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Laminitis, a serious hoof condition that cripples many horses, can be caused by a number of different things. Ingestion of moldy feed, retained placentas in mares, and colitis or other gastrointestinal tract infections are only a few of the scenarios that can result in inflammation that affects the sensitive tissues within the hooves. The result is pain, swelling, and disrupted circulation, often leading to untreatable tissue damage that eventually causes the horse to be humanely destroyed.

Managing laminitis is difficult because damage to the hoof structures has already taken place by the time the horse shows signs of pain. Therefore, recognizing the risk that laminitis could follow certain conditions is important. If the right measures are taken before the horse shows signs of discomfort, some equines can be spared the full-blown disease.

A century ago, horses that had gorged on grain, a common cause of laminitis, were taken to stand in a cold pond or stream for many hours. The treatment was successful, often preventing or lessening the severity of laminitis in the following days. The same principle is used today and is equally effective, though a different technique is used. Cryotherapy, or treatment with cold, can be done by standing the horse in very cold water or ice, or applying ice packs to the hooves.

A study conducted by researchers from Michigan State University and Ohio State University was designed to evaluate the worth of cryotherapy when used on horses that were being treated for colitis and were therefore at increased risk for laminitis. The researchers reviewed the records of 130 horses with colitis that did or did not get cryotherapy. None of the horses showed signs of laminitis before the cryotherapy treatment was conducted.

Only 10% of the horses that were treated with cryotherapy developed laminitis. In contrast, one-third of the horses that were not treated with cryotherapy developed laminitis. Though the number of horses in this sample was not extremely large, results seem to indicate a significant reduction in the chance of a horse developing laminitis when cryotherapy is used as a preventive measure for horses suffering from an inflammatory condition such as colitis.

It is thought that cryotherapy helps because of the analgesic effects of long-term exposure to cold and slowed metabolic processes within the hooves. As the hoof tissues become chilled, the need for glucose by their internal structures decreases. This reduced rate of metabolism for the tissues encased in the hoof capsule helps to preserve structures that could otherwise be damaged because of the compromised blood circulation related to laminitis.

Veterinary care should be sought as soon as possible for horses that have ingested too much grain or that have developed any other condition that may be followed by laminitis. When in doubt, owners should check with a veterinarian and explain what has happened to the horse. The veterinarian can advise as to whether or not the horse needs treatment to care for the immediate problem or to prevent future consequences like laminitis.

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