A Fresh Look at the Process of Arriving at a Clinical Prognosis Part 1: Laminitis

Laminitis is a disease that represents a loss of the normal homeostatic mechanisms that control the day-to-day function of the distal phalanx. The degree or severity to which homeostasis is affected is directly related to the severity and the final outcome for the equine patient. A systematic approach including the physical examination, digital radiography, venography, and newer techniques such as computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging can assist the clinician in developing a prognosis for the acute and chronic laminitis case. How quickly we are able to return the foot back to a normal state of homeostasis or the response to treatment is important as a predictive value for outcome.