CAUSES & AVOIDANCE
Most often this is over eating during the lush spring & autumn grass flushes, also horses fed a very high protein diet are prone. It is the fructans (sugars) in the grasses which are the villains of the piece, in particular Perennial rye (Lolium perenne) and Italian rye (Lolium multi-florum) grasses are particularly high in fructans while Meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis) and Timothy (Phleum pratense) are both low. Equine Cushing Disease is another cause as are Diabetes and Insulin Resistance and veterinary advice must be sought to treat it in these cases. Concussion due to fast use on hard roads can predispose to laminitis as can stress or any infection.

TREATMENT
Fructan high grass or over rich hard feed cannot be dealt with effectively by the horses' digestive system and on reaching the hind gut it gives off toxins as it ferments. The liver becomes overwhelmed by toxins and the feet are inflamed as the laminae are forced apart which is very painful. Diet restriction must be put in place at once and only hay is offered during treatment. The vet will give anti-inflammatories, analgesics, extra liquids and underline the dietary factors. Some Complementary Therapies stress the rapid detox of the liver to return it to full function as soon as possible also flushing out the gut and bowel with bran and psyllium to remove the cause of the problem rapidly. Cryotherapy is useful and eases pain as does cold hosing etc.The Laminitis Trust's research into the use of Agnus castus (Monks Pepper, Chaste Tree Berries) which has similar properties to Pergolide used to treat pituitary tumours which nearly always result in laminitis, has been very encouraging.