10. Once laminitis has occurred, later episodes can be caused by relatively minor stresses.

• Careful management reduces risk of recurrent acute episodes.
• Gradual weight loss is beneficial to overweight horses.
• Shoeing and footcare are essential.
• Level of exercise is dependent on severity of problem.

9. Mechanical forces acting on the hoof can lead to structural collapse of the hoof wall and the following results:

• A poorly attached coffin bone can be driven down under the horse’s weight, tearing arteries and veins, crushing the corium of sole and coronet.
• This causes severe pain and lameness.
• The deep digital flexor tendon — when loaded — can worsen rotation of coffin bone.

8. Not all cases of chronic laminitis are catastrophic or life-threatening, but the predominant problem with such cases is secondary complications such as:

• Hoof cracks
• Wall separation.
• Abscess formation.

7. “Obesity and laminitis syndrome” is responsible for many cases of laminitis previously blamed on equine Cushing’s disease or hypothyroidism.

• Diagnosis is made by clinical signs, age of the horse and laboratory testing.
• Glucose and insulin may be high in both equine Cushing’s disease and obesity and laminitis syndrome.
• Plasma thyroid hormones may be abnormally low with obesity and laminitis syndrome.
• Obesity and laminitis syndrome seems to be caused by abnormally low levels or activity of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which regulates steroidal activity within the tissues.

6. Maintaining submural blood supply during the developmental phase of laminitis with calcium channel blockers and/or rheologic agents may reduce the severity of laminitis.

• A prolonged…