WHAT FOUNDER IS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 16, 24 February 1914, Page 11

WHAT FOUNDER IS.

Laminitis or founder is one of the most serious diseases' from which the horse is liable to suffer. It is an inflammation of the soft tissues of the hoof "which unite the external horny hoof to the internal pedal bone. An acute attack of this disease causes most intense pain and suffering to the patient. Jti, inflammation of any'tissue, relief is always experienced to a greater or less extent when swelling occurs. It will readily be understood that in the case of a horse's foot, swelling is impossible, enclosed as it is in,,an unyielding hoof, and , the result is in most cases excruciating pain. . ' ' CAUSES OP POUNDER. • The. most ordinary causes are overexertion, hard driving, especially on hard roads, over-feedjng of heating grain as wheat or peas, chills, and sometimes it follows as a sequel to other diseases. One very common predisposing cause is weak feet.. A horse with a good strong foot will not develop laminitis if used in an ordinarily, careful manner, but in a horse with naturally weak feet very little exciting cause is often' sufficient to set up the trouble. ' ... - , • , . • SYMPTOMS. If both front feet are affected, the animal will be almost unable to move, but will stand with his hind legs drawn forward, under the belly and the fore limbs extended forward, in order to the weight of the body as much as possible on the hind legs: If compelled to move, he will lift his feet with great difficulty, and will sometimes groan with pain, while the body will often be wet with sweat. It will be almost impossible to make him move backwards, and if he does so will throw the. weight of the affected feet .on the heels. Often the patient will lie down, and it is difficult to make him rise. TREATMENT'. Gentle purgatives should be administered if the pain intense. Opium or morphine should, be given, and the feet should be kept in wftrm poultices until relief is experienced. In the great majority of cases of'this disease, it will be well to employ veterinary assistance, as serious conditions often follow a case which has not been, properly looked after, and which, not: only renders' the horse useless for months, but will leave Mm with more or deformed feet for the rest of his life, and,, as -a consequence, reduce his value very much. — "Farm and Dairy."

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