LAMINITIS ISSUE 26_Jerkins feature.qxd 18/10/2012 00:59 Page 2
LAMINITIS AND CRYOTHERAPY
Applying cold to the lower aspect of the leg where there is little muscle or soft tissues will, in theory, cool the blood flowing to the foot, causing the metabolism in the lamellae in the hoof to be reduced, therefore decreasing inflammation and the amount of blood reaching the lamellae. Right and below right: diagram showing acute laminitis and laminitis rotation (below)
“Cryotherapy should be considered for any horse that is ill or has a fever, before any signs of laminitis begin to develop,” recommends Clark. Orsini concurs and adds, “Continuous cryotherapy is an evidence-based treatment that when instituted early and until resolution of the primary disease, is an effective preventative for laminitis. This technique is used all the time in horses identified as at-risk for laminitis.” What exactly does cryotherapy entail? Two or three full days of constant cold applied to the lower aspect of the horse’s limbs. The theory is that applying cold to the lower aspect of the leg where Thoroughbreds have little muscle or soft tissues will cool the blood flowing to the foot. In turn, the metabolism in the lamellae in the hoof (the sensitive tissue of the foot that essentially hold the coffin bone to the hoof wall) will be reduced, inflammation and pain is decreased, and the blood vessels will constrict, thereby decreasing the amount of blood reaching the lamellae. What’s the catch? The current statistics show that for cryotherapy to be effective in horses at
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