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LAMINITIS TRAINING FOR DENGIE SALES TEAM

13th July 2007

Dengie has the most feed products approved by the Laminitis Trust as being idea for horses and ponies prone to laminitis - a total of 4 products.  As part of our on-going committment to helping horse owners cope with this horrible condition, the Dengie sales team spent a day with The Laminitis Clinic, run by Robert Eustace on the 5th July to find out about the latest research and techniques.

The morning was spent looking at the horses at the Clinic who had been referred for treatment and hearing how their treatment was progressing.  What many horse owners may not appreciate is just how long it takes to treat a horse with chronic founder; some of the horses had been at the Clinic for 6 months and would need several months more before they were ready to return home.  It was apparent that the horses and ponies at the Clinic shared one one thing in common and that was that they were all overweight when they arrived.  The "take home" message from the morning really was that obesity significantly increases the risk of laminitis.

After lunch Robert gave a fascinating presentation about laminitis including a photographic history of some of the cases that we had seen in the morning.  The lasting impression of the presentation was just how bad the horse's feet can look in the early stages of treatment and the amazing recovery the horse can make.  Robert was keen to point out that these horses were lucky ones in that he had felt they were treatable; many are not so lucky and so despite the progress that has been made in treating horses and ponies with laminitis, it is still a disease that should be avoided at all costs.

Robert also talked through the feeding and management regimes that he uses which of course included the 4 Dengie products approved by the Laminitis Trust - Hi-Fi Lite, Alfa-A Lite, Alfa-Beet and Healthy Hooves.  As grass is usually the greatest contributor of calories in most horse and pony's diets, ideas were shared on the most effective ways to limit intake.  The Dengie team found the day extremely useful as it provided a graphic reminder as to why we should all be working hard to eradicate this disease.

If you would like more information on diets for horses and ponies prone to laminitis click here.

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