Remember: laminitis can be triggered in the winter conditions too

Remember: laminitis can be triggered in the winter conditions too

Veterinarians will tell you that although they see an increased incidence of laminitis when the spring and early summer grass shoots up, they also see cases at other times of the year including in the winter. The production of rich spring grass is but just one trigger of this condition.  There are other triggers and the winter can also be problematic...

High protein content is not necessarily the causative factor of laminitis.  It has become evident that a nutrient group called soluble complex carbohydrates are key to the condition. These nutrients cause changes in the balance of the digestive bacteria of the hind gut.  Subsequently, large amounts of lactate producing bacteria can then develop which produce exotoxins releasing enzymes from the basement membrane of the hoof laminae which cause inflammation and separation of the hoof from the live dermal laminae.