VET LETTER: Some top tips to prevent Laminitis this season
Laminitis is a very painful and debilitating disease. Prevention is always better than cure. When it is not treated quickly or correctly it can cause permanent damage. Horse owners should always monitor their horses’ diets carefully, feed in accordance with your horse’s workload and type.
- Dieting ponies and horses should be given around 1.25-1.5 per cent of their body weight in food – this includes any grass and hay intake.
- Feed little and often this mimics the horse’s natural feeding pattern to help keep the digestive system working correctly. It will also satisfy the horse’s need to chew and prevents boredom.
- Never starve a horse or pony as this can lead to serious health problems, only feed high fibre, low carbohydrate and low sugar products. It is best to avoid feeding cereal mixes and molassed products. In order for the horse to maintain a healthy hindgut, a probiotic supplement can be added to the horse’s diet. TIP Use a Vitamunch block in the stable to prevent boredom and aid slow feeding.
- Restrict grass intake by using electric tape to strip graze or use a well fitting grazing muzzle.
- Sometimes turning a horse out at night and bringing it in during the day can help as there are less fructans in the grass at night.
- Do not turn a horse out on lush or frosted grass.
- Maintain a good exercise programme to prevent obesity.
- Ensure a farrier attends to their feet strictly every four to five weeks, depending on the horse. This will ensure that the foot is in the best possible condition to prevent laminitis. Feed supplements can be given to promote good hoof growth.
- As soon as the horse/pony becomes slightly lame or ‘pottery’, remove it from the grass until it is completely sound.
- Check the horse’s crest on a regular basis; if it becomes hard, remove the horse from the grass immediately until it softens.
There are a number of feed products in store that can help with laminitic prone ponies, do give us a call if you would like any advice.