Laminitis & Founder Prevention and Treatment for the Greatest Chance of Success featuring The Edema Theory The Frog Support Theory 2nd Edition By Doug Butler, PhD, CJF, FWCF and Frank Gravlee, DVM, MS, CNS with assistance from Scott Gravlee DVM, CNS and Jacob Butler CJF, AWCF eBook Copyright © 2018 Print Copyright © 2007 by Karl Douglas Butler Jr. and Joseph Frank Gravlee All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portion thereof in any form. eBook designed by: Shadow Canyon Graphics, La Veta, Colorado Published by: Life Data Labs, Inc. 12290 Hwy. 72 Cherokee, Alabama 35616 1-256-370-7555 Additional resources available at: www.dougbutler.com www.lifedatalabs.com “We dedicate this work to all the horses that have lost their lives to these devastating diseases.” Contents Chapter One DEFINING EQUINE LAMINITIS AND FOUNDER....................9 What is equine laminitis? .........................................................................9 What is founder? ....................................................................................12 Chapter Two A BRIEF HISTORY AND PERSPECTIVE ON LAMINITIS AND FOUNDER ...........................................14 The teaching often determines the principles .....................................15 More specialized training and research is needed ..............................16 Incorrect teachings have caused much unnecessary suffering ...........................................................................17 The foot must be understood before effective treatments will be adopted ...................................................19 Popular theories for the cause and treatment of laminitis ............................................................................21 Chapter Three CAUSES OF LAMINITIS .........................................................26 The edema theory ....................................................................................27 Conditions that have laminitis as a component ...................................30 Equine metabolic syndrome ...................................................................32 Relationship of metabolic hormones and laminitis ............................35 Chapter Four RELATIONSHIPS OF DIET AND THE EQUINE DIGESTIVE TRACT TO LAMINITIS AND FOUNDER ..................................................37 Dietary or stress-related conditions ....................................................38 Horses should be fed according to use and body condition ........................................................................................40 Fructans and laminitis ...........................................................................41 All forage is not the same......................................................................42 Feed supplementation helps repair damage from laminitis and founder ..................................................................45 Chapter Five DIAGNOSIS, PREVENTION AND PROGNOSIS OF LAMINITIS .................................................47 Classifying laminitis and founder based on diagnostic signs.................................................................................47 Mild laminitis ..........................................................................................48 Acute laminitis ........................................................................................48 Mild chronic founder ...........................................................................49 Severe chronic founder .........................................................................49 Preventing laminitis ...............................................................................50 Here are seven ways to help prevent laminitis. ....................................50 Prognostic indicators of laminitis .......................................................52 Lameness classifications ........................................................................53 Grade Classifications..............................................................................53 Radiographic indicators .........................................................................53 Physical examination indicators ............................................................54 Chapter Six CLINICAL OR MEDICAL TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF LAMINITIS AND FOUNDER .................55 Veterinarians and farriers must work together for the best chance of recovery ...................................................................................................55 Recommended clinical management and treatments..........................56 Prognosis ................................................................................................60 Chapter Seven UNDERSTANDING THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE’S FOOT ASSISTS IN TREATING LAMINITIS AND FOUNDER ................................61 The anatomy of the foot must be understood to effectively treat laminitis .................................................................62 The laminar hoof-bone attachment has two sources of blood supply .........................................................................64 Reduced blood supply causes bone remodeling and pain ....................66 Chapter Eight SHOEING OR MECHANICAL TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF LAMINITIS AND FOUNDER ........68 Mechanical treatments: Trimming ........................................................69 Mechanical treatment: Shoeing with a heart bar shoe ......................70 Fitting of the heart bar shoe must be precise ......................................71 Heart bar shoes must be reset frequently ...........................................75 Heart bar shoes are our most effective mechanical treatment tool 76 Refer difficult cases to specialists ........................................................77 Conclusion ..............................................................................................78 ABOUT THE AUTHORS AND CONTRIBUTORS ....................83 Introduction here are many myths and half-truths surrounding lam- initis and founder. Our purpose is to present a practi- Tcal, yet credible, guide for modern horse owners. While we acknowledge the significant work of other equine sci- entists and practitioners on laminitis and founder, many ideas presented here are the result of our own personal re- search and experience. Our desire is to help horse owners make informed de- cisions. Some popular and currently held theories on the causes and treatments of laminitis and founder are at odds with what we present. However, we hope you will consider our professional credibility and successful experiences in trying and testing these techniques. We present the facts as we understand them, and believe them to be sound. This book identifies swelling (edema) of the laminar tis- sues and sublaminar tissues as a cause of laminitis and founder. We will discuss select treatments and procedures. Laminitis and founder are often components or symptoms of another disease or condition which must be treated con- currently or simultaneously. Each case must be considered individually. These discussions should not be interpreted as medical advice. Accordingly, we recommend that you consult with your veterinarian/farrier team regarding the health and care of your horse. In order to have the greatest chance for a successful outcome, the horse owner must become the equine profes- sional’s ally when treating laminitis and founder. We hope this information will help farriers, veterinarians and horse owners work together for the good of the horse. Ultimately, the horse owner must make the final decision as to what is best for the horse. It is important for horse owners to understand the sever- ity of laminitis and founder, and to see how important it is to use sound, time-tested mechanical, as well as medical, treatment regimens. Horses treated with more attention to detail have a greater chance of recovery. We have suc- cessfully treated many animals severely affected by these diseases. However, you must realize that some horses will not recover — no matter how treated. Studies confirm laminitis is a serious problem The seriousness of the laminitis problem in the Unit- ed States can be seen in the results of the 1998 National Animal Health Monitoring System Equine Study by the USDA- APHIS, which reflected these statistics: 74% Recovered 12% Showed no improvement, only got worse 8% Improved, but remained lame 6% Died, naturally or were euthanized Another study a few years ago at Cornell University es- timated that 1-1/2 percent of America’s horse population is affected each year by laminitis (about 100,000 cases). A study in the United Kingdom determined that about 3 per- cent of the horses there are affected (about 20,000 cases). In Canada, the University of Guelph determined by survey that laminitis is the No. 1 equine health concern to horse owners. Yet, it appears that little progress has been made in the prevention and treatment of laminitis in the past 100 years. Today there is an abundance of divergent information concerning laminitis. However, the lack of reliable infor- mation on laminitis and founder has resulted in an appar- ent increase in the incidence and severity of these diseases. We believe horse owners should be well informed before making decisions concerning the welfare of their horses. A good decision can make the difference between a horse liv- ing or dying. It is our goal to provide you with the most re- liable information based on our education and experience with clinical