Laminitis and Ways to Overcome the Disease

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Erin_C_Brankowski]Erin C Brankowski
Laminitis is a severely painful, debilitating and on occasions, fatal condition. It can be caused by a number of factors but it is commonly thoughts that in over 80% of cases the condition can be avoided through better dietary management and knowledge surrounding the area. With increased testing, studies and experts dedicated to understanding this condition, knowledge is constantly evolving enabling horse owners can have access to information and advice on the causes and prevention of dietary related laminitis.
There have been massive leaps forward in the understanding of laminitis in the last decade and now more than ever it is clear that there is more than one nutritional reason for the cause of laminitis. There are 3 main reasons why and where you may be setting up your horse for a long term battle with their weight which can, in many cases, result in laminitis.
Metabolic Causes
Horses with laminitis, that are comfortably carrying excess weight and have been for a long time, whilst not eating starchy food, will most likely have laminitis due to the long term changes in the way his body has adapted to deal with the excess insulin and sugar. Often the onset of laminitis in these cases will seem sudden and the horse highly susceptible just because of eating a little too much grass than they are accustomed to. In these cases it can take longer to treat the problem due to needing to reduce body fat and insulin resistance.
Short term solutions include:
- Feeding hay that has been soaked for 12 hours. Small holed haynets will also slow down consumption. This way the bulk is provided but the calorie content is reduced.
- Vitamins and minerals should be provided in a balanced manor. Feed should also include anti-oxidants.
- Adding three tablespoons of cod-liver oil to feed.
Long term solutions include reducing body fat score to below 3 and weighing your horse weekly can assist in determining progress.
Epigenetics
Science and recent research has shown that the diet of the broodmare as well as the diet of the foal can play a significant role in increasing the risk of obesity and laminitis in later life. The diet can have a direct impact on the effect of the genes of the foetus. It can affect the mechanism that switches on or off the genes - this is known as Epigenetics. These differences can alter foetal development and growth as well as having an influence over patterns of gene expression related with an increase in the risk of many diseases.
Solutions/ precautionary measures include a low calorie balanced diet for broodmares. Understanding that grass provides high calorie content but low mineral content is also important and supplementary minerals should be given. In addition, reducing the thickness of rugs can encourage weight loss.
Dietary Insult
Most of us are aware that horses have sensitive digestive tracts, so any sudden change in diet that changes the fermentation of the hindgut can cause laminitis. Large starch filled meals are common contributory causes. The sudden change in gut flora is very serious and it is important that the dietary cause of this be removed and your vet be consulted as this can be life threatening.
Solutions include:
- Consult a veterinarian to determine whether a feed of bran mash could assist in wiping out the unwanted bacteria from the hind gut.
- Yea Sacc can assist in improving hindgut fermentation. B Vitamins without high levels of copper and iron can also be supplemented to help de-stress the liver and remove toxins that will have been released from the hind gut.
- High fibre feeds will help to re-establish friendly bacteria. The process of chewing will also produce higher levels of saliva which has been known to help.
For further information on horse diseases, where to find [http://www.anythingequine.co.uk/Rider]equine clothing, horse boots, horse rugs or any other topics that have been raised, visit [http://www.anythingequine.co.uk]Anything Equine who are experts in the equestrian field.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Laminitis-and-Ways-to-Overcome-the-Disease&id=6588610] Laminitis and Ways to Overcome the Disease