Questions and Answers
Q1: WHAT IS LAMINITIS?
Q2: WHAT IS FOUNDER?
Q3: WHAT CAUSES LAMINITIS AND FOUNDER?
Q4: HOW DOES FEED CAUSE LAMINITIS?
Q5: DO ONLY PONIES FOUNDER?
Q6: DO ONLY FAT HORSES OR POINIES FOUNDER?
Q7: CAN REPEAT ATTACKS OF FOUNDER OCCUR?
Q8: CAN LAMINITIS AND FOUNDER BE PREVENTED?
Q9: DOES FOUNDERGUARD TREAT FOUNDER?
Q10: DOES FOUNDERGUARD HAVE ANY SIDE-EFFECTS?
Q11: DOES FOUNDERGUARD SWAB?
Q12: DOES THE EFFECT OF FOUNDERGUARD WEAR OFF IN TIME?
Q13: IS FOUNDERGUARD AN ECONOMICAL WAY TO PREVENT FOUNDER?
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Q1: WHAT IS LAMINITIS?
A1:
Laminitis is a crippling disorder of the feet, resulting from damage to the sensitive soft tissues known as ‘laminae’ which connect the skeletal pedal bone to the inside of the hoof wall. There are about 600 interlocking laminae in each foot and they provide the support for the weight of the horse.
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Q2: WHAT IS FOUNDER?
A2:
Founder is the physical change that occurs within the feet as a result of laminitis. When the laminae are damaged their supporting function is weakened. This may allow the pedal bone within the hoof to ‘rotate’ downwards and backwards due to the weight of the horse pushing downwards on the bone and the upward pull of the flexor tendon which attaches to the base of the bone. Damage to the laminae can lead to abnormal hoof growth with obvious ‘growth rings’, long toes, flat soles and separation of the sole from the hoof wall at the white line (often followed by ‘seedy toe’).
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Q3: WHAT CAUSES LAMINITIS AND FOUNDER?
A3:
The most common cause of laminitis is overeating of feeds rich in ‘soluble carbohydrates’ (mainly found in cereal grains and lush spring or autumn pasture). Less frequently, laminitis can result from other disorders such as colic, diarrhoea, retained afterbirth after foaling, pneumonia, peritonitis, stress and cancers of the pituitary gland. Laminitis can also be caused by certain drugs, standing for long periods in trucks or floats and by hoof concussion from galloping or jumping on hard surfaces.
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Q4: HOW DOES FEED CAUSE LAMINITIS?
A4:
Feeds rich in starches and sugars can cause a digestive upset in the large intestine. These energy rich nutrients are usually digested in the small bowel, however if eaten in excess they spill over into the large bowel, where they are fermented by certain species of bacteria. This results in production of lactic acid, with many normal bacteria, which live in the bowel to digest fibre being unable to survive the acid conditions. As the acid builds up and bacteria die, toxic substances known as ‘endotoxins’ are released and enter the bloodstream. It is these endotoxins which are thought to damage the laminae, either by a direct toxic effect or by altering the blood flow to the hooves.
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Q5: DO ONLY PONIES FOUNDER?
A5: No! All horses can develop laminitis, although ‘grass founder’ is more common in ponies. Surveys have shown that valuable show and equestrian horses are also at risk of developing laminitis even when fed on hard feeds containing relatively small amounts of grain. It is also now known that many racehorses have a low-grade laminitis, which may only cause mild sore footedness, a scratchy gait and separation at the ‘white line’. However, recent studies have shown the low grade laminitis can significantly affect racing performance.
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Q6: DO ONLY FAT HORSES OR POINIES FOUNDER?
A6:
No! Excess bodyweight does not directly cause laminitis. However, obese horses and ponies are more likely to experience pedal bone rotation and permanent hoof damage due to the extra weight their feet have to support even in a relatively mild case of laminitis.
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Q7: CAN REPEAT ATTACKS OF FOUNDER OCCUR?
A7:
Yes. Once a horse has foundered it is likely to suffer from continued repeated attacks. These horses can become very sensitive to the carbohydrates in feed, which may trigger a founder episode with only small amounts of grain or lush pasture. Symptoms of laminitis can also occur if the horse’s feet are not kept correctly trimmed or the animal is worked on hard surfaces.
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Q8: CAN LAMINITIS AND FOUNDER BE PREVENTED?
A8:
Yes!! Founderguard, a pelleted feed additive can be added to the horses feed each day to prevent the digestive upsets that begin the series of events leading to laminitis and founder. Founderguard controls and suppresses the activity of the bacteria, which produce lactic acid, thus maintaining the gut microbes in the correct balance.
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Q9: DOES FOUNDERGUARD TREAT FOUNDER?
A9: Founderguard is a founder preventative rather than a treatment and cannot correct any physical damage that has already occurred in the feet. However, following an attack of laminitis, Founderguard can help prevent the ‘flare-ups’ that frequently occur in the recovery period. Also remember that once a horse has foundered, it is very susceptible to repeat attacks and Founderguard should be fed daily to minimise the chance of a recurrence.
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Q10: DOES FOUNDERGUARD HAVE ANY SIDE-EFFECTS?
A10: Occasionally Founderguard may cause a decrease in appetite for 3-4 days after daily supplementation is started. This is a normal response and indicates that the horse’s gut microbes are returning to their correct proportions. Founderguard may also cause drier than normal manure for the first week of treatment and a mild laxative diet is recommended in this case ie. Feed 1 litre of wet bran mash per 100kg bodyweight daily mixed into the evening feed.
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Q11: DOES FOUNDERGUARD SWAB?
A11:
No. Founderguard is not absorbed from the digestive tract and cannot be detected in blood or urine samples.
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Q12: DOES THE EFFECT OF FOUNDERGUARD WEAR OFF IN TIME?
A12:
No. Extensive studies indicate that Founderguard provides a high level of protection against carbohydrate overload if it is given continuously for long periods.
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Q13: IS FOUNDERGUARD AN ECONOMICAL WAY TO PREVENT FOUNDER?
A13: Yes. For a pony, Founderguard costs about 40cents per day, for a large horse up to 60cents per day. This is a small price to pay to provide peace of mind against potentially crippling founder in all susceptible horses.