Equine Laminitis: A retrospective study of 55 cases (2000-2004)

Abstract

Laminitis is a common equine disease. In order to have a good prognosis, prompt therapy is essential. Fifty-five cases of equine laminitis, that were treated in the Clinic of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, were included in this study. More specifically, the clinical presentation and the diagnostic approach are described and the therapeutic protocol is evaluated. At the same time, the literature is reviewed as far as the epidemiology, the pathogenesis, the clinical signs, the diagnosis and the treatment is concerned. It is worth mentioning that several therapeutic protocols have been put forward for the treatment of laminitis, perhaps due to the fact that its pathogenesis is still under dispute. Prolonged rest, frog support, cols hosing of the feet, severe diet, administration of antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug were the key points of the protocol of this study that led to extremely good results for the majority of the cases.