Any systemic upset, such as fever, colic, or getting into something toxic, can trigger an attack. Drinking too much water when hot is another way. Obesity greatly increases the probability of founder. Gorging on grain can do it. Gorging on the new spring grass is another way. Bedding on black walnut shavings is an example of a toxic trigger. Over-use of steroids is another systemic trigger. Many of these can be avoided. Many of these seem to be related to digestion. Retained placenta after foaling another trigger. I have also heard of several incidents where vaccinations, particularly rabies, triggered laminitis. We MAY be over-vaccinating, and there may well be a connection between "spring shots" and founder occuring more often in the spring.
Some medical conditions can make a horse more
likely to founder, such as low thyroid. Low thyroid can result from a pituitary
adenoma, or Cushings Disease--a slow-growing benign tumor, which leads to low
thyroid, high cortisone levels in the blood, rain rot, pot belly, muscle loss, increased
urine output, poor vision, and a propensity to founder. Another sign is a long,
curly coat slow to shed out. The tumor grows slowly and the signs develop
gradually. The tests are ACTH and Dex suppression. There is medication
available to control it, but it is expensive. (Permax, around $100/month, which
makes them less likely to founder and reduces some of the other symptoms.) Dr.
Eleanor Kellon reports getting similar results with Hormonise on Cushings horses,
however, which contains vitex agnus-castus (chaste berry), and is available at Emerald
Valley Botanicals: http://www.emeraldvalleybotanical.com/products.html
"I published the
first article on use of Chastetree berry (aka Vitex agnus castus, aka Monk's
Pepper) in Horse Journal in December, 2000. I agree the liquid extract has
more predictable results. Extracts are always much more potent, and hopefully
manufacturers make at least some effort to purchase from the same sources,
while powders are prone to lose potency over time and vary quite a bit from
batch to batch. I do have clients using berries that they grind fresh each
day. Takes a considerable amount, average of 2 oz for a full size horse. The
original HJ article spurred a larger trial by the Laminitis Trust in the UK.
See
http://www.laminitis.org/Vitex%20trial.html "
There is a email list for discussing Equine Cushings: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EquineCushings/
For more information on Cushings, Insulin Resistance, and Hypothyroidism from Dr.
Kellon,
Click HERE
Some of the symptoms of protein backing up into the system because poor hoof
mechanism not allowing rapid hoof growth and protein utilization, as described in Dr.
Strasser's book, mimic many of these signs, interestingly enough.
Malnutrition is a subtle thing. A horse can be 300 lbs. overweight and still have serious mineral deficiencies; in particular, magnesium. I recently checked with the agricultural lime dealers in my area, who tell me that the only lime available in my area is calcium carbonate. To get dolomite in large quantities for spreading on large fields, you have to go to a quarry in Northern Ohio. So even if you are keeping your fields limed, it is not enough. Add 1 Tbsp. daily of food grade calcium carbonate and an equal amount offood grade magnesium oxide. (The magnesium needs to be balanced with calcium to prevent calcium loss in the bones.)
Mechanical triggers, such as overwork on hard roads, can be lessened by trimming in the short toe-low heel style I have been writing about here. Road founder may have an chemical aspect as well--higher lactic acid levels due to over-exertion.
Excessive iron in their drinking water can be a
culprit. I had mine drinking out of a dug well when I had the most trouble. I
have since hooked up the barn hydrant to a cistern, which gives them rainwater. I
had the water tested, and the cistern water is superior on just about every count to the
well water. (One caveat on cisterns and rain water, though--Linsey McLean of www.vitaroyal.com says that rain
water is getting increasingly contaminated with nitrates and the "acid rain"
problem. There was a very slight trace of nitrates in my cistern water
test, but the concrete holding tank must have counteracted any acidity, as the
pH of the water was OK. Linsey says nitrates inhibit thyroid activity.
Anyone building a cistern should incorporate a drain so they can drain the
water periodically and clean the tank...and put in filter boxes between the
cistern and the downspout where you can run the water through sand, activated
charcoal, etc., before it reaches the tank. I did put in a drain, but I
am sorry I did not insist on filter boxes when the cistern was built.)
For Dr. Dan Pitzen's article on the relationship between excess iron in the water and laminitis, click
on the link below:
http://www.animalsafetyproducts.com/drpitzennutritioniron.htm
(If the link above quits working, Click HERE)
Dr. Eleanor Kellon also has an interesting article on the relationship between
too much iron, and laminitis and insulin resistance:
Iron Status of Hyperinsulinemic/insulin
Resistant Horses
Just how safe IS
your horse's drinking water? The best nutritional program will
still be undermined by polluted drinking water. For a comprehensive water
quality test from Lehman's Hardware, that fabulous place full of 19th century stuff
catering to non-electric living, CLICK HERE
(Go to "Water Dept., then to "Water Filters," and finally to
"Water tests.")
