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Joint Diseases...Cause of poor performance and premature diseaseJoint disease accounts significantly for poor performance and economic loss in athletic horses. It may also contribute to a horse's premature death.Prevention and treatmentThe primary key to successful prevention of joint diseases is a balanced diet to supply cartilage, muscles and ligaments with sufficient nutrients. The second key is adequate exercise, which stimulates metabolic exchange and thus the delivery of nutrients into the joints. Ongoing damage can by limited by early recognition of symptoms and prompt treatment.
To prevent irreparable destruction of cartilage the treatment of joint disease has to start early. Therapeutic objectives include limiting inflammation and blocking the release of destructive inflammatory mediators.
Cartilage degradation
Leaving joint inflammation untreated results in erosion of the cartilage. Eventually this leads to significant damage to the cartilage. The damage progresses and develops into degenerative joint disease (DJD) or osteoarthritis. The DJD cannot be cured, only managed, and often leads to premature decease of the horse.
Joint inflammation
Everyday use, training or performance may result in trauma or stress to the joint. Repeated exposure to these factors often initiates inflammation in the synovial membrane and joint capsule. The resulting symptoms are lameness, swelling, and heat. As a consequence of the inflamed synovial membrane, leukocytes invade the joint space. Both synovial membrane and leukocytes release destructive enzymes, free radicals, cytokines and prostaglandins. Left untreated, these inflammatory mediators have a destructive effect upon the cartilage.
Acute Laminitis: Do’s and Don’tsby Ryan Rothenbuhler, DVM ( Vol. 3, Issue. No 2, 2000 )
Laminitis (founder) is a relatively common cause of severe and often debilitating lameness in the horse. Laminitis results when there is disruption of blood flow to the sensitive lamina of the distal phalanx (coffin bone). When there is disruption of the blood flow to the laminae, inflammation and swelling within the hoof result in severe pain and lameness. The resulting death of sensitive lamina leads to a loss of attachment of the sensitive lamina of the bone to the insensitive lamina of the hoof. Once this occurs the coffin bone can rotate away from the front of the hoof wall or sink within the hoof wall 360 degrees (sinking). Laminitis can be acute or chronic. The term founder is often associated with chronic laminitis and resultant rotation or sinking of the distal phalanx within the hoof. The purpose of this article is to investigate the causes, clinical signs, and treatment of acute laminitis. Clinical Signs Lameness is the most common clinical sign associated with laminitis in the horse. It may affect one or all of the feet. Typically it affects the front feet. The front feet are usually affected because they support approximately 60% of the horses body weight. The horse may be reluctant or hesitate to walk, which is usually described as walking on eggshells. When standing still, the horse may appear to have a sawhorse stance. This is due to the horse trying to relieve the pain on the front feet and back feet by placing the front feet out and the back feet positioned under the body. Palpation of the hoof often reveals increased heat. Other clinical signs include bounding or increased digital pulses in the arteries along the flexor tendons (behind the sesamoid bones), treading of the front feet, and a painful response detected over the toe region using hoof testers. Severely affected horses may have blood or serum oozing from around the coronary band. Causes and Risk Factors There are various causes and risk factors associated with laminitis in the horse. Some common causes include: Digestive upsets due to grain overload or sudden changes in the diet Sudden access to lush pasture (spring grass) High fever Colic (horses with damaged intestine) Retained placenta Excessive concussion to the feet when walking on pavement, often known as "road founder" Bedded on black walnut shavings or ingestion of black walnut shavings Excessive weight bearing on one leg due to injury of opposite leg Risk factors associated with laminitis include: Heavy breeds, such as draft breeds (large body weight) Overweight horses Horses on a high grain diet Ponies Unrestricted grain intake Prevention and Treatment When dealing with a horse affected with laminitis, a quick response by the owner and veterinarian can play an important role in the eventual outcome of the disease. Treatment varies depending on the severity of the laminitis, but may include: Treatment of the primary problem (very important in acute cases)
Treating with mineral oil to increase the passage of foodstuffs through the gastrointestinal tract and limit the absorption of bacterial toxins
Dietary restrictions to prevent overeating and obesity
Stabling the horse on soft ground, such as shavings or sand
Encouraging the horse to lie down to reduce pressure on the hoof
Administration of drugs such as antibiotics to fight infection, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce bacterial toxicity, vasodilators to reduce blood pressure and improve blood flow in the hoof, and anticoagulants.
Corrective trimming and therapeutic shoes
Frog support in the way of lily pads or Styrofoam blocks compressed to fit the hoof. By resolving the causes of laminitis the disease may be prevented in many instances. Providing good health and routine hoof care are important preventative measures against the development of laminitis. Early recognition of laminitis and prompt treatment by your veterinarian can help prevent potentially serious side effects associated with laminitis including coffin bone rotation and debilitating lameness.
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