Cushings and IR. The File section is very well organized. Print out what they suggest. A consult with Dr. Kellon is also reasonably priced.
I also recommend Jaime Jackson’s book, Founder: Prevention and Cure the Natural Way. This little book is a must-have for everyone’s library. It’s an affordable treasure. I have reproduced and augmented his chart from page 150-151 for your easy referral. Where ever Dr. Kellon’s advise differs, I go with her.
Here’s Jaime’s chart from Founder.
My notes are in italics.
| DIET | BOARDING | DE-TOX | HOOVES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immediately Do: | Do: | During acute and healing phase, minimize all drugs and supplements. Traditional, invasive surgery (“wall resection”) is contraindicated. | Get a natural hoofcare trimmer immediately. Locally I refer to Laura Florence in Unionville. She is a barefoot farrier. |
| Provide multiple types of free choice grass hay. Local grass hay preferred. No high-end from Canada. Soak to reduce sugar. Test if possible. See Safergrass.org | If your horse is in a grassy pasture, put him in a dry lot with shelter. No straw. If you must keep in pasture get a muzzle from Bestfriends.com. | Do manage pain. If the horse refused to eat or drink use bute prescribed by vet to manage pain. 3 days on and 1 day off to reassess. | Do: |
| If necessary feed a small amount of concentrated feed with no grain or molasses. (Dr. Eleanor Kellon) | If your horse is stalled, move him to a dry paddock with shelter. Standing in a stall is not helpful even though many professionals still do it. | NO: antibiotics, chemical inhibitors, vaccinations, blood modifiers (isoxoprine), parasiticides, vitamin shots or supplements, thyroid medication (see Dr. Thomas on this), homepathic remedies, tenotomies to relieve CB tension, wall resection, coronary grooving, surgical drains, x-rays (unnecessary) | Remove shoes and apply natural trim; do hinds first. Stand horse on flat, rubber mats during entire acute stage for comfort and balance. |
| Provide fresh water at ground level. | For the lame, line up rubber mats for exercise. Esp. good in winter. | Horse should be barefoot and if sore in padded boots (protect the coffin bone) at all times. Replace pads every two weeks. | |
| Feed small amounts of fresh vegetables and fruits. Consider the fructan contents when chosing. Nothing sweet like carrot, apples, pears. The Glycemic Load is too high for these horses. |
Feed everything in the enclosure, preferably at ground level. | Trim frequently. (consider every two weeks during the acute phase) | |
| Provide free choice salt and NO mineral blocks. Consider offering loose Morton’s Iogized Salt. Red anything has iron which no horse needs (Dr. Kellon) | Keep horse in constant contact with companions. | Fit horse with padded boots as soon as she can stand. Use until horse can walk comfortably without them. Ride in boots after healing phase. | |
| You are on your own regarding homeopathy. I would go with Dr. Kellon’s recommendations. | Provide cool foot baths for hot hooves. | Soak feet in cold water or clean mud for 10 min for relief from inflammation. | |
| Stop Immediately: | Soak hooves in mild vinegar solution if white line disease is diagnosed. White Lightening is good too. | ||
| No flowery alfalfa, legume, clover or fescue hay/cubes or grass. Or highend “Canadian” timothy. | Don’t: | ||
| No green grass. | No turnout on grass of any type | Don’t: | |
| No sweet feeds. Nothing sweetened. | Do not stall. Horse should move at will and be encouraged to walk if resistant. (every hour 5-10 minutes) | Never apply a shoe, standard or “orthopedic” (like bar shoes). | |
| Keep it simple for the horse with problems. | Never apply glue on shoes. | ||
| No straw. It’s very high in sugar and can be eaten. | Never apply shoe and pad. | ||
| Never apply any foam sole “support” device. | |||
| bestfriends.com for muzzles | Never Resection the “offending” wall. It will all grow out by removing the leverage forces at the toe. | ||
| Never square, dub or snub toe. | |||
| Never trim the sole. |
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Posted in Hoof Articles, Pathology | Tagged barefeet, boots and pads, diet, founder, pathology Leave a comment