laminitis

lam·i·ni·tis (lm-nts)

n.

Inflammation of a lamina. Also called founder.

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laminitis

a disease of horses and housed dairy cattle, characterized by damage to the sensitive laminae of the hooves, and clinically by severe lameness, especially in the front hooves. There is heat and pain at the coronets and in bad cases protrusion of the third phalanx through the sole of the hoof. Most cases are caused by severe toxemia, as in engorgement on grain or metritis in the mare, and are called metabolic laminitis. Sporadic cases in heavily pregnant, overfat mares are referred to as puerperal laminitis. Some are caused by trauma, such as in pawing due to boredom or in horses transported over long distances without rest, and are called traumatic laminitis. Called also founder.

Typical rings and abnormal hoof growth of chronic laminitis in a horse. By permission from Pascoe R, Knottenbelt DC, Manual of Equine Dermatology, Saunders, 1999