New Jersey university researchers are launching a study to explore the role of microbes in laminitis.
Researchers in the Equine Science Centre at Rutgers University are seeking New Jersey horse owners with animals who may meet the criteria for taking part in the study into the debilitating inflammatory hoof disease.
"Although numerous treatment strategies are available, they are not always effective and the disease continues to be a serious health concern for horses and their owners," the researchers said in outling their plan.
"Further laminitis research is needed to better understand the pathogenesis of the disease.
"This study investigates the hypothesis that microbes play a different role in the development of laminitis than has been previously thought. Our hope is that the research leads to new ways to improve the health of all horses."
The researcher said that chronically laminitic horses suffer repeated bouts of hoof inflammation followed by periods of relatively normal health and function.
"In this study we plan to collect tissue from both naturally chronically laminitic horses and from a control group of non-laminitic horses to determine their respective microbial profiles.
"Horses enrolled in this study will be those for which the owner and private veterinarian have determined that, given the condition and prognosis of the horse, elective euthanasia is the best alternative available.
"All horses participating in the study will be humanely euthanized by a board certified equine veterinarian. Laminitis will not be experimentally induced.
"The university must have confirmation not only from the donor/owner, but also from the veterinarian familiar with the horse's condition that euthanasia is the recommended treatment for this horse."
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