Laminitis in Horses: What Owners Must Know

Laminitis can strike suddenly and silently, turning healthy hooves into a source of severe pain and long-term damage.This painful condition is one of the leading causes of lameness and loss of use in horses worldwide, and in severe cases it can end a horse’s career or even life. Despite decades of research, laminitis is still complex and not fully understood, but we know far more today about its causes, risk factors, and how to prevent it than ever before.

Understanding laminitis is not optional for anyone who works with horses. Whether you care for high-performance athletes, easy-keeper ponies, or beloved companions, learning how to recognize the early warning signs and manage the underlying risks can mean the difference between a horse who thrives and one who suffers needlessly.

Early recognition, proper management, and prevention are critical. This guide covers what laminitis is, its causes, early signs, treatment options, and prevention strategies.

What Is Laminitis

Laminitis is the inflammation and degeneration of the laminae in the hoof. These tissues connect the coffin bone to the hoof wall. When damaged, the coffin bone can rotate or sink, causing pain, lameness, and in severe cases, penetration of the sole¹. Laminitis has multiple forms, including endocrine-associated, systemic, and mechanical types².

Causes and Risk Factors

Research shows several major triggers:

• Endocrine disorders: Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) or Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) increase laminitis risk due to hyperinsulinemia and hormone dysregulation¹.
  

• Dietary overload: Sudden access to high-sugar pasture or grain can trigger pasture-associated laminitis³.
  

• Obesity: Excess body weight significantly increases susceptibility⁴.
  

• Systemic illness: Infections, colitis, or retained placenta can cause systemic inflammation that affects the laminae¹.
  

• Mechanical overload: Supporting limb laminitis may occur if one limb bears extra weight due to injury in the opposite limb¹.
  

• Other factors: Previous laminitis episodes, hoof conformation issues, and certain medications (like long-term steroids) may also contribute⁴.
  
  

Recognizing Laminitis Early

Early detection can improve outcomes:

• Reluctance to walk, short steps, and shifting weight off forelimbs¹.
  

• Increased digital pulse and heat in the hooves¹.
  

• Sensitivity to hoof testers at the toe or frog area¹.
  

• Changes in posture, such as leaning back on the heels¹.
  

• Diagnostic imaging and blood tests to evaluate endocrine involvement¹.
  

Treatment Strategies

When laminitis is suspected or diagnosed, early intervention is critical:

1. Remove or reduce triggers: Manage underlying metabolic or endocrine disorders. Restrict access to high-sugar pasture or grain. Treat inflammatory or infectious disease¹.
   

2. Cryotherapy: Cooling the distal limb early can reduce lamellar injury in acute laminitis⁵.
   

3. Pain management and anti-inflammatory therapy: NSAIDs remain the standard for pain management and anti-inflammatory therapy, while new agents such as methylated tirilazad are being explored in research settings; this is preliminary, investigational work only, with safety and efficacy not yet established and no approval for general clinical use⁶. 
   

4. Supportive hoof care: Deep bedding, restricted movement on hard surfaces, supportive pads or boots, and proper trimming or shoeing based on radiographs¹^,⁸.
   

5. Dietary and metabolic control: Low non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) diets, soaked hay, and weight management. Pergolide treatment for PPID when indicated¹. There may be holistic approaches available to your horse, consider The Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy.
   

   

   
   

Prevention

Prevention is essential:

• Monitor and maintain healthy body condition⁴.
  

• Manage pasture access, especially during high-sugar periods. Consider grazing muzzles or strip grazing³.
  

• Feed low NSC hay and test or soak hay when necessary³.
  

• Regular hoof care with timely trimming and monitoring for early hoof wall changes⁷.
  

• Seek early veterinary evaluation at the first sign of lameness or hoof discomfort⁷.

Supporting Hoof and Joint Health

My first equine bioformula, Equine Bone & Joint, was developed through years of first working with humans with osteoporosis and osteopenia and then working with horses with navicular syndrome. Over time, I found this formula to be helpful in many equine conditions such as ringbone and other forms of arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, and a variety of other musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. The formula supports normal repair of joints and connective tissue, helps re-mineralize bone, and promotes overall skeletal health.

For me, creating this formula wasn’t about selling a product — it was about giving horses the support they need to recover, maintain comfort, and thrive alongside the humans who care for them. Integrating this kind of supportive care with proper diet, hoof management, and exercise gives a horse the best chance at long-term soundness and well-being.

Prognosis

• Horses caught early and treated promptly can return to comfort and function, though recovery can take weeks or months¹.
  

• Chronic or repeated episodes increase the risk of permanent hoof changes and ongoing sensitivity⁷.
  

• Experimental therapies show promise but are not yet standard practice⁶.
  
  

Final Thoughts

Laminitis is a systemic condition, not just a hoof problem. Proactive management, careful monitoring, and early veterinary involvement are the keys to keeping your horse healthy and sound.

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References

1. Royal Veterinary College. “Laminitis Fact Sheet.” https://www.rvc.ac.uk/equine-vet/information-and-advice/fact-files/laminitis

2. van Eps, A.W. “Paradigm shifts in understanding equine laminitis.” Veterinary Clinics: Equine Practice, vol. 34, no. 2, 2018, pp. 371–383. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090023317302290
   

3. Oregon State University Extension. Horse Owners Guide: Pasture-Associated Laminitis. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/em-9354-horse-owners-guide-pasture-associated-laminitis
   
   
4. Pollard, D., Wylie, C. E., Verheyen, K. L. P., & Newton, J. R. (2019). Identification of modifiable factors associated with owner-reported equine laminitis in Britain using a web-based cohort study approach. BMC Veterinary Research, 15(59). https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-019-1798-8
   
   
5. Pickering, K., & Ireland, J. (2020). Continuous digital hypothermia in the prevention and treatment of acute equine laminitis. Veterinary Evidence, 5(4), Article 307. https://doi.org/10.18849/VE.V5I4.307
   
   
6. Frontiers in Microbiology. “Effects of Methylated Tirilazad on Experimental Laminitis.” 2024. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1391892/full
   
   
7. National Center for Biotechnology Information, PMC10084125. “Management and Prevention of Equine Laminitis.” 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10084125
   
   
8. Enlightened Equine https://enlightenedequine.com/