Laminitis Flashcards
Definition
- inflammation of the laminae of the foot
Founder
- laminitis so severe that all the laminae in the hoof cease functioning and the pedal bone has dropped down
BUT - term used interchangeably with laminitis
What is the weight bearing structure of the hoof?
- the hoof wall
- (the frog takes some of it)
What are the 2 types of laminae in the hoof
- sensitive laminae (attached to the coffin bone)
- insensitive laminae (attached to the hoof wall)
Pathophysiology
- dermal lamellae (P3) and epidermal lamellae (hoof) are strongly bonded
- to allow hoof growth this bond is released slightly via the action of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)
- MMP are catabolic enzymes
- laminitis is the degeneration then failure of interdigitation between P3 and inside of hoof wall -> breakdown & separation
- excess MMP activity is involved
- mechanisms not fully understood but several dz processes are implication
- sliding scale of severity (not a binary dz)
Where does hoof wall grow from?
- the coronary band
How long does it take the hoof wall to grow from the coronary band to the sole?
- 6m
- less (~4m) for the palmar/plantar aspect
Endocrine causes
- EMS
- PPID
Non-endocrine causes
- toxic
- support limb laminitis
- corticosteroid induced
Obesity/EMS causing laminitis
- increased bodily fat reduces the cellular response to insulin -> insulin resistance/dysregulation
- cells remove less glucose from bloodstream ->hyperglycaemia
- body produces more insulin to try to combat the hyperglycaemia (negative feedback loop) -> hyperinsulinaemia
- excess insulin in bloodstream stimulates excess MMP production increasing the risk of laminitis
Probably the most common cause of laminitis
Toxic causes of laminitis
concurrent to:
1. compromised bowel e.g. colitis, enteritis, strangulation
2. severe infection e.g. RFM/sepsis
- bacterial endotoxin enters the bloodstream -> endotoxaemia
- MMP production is increased
PPID causing laminitis
- excess ACTH also causes hyperinsulinaemia
- endocrinopathic causes of laminitis are closely interlinked
Support limb laminitis
- severe lameness in 1 limb causes excessive weight bearing in contra-lateral limb, e.g. fracture with inadequate stabilisation
- prolonged pressure within the hoof of the ‘non-lame’ limb reduces blood flow to the laminae causing hypoxia
- hypoxia causes inflammation and MMP production
- therefore, support limb laminitis is often unilateral
Corticosteroid induced laminitis
- exogenous glucocorticoid
– rare (0.15% in a study)
– different glucocorticoids have different risks, e.g. preds very low, others (e.g. triamcinolone) much higher - stress
– endogenous glucocorticoids increase - induce hyperinsulinaemia and subsequent increased MMP production
- risk greater in animals that are already susceptible e.g. EMS
- discuss this risk with O before corticosteroid injection
- recommend taking blood insulin test before administering corticosteroids (even for asthma) in fat horses
Signalment
Age
- no consistent predisposition but foal & weanlings rarely affected (likely bc they’re growing so all their glucose is going into growing, also they’re not old enough for the endocrine disorders)
Breeds
- occurs in all breeds of horse, but natives/ponies predisposed
- donkeys can be severely affected
- the heavier the horse the more difficult it will be to treat, e.g. draughts/shires
Sex
- no predisposition