Horse Founder

Horse founder, also referred to as laminitis, is an acutely painful swelling of the foot. It takes place usually in the front feet, however, it can take place in the hind feet as well. Founder is the term used for the tissue that has been affected by the condition, as well as the complications subsequent to a single or a set of acute attacks of laminitis.

What Happens With Founder

In the most severe of cases, irreversible damage to the laminae can occur and the link of the coffin bone to the hoof wall collapses. The entire weight of the horse puts pressure down on the coffin bone, and without the link to the hoof wall, the bone swivels down and can actually be shoved right through the sole to the floor.

Risk Factors And Causes

Various occurrences can result in horse founder. Grazing on lush pasture, obtaining too much grain, consuming lawn grass clippings or drinking excessive amounts of water when overheated can all result in founder. Other instigators of founder include a mare retaining the afterbirth, tough or fast work on a solid surface or lingering too long on a solid surface, and stressful conditions such as colic.

Symptoms

Three stages of founder in horses are recognizable. These stages comprise of developmental, acute and chronic. Developmental laminitis describes the time between the start of the elements that lead to delamination, and the initial display of clinical lameness. While owners are unable to recognize potential founder during this phase, an observant vet who is experienced in dealing with specific breeds and associated health problems will conduct proper therapies.

Acute laminitis may be described as the time between the clinical start of lameness and the stabilization of laminar degeneration or breakdown. It may be as soon as 8 to 12 hours’ length of time if the horse is susceptible to black walnut shavings, or 30 to 40 hours in the incidence of carbohydrate overload. Indications of initial sickness will exist along with lameness, particularly in the front feet. In rare cases, all 4 feet will suffer, where the horse may shift its weight to its hind legs, with the front legs lengthened. The horse may also avoid standing or traveling and prefer to walk with quick foot placement.

Finally, chronic founder in horses takes place when dislocation of the distal phalanx has occurred but no active laminar necrosis exists. Horses with this problem are most probably going to experience repeated episodes of this acute condition. Other indications include abnormal development of the hoof and diverging rings around the hoof wall.

Treatment

Acute horse founder  is always an emergency calling for assistance from a specialist to reduce irreversible damage. First aid precautions include contacting the vet, walking the horse on soft ground to alleviate discomfort through enhanced blood circulation, the administration of appropriate medication (i.e.: NSAIDs) to relieve pain and if the vet is still not available, trimming and applying the appropriate shoes (i.e.: reversed shoes, egg bar shoes, heart bar shoes), and soaking the feet. Soaking the feet in water is often suggested. Antiseptics may be applied to the water, but major treatment of founder requires the assistance and/or recommendation of a vet.