Act now to prevent increased risk of Laminitis...
Act now to prevent increased risk of Laminitis and itchy skin conditions
Horse owners are being urged to take precautions to tackle a high risk of laminitis and Sweet Itch.
Nettex equine specialist, Serena Kidd describes the mild winter as the perfect storm for increased laminitis and itchy skin conditions, which might affect horses that haven’t previously suffered.
“In most areas of the country, the winter hasn’t been cold enough to kill off midges and the mild start to the year means they’re already active on many yards, increasing the risk of itchy skin conditions,” she says. “At the same time grass paddocks are growing rapidly due to mild conditions and plenty of rain. That means there’s a lot of rich, sugary grass around, which could increase the risk of laminitis.”
Laminitis often starts with a shortened stride and a raised digital pulse, with severe cases causing a “rocking horse” gait. A vet should be called as soon as laminitis is suspected to prevent permanent hoof damage and further health and management challenges.
Serena says: “Climate change means rapid grass growth and laminitis is a potential risk all year round, so it’s worth being conscious of it even if your horse hasn’t had issues before. Any horse can suffer from it and it’s a particular risk if a horse is overfed. A lack of exercise – often not helped by time constraints on busy horse owners – also adds to the risk.”
She advises keeping an eye on ponies that are typically prone to laminitis. A Royal Veterinary College study* found that horses which gained weight were more than twice as likely to suffer from laminitis compared to horses which maintained or lost weight during the same period. It is therefore important to regularly monitor horses’ weight and body condition, so precautionary measures can be taken early.
Feeding horses large amounts of concentrate in one feed can also overload the digestive system, causing undigested sugar and starch to reach the hindgut where it is rapidly fermented by the microbiome. This can damage the gut and release toxins into the blood, also increasing the risk of laminitis.
“You may need to consider reducing the amount of hard feed you’re giving, fitting a grazing muzzle early to lower grass intakes and soaking hay to reduce the sugar content,” Serena says. “Also think about grazing management and consider restricting allocations or just turning them out for shorter periods. But don’t starve them. When a horse doesn’t eat, they don’t produce as much saliva so there’s less buffer in the stomach and hindgut. This can lead to higher acid levels that can cause further digestive problems.”
Serena advises feeding the prebiotic and probiotic supplement, Nettex Gut Balancer to help support overall digestive health and the maintenance of a healthy gut microbiome. It has no added sugar and provides a full vitamin and mineral package for horses and ponies on restricted diets and longer periods of stabling.
With insects and biting flies already active in many areas on warm days, now is also the time to prevent the onset of itchy skin conditions.
“If you’ve got a horse that’s prone to itchy skin, applying Nettex Summer Freedom salve now can help combat insects and biting flies, which can cause a never-ending itch, scratch, rub cycle, and misery for horses. Don’t leave it until you’ve already got a rubbed mane and tail. If you start early, you should only need to apply it once a week. Once horses have started itching and rubbing, it might be needed daily to break the cycle,” she explains.
As flies and midges are attracted to sweat, grease and build-up of dirt and scurf, skin should be washed and cleaned as regularly as possible, particularly after exercise. Consider using a no rinse wash to refresh and restore coat condition.
References:
*Pollard, D., Wylie, C.E., Verheyen, K.L.P. and Newton, J.R., 2019. Identification of modifiable factors associated with owner-reported equine laminitis in Britain using a web-based cohort study approach. BMC veterinary research, 15(1), p.59.
