Vigilance urged after major spike in cases of laminitis

Vets across the country are seeing a large number of horses with the potentially fatal condition

- BECKY MURRAY

VETS have urged owners to be on guard following a spike in laminitis. Practices have reported a higher-than-usual number of cases this year, which “needs to be taken seriously”.

H&H vet Karen Coumbe said Bell Equine, Kent, has seen a “huge number” of recent cases, and more than last year.

“It’s not just the fat ponies, we’re seeing it across the board,” she said. “The grass is a huge contributory factor, but it’s multifactorial; hormones, horses that are overweight and insufficient exercise.

“Laminitis is an awful disease, sadly with poor outcomes in many cases, despite everyone’s best efforts, and prevention has to be better than cure. The key message is watching your horse’s weight and being aware of what you’re feeding. It is always best to look at the bigger picture.”