Founder in Horses: Signs, Prevention, + Treatment
What is Founder in Horses?
Founder, also known as laminitis, is a condition that affects horses' hooves. A horse’s hoof has an internal structure supporting the bones within the hoof capsule referred to as laminae. With founder, the laminae swell and lose proper blood flow. The loss of blood flow can cause severe issues for your horse’s feet.
Horses are on their feet for massive portions of the day, and their heavy weight can cause further damage to the skeletal issues around the hoof. Founder is often a symptom of a more severe problem with your horse. Most horses experience founder in their front feet, but occasionally you will see a case in the rear hooves.
What Causes Founder in Horses?
Founder can be an acute condition or a chronic condition.
Acute Causes
Acute illnesses such as colic or high fever can trigger founder. These conditions increase inflammation throughout the entire body, including the laminae.
Additionally, grain overload and consumption of toxins can cause founder. Grain overload is when your horse eats far too much grain quickly.
Any injury to the hoof or lower leg will cause inflammation in the laminae. Many veterinarians refer to this type of founder as a mechanical founder.
Finally, steroids are a common cause of founder. Veterinarians use steroids to treat several conditions. However, one side effect is swelling throughout the body.
Chronic Causes
Common chronic causes of founder include:
- Obesity
- Insulin Issues
- EMS
- PPID
- Imbalanced Diet
Many of these causes are linked as a horse ages. Moreover, obesity can lead to many other causes on this list.
What are the Symptoms of Founder?
Founder exhibits primarily visual symptoms around the hoof. Overall, the symptoms of founder are:
- Lameness which quickly progresses to non-weight bearing
- Hoof sensitivity
- Increased heat on the hoof wall
- Rings on the hoof wall
- Widening of the white line
- Flattening of sole
- Leaning back on hindquarters to alleviate pressure on the front feet
How Do Veterinarians Diagnose Founder?
Veterinarians will use x-rays and blood work to diagnose the underlying cause of the laminae swelling and founder. They will also perform a physical exam of the lower leg and hoof.
You must expect questions about your horse’s diet and exercise routine. A hoof tester can assess the hoof's digital pulses and the hoof's sensitivity.
How Do We Treat Founder in Horses?
For minor cases of founder, your veterinarian will prescribe anti-inflammatory medication. The anti-inflammatory medication will help with the swelling but will not treat the underlying cause.
Additionally, your veterinarian will restrict your horse to stall rest. This will give time to treat the real cause of the founder. Obesity, poor diet, and insulin issues will all be treated with proper diet and other insulin treatments.
For some causes, antibiotics may be necessary. Finally, proper shoeing will help relieve initial lameness.
Handling Founder in Your Horse
Founder is a condition a horse can fully recover from if caught early enough. However, delayed treatment can lead to lifelong issues. If you think your horse is suffering at any point, please visit your veterinarian immediately. Founder or any other problems affecting your horse’s gait should be addressed as soon as systems are noticed.