Veterinarian and Farrier Relationship in Treating Laminitis and Founder

“Laminitis and founder is a complicated systemic disease that severely affects a horse’s feet. For the best chance of success in the management and treatment of the disease, veterinarians and farriers must work together.  The horse owner assumes the economic responsibility to attempt to restore a horse to health and, therefore, has the choice to engage cooperative caregivers.

When interviewing farriers and vets, ask each of them if they have someone they routinely work with on laminitis/founder cases.  If they cannot name someone they can recommend, keep searching.  You are looking for a team that can work together with you to solve a complex and potentially deadly problem.

Farriers may understand the mechanical aspects of the problem, but not the medical aspects.  Veterinarians may understand the medical aspects, but not the mechanical.  A combination of the two treatments is necessary to solve a horse’s problem when it is foundered. The cause must be determined and the swelling, pain and systemic conditions must be treated by the veterinarian.  The farrier must provide the bone column support while the horse grows a new hoof.”

Excerpted From The Book Laminitis & Founder: Prevention and Treatment for the Greatest Chance of Success By Dr. Doug Butler and Dr. Frank Gravlee.

J. Frank Gravlee, DVM, MS, CNS
Founder of Life Data Labs, Inc.
Developer of Farrier’s Formula^®