What does founder mean for a horse?

Answer 1

Founder is the common term for acute (recent) pain and inflammation in the hooves. It is often a result of eating too rich of feed too quickly, such as when a horse breaks into the grain room and gorges on sweet feed. The inflammation causes the sensitive lamina (soft tissue structures that hold the tough hoof wall onto the bone of the hoof) to swell and then become damaged or die. This can result in anything from mild damage to the hoof wall to a complete loss of the hoof necessitating euthanasia for humane reasons.

Answer 2

This would depend on what form of Founder or Laminitis the horse has developed. There is Chronic and Acute varieties. The Chronic form can be stable or unstable and will be with the horse permanently. The Acute form comes on suddenly due to certain factors, such as over eating grains or similar. Both forms require Pain management and specialized hoof care. Some horses will do better barefoot, while others will need therapeutic shoes and possibly foam pads to soften the ground. Many horses can experience some relief through cold hosing or icing of the feet. For horses with poor circulation Vasodialation of the blood vessels would be beneficial. Some equine vets can cut tendons, ligaments or remove portions of the hoof to allow release of pressure. There is no 100% cure for Laminitis/Founder.

Answer 3

There isn't "a" founder on a horse that I know of, but there is a disease called founder, it is also known as lamintis

Answer 4

It means the laminae has lost its support and has fallen down, putting pressure on the hoof, and will cause a horse to go lame. You can read about what causes founder in the related links.

Answer 5

NO. The horse is lame. It should be either be laid down( off its hoofs) or at least on a soft ground (wood shavings)

Answer 6

horses founder founder is when a horse is left out on grass too long and their foot pushes out

Answer 7

You cannot get rid of founder (Laminitis) in horses. You can however manage the symptoms and pain associated with it through dietary, farrier, work, and living condition changes.