Acute Laminitis in Horses: Emergency Welfare Management

Key Facts

• Laminitis affects all four feet but most severely the front feet where 60% of body weight is borne
• Acute inflammation of the lamellar tissues causes intense pain — affected horses adopt the classic rocked-back stance to unweight the toes
• Risk factors include grain overload, spring grass, PPID (Cushings), endocrine disorders, and systemic illness
• Immediate deep bedding, NSAIDs, and frog support are the welfare priorities in the first 24-48 hours
• Rotation or sinking of the pedal bone (founder) represents structural failure requiring long-term management

Welfare Considerations

Acute laminitis is an emergency. The pain is severe and constant — horses in acute laminitis are often unwilling to move, lie down more than normal, and show obvious distress when forced to walk. The welfare imperative is immediate multi-modal pain management: NSAIDs provide systemic analgesia, frog support pads redistribute pressure away from the painful dorsal laminae, and deep bedding allows comfortable lying. Removing the cause (removing from rich grass, treating systemic illness) simultaneously with pain management is critical. Rotation or sinking on X-ray indicates structural failure requiring specialist farriery and intensive veterinary management.

What You Can Do

• Call your vet immediately for any horse showing the classic laminitis stance (rocked back, reluctant to move)
• Provide deep, supportive bedding and frog support pads while awaiting veterinary assessment
• Never trot or canter a horse showing signs of laminitis — movement causes further lamellar damage
• Remove from rich spring grazing immediately and provide hay only until endocrine status is assessed
• Discuss X-ray evaluation with your vet to assess pedal bone position and guide farriery