Colitis And Laminitis

Colitis is the inflammation of the colon in horses.

Colitis and laminitis.

Unfortunately it is often the secondary complications which govern whether an outcome is successful or not. Learn to recognize the signs symptoms early and what treatments your vet could recommend for your horse. Laminitis is secondary to a primary inflammatory septic illness such as colitis septicaemia peritonitis retained placenta carbohydrate grain overload. This includes equine cushing s disease metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.

The rapid fermentation process causes huge changes within the gut which can result in gut damage the development of severe diarrhoea colitis and the absorption of toxins into the bloodstream. Figure 2 severe diarrhoea in horses colitis may result in laminitis figure 3 retained afterbirth in mares is a risk factor for systemic illness and inflammatory laminitis. Colitis refers to inflammation of the inner lining of the colon. Once this process has begun colitis quickly follows and may be accompanied by a range of disorders ranging from colic and diarrhea to colonic ulcers and laminitis.

For this reason treatment and prevention of colitis can be influenced by appropriate management and feeding practices such as. Laminitis as a result of the toxaemia colitis can affect adults of all ages but horses between the ages of 2 and 10 years old are more often affected. Horses that are severely ill due to some type of systemic disease such as pneumonia colitis or endometritis may also develop laminitis. Symptoms of colitis depend upon the cause and may include.

This mare has had ice placed around her feet to help prevent laminitis from developing. Laminitis inflammation of the lamina inside the hooves thrombosis a blood clot and other coagulation issues. In other forms of acute and severe laminitis related to systemic inflammatory response syndrome sirs that develops from colitis inflammation of the colon endotoxemia presence of an endotoxin. Once this process has begun colitis quickly follows and may very likely precede a range of disorders from colic and diarrhea to colonic ulcers and laminitis.

Increasing forage intake by providing free choice hay. Although it is still unclear it is thought that the toxins may disrupt blood supply to the laminae and increase the risk of laminitis. Early diagnosis is crucial and your horse will be referred to an equine referral hospital for intensive treatment as soon as there is a suspicion of the condition.