Equine
Laminitis: Part 1 – Causes, clinical signs and how to diagnose laminitis
By Lauren Lamb, DVM
Laminitis is a common disease seen in horses of all ages. It is a severe, debilitating and painful disease that affects the horse’s feet. Laminitis is commonly seen in the front feet, but can be seen in the back feet or in worst cases scenarios all four feet. Before we get too far in our discussion of laminitis, let’s go back and review the anatomy of the horse’s foot and how this anatomy is related to laminitis. Lamina are tiny (millimeters in thickness) finger-like projections that attach the coffin bone to the hoof wall. There are two sets of lamina.
The sensitive lamina are attached to the coffin bone and extend out to the hoof wall. The non-sensitive lamina are attached to the inside of the hoof wall and extend out to the coffin bone. The sensitive and non-sensitive lamina interdigitate with each other, attaching the hoof wall to the coffin bone. This attachment supports the horse’s weight. The sensitive lamina can have a significant amount of blood flow but no blood flow in the non-sensitive lamina.
Another anatomical structure that needs to be discussed is the deep digital flexor tendon. The deep digital flexor tendon attaches to the back/bottom of the coffin bone and is responsible for flexion of the coffin, pastern, fetlock and knee joints. The deep digital flexor tendon pulls on the back of the coffin bone and places pressure on the lamina on the front of the foot. Normal healthy lamina resist the pressure placed on them by the deep digital flexor tendon.
The term laminitis literally means inflammation of the lamina. The sensitive lamina can become severely inflamed. The cause of this inflammation can be secondary to several different factors, which we will discuss later. The inflammation will weaken or kill the sensitive and non-sensitive lamina, which can result in the coffin bone rotating or sinking in the hoof capsule.
To read more pick up a copy of the December 2017 NTFR issue.
By Krista Lucas Wynn
The American Western Weekend on March 8-9 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, was a weekend full of rodeo competition that fans looked forward to for the past 10 years. The night of the American rodeo is something cowboys and cowgirls have worked hard for, in order to have a chance to win a $1,000,000 prize.
The top five from the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo were invited to compete alongside five contenders. The invitees were vying for a $100,000 paycheck for first place, and if a qualifier won their event and was the only qualifier to do so, he or she walked away with $1,000,000.
In the bareback riding, Kade Sonnier, Keenan Hayes, Jess Pope, and Tilden Hooper made it out of the long round of 10 to advance to the final four-shootout round. WNFR qualifier, Sonnier, made a 90.5-point ride on Agent Lynx to win the $100,000.
To read more, pick up a copy of the May issue of NTFR. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Phillip Kitts
The mystique and imagined glory of the rodeo road call many young people’s names. As they grow up, they watch the greats of the sport run from rodeo to rodeo and occasionally land on the television giving the perception of the rockstar lifestyle.
No, the glory of the rodeo road is not as grand as, say, the National Football League or the National Basketball Association, but being an athlete competing in front of the yellow chutes of Vegas is just as big a deal, and in every way, can be compared to competing in a Super Bowl.
However, things sure are different in the rodeo world. Let us take a minute and talk about what seem to be simple things in life that impact rodeo and rodeo athletes that in no way would make a difference to the big-money sports.
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Garrett Metcalf, DVM
It is common for horse owners to have a horse with a wound or laceration at some point in their life. Sometimes small lacerations can be perceived as benign, inconsequential problems that do not need immediate veterinary attention and are managed by the owners or trainers initially. Unfortunately, these simple-looking wounds can involve very important anatomical structures that can lead to serious infections that can be life-threatening or, at best career-limiting, for the horse.
Large wounds tend to get all the attention from owners or trainers because when they occur they are so obvious and visually appalling that medical attention is sought almost immediately. Those types of large wounds can be devastating, but they often involve the upper body regions of the horse, which heal better and often don’t involve structures such as joints or tendons.
To read more, pick up a copy of the March issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
-
Country Lifestyles1 year agoScott & Stacey Schumacher: A Growth Mindset
-
Equine8 months agoThe Will to Win
-
Country Lifestyles7 years agoStyle Your Profile – What your style cowboy hat says about you and new trends in 2017
-
Country Lifestyles4 years agoAmber Crawford, Breakaway Roper
-
HOME7 years agoGrazing North Texas – Wilman Lovegrass
-
Country Lifestyles7 years agoDecember 2016 Profile, Rusty Riddle – The Riddle Way
-
Outdoor9 years agoButtercup or Primrose?
-
Country Lifestyles8 years agoJune 2016 Profile – The man behind the mic: Bob Tallman