If a horse has foundered, how long till the rotation of the coffin bone starts?

Question

I would like to know how can I tell if a horse has foundered in the past ?
If a horse has founder or laminitis, does the rotation of the coffin bone start right away or is there a time span before it does happen? Please I need to know the time span?

Answer 1

There is definitely a difference in stages of laminitis, which doesn't always mean the horse is "foundered". A horse is said to be foundered when the boney column has sunk. This happens after a severe laminitis attack that causes a tremendous loss of the laminar attachments that "velcro" the hoof bone (coffin bone) to the hoof wall. Every horse will go through some stage of laminitis at some point in its life, but that doesn't mean it has foundered. "Rotation" occurs when the laminar attachments loosen but not eough for the bony column to sink. Either of these problems is excruciatingl painful to the horse. The speed at which the bone detaches or sinks is related directly to how much laminar damage has been done. Some horses go through a laminitis attack and never lose attachments. Some horses get laminitis and within hours have already started sinking; some will rotate days after the initial laminitic episode. There are various causes of laminitis, with the most common being a carbohydrate overload or post parturition(foaling) hormone imbalances.

Most horse owners are completely unaware that their horse is suffering from a laminitis attack until it is well advanced. The first 8 to12 hours are the most critical in preventing any rotation or sinking. Unfortunately it usually isn't until the horse is visibly lame and in distress that the horseowner realizessomething is wrong; even then all too often the vet/farrier team isn't called in because the owner thinks the horse is just stiff, or will warm out of it, or is just suffering from an abscessed hoof.

For the best current information regarding laminitis start your search at the link below and also do a search for Dr. Chris Pollitt from Queensland - he has done some marvelous research on laminitis!
If you suspect your horse is laminitic do NOT wait to call in the vet and a copetent farrier! It can bea matter of life or death for your horse!

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

if a horse has foundered there will be like wrinkles on the outside of the hoof, the worse the wrinkles the worse it was foundered. Im not sure about the whole coffin bone rotating and how long it takes and all that but if your horse eats enough to founder youll know it pretty quick. My horse was foundered before a little in her front feet and other then wearing shoes with rim pads and watching feeding her she doesnt have any problems, but I just ride her on trails I dont use her for competitions or anything.

Answer 3

It all depends on how bad the founder is, how long it took you to notice that he was foundered (the longer, the faster) and how much care you take with the horse. There really is no "normal" span. I know a lady who did everything the vet said to do... and her horses bone started rotating with in a week and she had to put him down :(

Answer 4

it depends how bad the founder is - you cannot reverse damage but with luck and a good care program can sometimes stop it from progressing. Sometimes there's signs of past founder but not always. With an aggressive treatment program you may be able to halt progression. Contact a vet immediately for a routine for *your* horse...any advice on here is guessing at best, based on experience with other horses. That counts but might not be the best advice for YOUR horse and this is far too serious a disease to mess with. Laminitis killed Secretariat and many others. :-( Don't waste time on this...get professional counsel.