How to reduce the risk of spring time laminitis!

Caring for horses in the spring comes with one big challenge - the lush pastures.  While horses love them, spring time pastures are often associated with laminitis.  As the days lengthen, the sun tells grasses and plants to rev up photosynthesis.  This increases the starches, sugars, and fructans of grasses.  The cool nights of spring also increase the starches, sugars, and fructans. 

These ingredients make spring grass delicious, and laminitis inducing.  There’s a wide array of scientific research that links large amounts of sugar intake to laminitis risk. As the sugars enter the large colon, they are feasted up by your horse’s microbial population, which changes the pH of the large colon.  The change in pH causes the intestinal wall to permeate and leak digestive toxins, which migrate to the hoof. 

 There is also loads of scientific evidence that links increased insulin levels to laminitis, as the insulin interferes with the soft tissue in the hoof, making it more likely to develop into laminitis. 

So what can you do?

• Have your Vet give your horse a complete physical, including bloodwork.  There are specific tests available to monitor insulin levels as well as the other factors that make up the different types of metabolic conditions.  Knowing if your horse has a metabolic issue can help you create a diet that is safe.
• Monitor the weight of your horse.  Use a tape - your eyes are deceiving!  Horses that gain weight put more stress on their legs and hooves, and have an increased chance of metabolic issues.
• Keep exercising your horse!  This is crucial for his health, and can help you keep your horse healthy.  And it’s fun!
• Monitor your horse’s digital pulse daily.  It takes seconds to do, and can alert you to a problem in the hoof long before lameness sets in.  You can learn how to do this with the handy video, below!

• Talk to your Vet about a magnesium supplement, which might help with insulin levels.  Of course your horse’s entire diet needs to be evaluated, as you don’t want to add too much.
• Use dry lots or sacrifice areas instead of turning out into grass. 
• If you must turn out on grass, use muzzles.  There are dozens of styles, each with varying degrees of eating freedom.  Make sure your horse can drink with one on. 

If you do end up with a case of laminitis, you can use the Laminitis Kit to keep your horse's hooves cold - reducing inflammation and providing some pain relief. Learn more about the laminitis kit here!