TEXAS VET NEWS By Dr. Bob Judd, DVM and the Texas Farm Bureau Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network

Laminitis and founder are related conditions that can occur in horses at any age and can have devastating consequences.  Dr. Rustin Moore from Ohio State recently reviewed the treatments for this condition. The first treatment we are going to talk about is cryotherapy.  Prolonged continuous cryotherapy involves cooling the tissue of the fetlock and hoof area by applying ice slurry to it.  It has been shown that cryotherapy for 48 continuous hours does not cause damage to the tissue and decreases blood flow.  Also, because of a lack of muscle tissue in the horse’s pastern, there is no reflex increase in blood flow after the cold ice slurry is removed.  The studies that have showed success in preventing laminitis with cryotherapy have been done before and during the developmental phase and we don’t know how effective it is on treating the condition in horses already affected. 

Another commonly used treatment in laminitis is use of the drug acepromazine.  Acepromazine has been shown to increase circulation to the equine digit but the question is whether that helps with prevention or treatment of the condition.  There is currently no evidence to show that acepromazine really helps in treatment of laminitis.  Another drug used is nitroglycerine cream, which is placed on the pastern to increase circulation to the digit.  However, studies have shown nitroglycerine do not have any effect on blood flow and is really of no help.  Drugs that have been shown to be effective are non steroidal inflammatory drugs, such as phenylbutazone, also called bute.  All horses at risk for developing laminitis should probably be treated with bute at recommended doses.  

Hear the audio of this program at the Texas Farm Bureau Network.

Date Published: 2/16/2009 10:52:00 AM