Laminitis of horses (diagnostics and treatment)

Abstract

A special role in the statics and dynamics of locomotor apparatus in horses is played by the functional state of the hoof. The hoof in horses has a rather complicated anatomical-morphological structure, but performs a multifunctional action. This tends to distal limbs until many diseases occur in them. The most common and most dangerous hoof disease in horses is laminitis, which is approximately 41% of other diseases of the hoof. The article presents data on clinical cases of horses laminites. The etiological factors of occurrence of the disease are analyzed, clinical signs are described, a complex of diagnostic measures was carried out – general and special clinical researches, radiological, laboratory, and also treatment of patients with horses.

   Materials for the study were 8 horses with studied, general and special clinical methods. The anamnestic data, the position of the body of the horses and the posture in space were taken into account, the nature of the movement of animals, the presence and nature of bullying were studied. Determined the condition of the soles, arrows, crown, hoof joints. X-ray studies were conducted in two projections. Clinical and biochemical hematological studies were performed.

The rooms for keeping horses were cool, wet, with drafts, without ventilation. Feeding was carried out not enough quality feeds. The disease manifested itself against the backdrop of a symptom complex. When wiring observed lameness of the support limb. For the defeat of all four limbs - the pronounced laminate posture. In the case of the development of acute manifestations of the disease, the horses were unable to move even a step. Temperatures were at the upper limits, breathing, pulse – frequent, horses crossed the limbs, hoofed with high local temperature. A test with hoofed tongs gave a pronounced positive reaction, pulsed arteries. In horses, the arrow and sole deformed, became flat, not even and convex.

In the crown area, inflammatory swelling was formed, fistula was detected in the crown of the fistula from where the inflammatory exudate soaked, as well as the gut-shaped formations, the quality of the hoof worse deteriorated.

The radiography showed the location of the ungulate bone inside the hoofed case, but the presence of a rarefaction zone and resorption of ungulates.

According to the biochemical study, changes in the concentration of γ-glutamyltransferase, total calcium, sodium, phosphorus, decrease in creatinine concentration and elevated albumin have been established.

Treatment of sick animals was carried out by various methods, with the consent of the owners. Animals with a mild degree of defeat prescribed a hungry diet, provided a soft litter, provided complete rest. They prescribed cold procedures, antihistamines, drugs that improve peripheral blood supply, glucocorticoids, drugs for reducing edema, antibiotics.

A puncture of the pulsating arteries and resection of the hook wall were performed, individual horseshoes

Despite the different methods of treating horses, the results were not quite positive. Of the 8 horses in 5, there was an improvement in the general condition, the clinical signs of the disease gradually disappeared, and their dynamics gradually recovered. In other cases, the course of the disease was chronic, and recurrent horses were discarded.