Steps to Avoid Laminitis

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The management goals in preventing ‘grass’ founder should be observed from the start of spring or following late summer rains, when pastures are likely to grow rapidly and produce either fructan sugars (spring pastures), or high soluble carbohydrates that overload into the hindgut of grazing horses (autumn pastures).

1. Restrict access to lush spring pastures to 1 ½ hours in the early to mid-morning (after the dew has dried off) and again in the mid to late afternoon, as the peak production of fructan sugars in the leaves of the plant from sunlight photosynthesis occurs over the late morning to mid afternoon period.

2. Do not leave susceptible horses and ponies out to graze overnight during cool nights or on lush pasture.
Although the concentration of fructan sugars in the leaves decreases at night as they are transferred to the plant stems, horses and ponies often instinctively graze in the early evening and can take in large volumes of grass. Even if hay is offered in the evening to reduce the desire to graze, many horses and ponies will instinctively graze after consuming hard feeds and hay.

3. Always soak good quality grass hay, eg. grass and clover hay grown in early spring containing high levels of fructan sugars or soluble carbohydrates, for 1 hour in double its volume of lukewarm water. Remove and air dry and drain away the water. Do not add the soaking water to the feed. Ensure that the hay is free of mould or a “musty” smell for up to 60 minutes after soaking or until it is dry. A polywoven chaff bag is a suitable soaking bag to reduce leaf loss.

4. Offer chaff or ‘soaked’ hay before turning out to graze in the early morning or late afternoon to fill the stomach and limit the rate of fill when grazing as well as dilute the intake of fructan grasses.

5. Consider the daily use of Virginiamycin (Founderguard)® to suppress D-lactic acid producing bacteria and the cascade of damaging bacterial toxins during high risk periods, or a Foundermask to limit grazing.

6. Regular exercise in ‘cresty’ overweight ponies, that are insulin insensitive, can help reduce the risk of laminitis by utilizing more glucose on a daily basis.

7. Maintain short toes by ensuring the horses/ponies hooves are trimmed every 3-4 weeks so that there is less rotational force on the pedal bone on any devitalized laminae that are coping with the effects of circulating toxin. Long toes increase the deep flexor tendon downward rotation force on the pedal bone in standing animals, especially overweight horses with low heels as a result of chronic laminitis.