At some point, most horse owners are bound to encounter laminitis, a common lameness issue that affects horses of all ages. The source of severe pain and pressure is inflammation around the coffin bone in the horse’s hoof. The location of the swelling is within the laminae, the layer of tissue that connects the coffin bone to the hoof wall.
Signs of laminitis include increased tail swishing, a reluctance to walk or move, tender-footedness, increased time spent lying down, a sawhorse stance and shifting weight between limbs. Affected horses may also exhibit generalized anxiety and sweating. As well, owners may notice increased heat over the hoof and an increased digital pulse in the affected lower limb. A sudden onset of lameness fitting these clinical signs is an emergency. Since early intervention is critical to the horse’s outcome, you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
A change in blood supply to the laminae can lead to a separation between the bone and hoof wall, and in serious cases, permanent rotation and/or sinking of the coffin bone will develop. Vets use radiography (x-rays) to confirm changes in the coffin bone’s orientation, which can be evident as early as three days after the initial incident.