Can Alfalfa Cause Laminitis

Laminitis is quite unlike any other equine disease.

Can alfalfa cause laminitis.

It can also be caused by overenthusiastic hoof trimming. Endurance riding driving or jumping on hard ground. In addition alfalfa can overstimulate the pituitary gland. Laminitis is a complex cascade of events that causes the soft tissues laminae within the hoof to swell weaken and die.

Your horse is in good body condition. Free choice hay is usually the best place to start along with a vitamin mineral and protein supplement that matches your hay. However founder usually refers to a chronic long term condition associated with rotation of the coffin bone whereas acute laminitis refers to symptoms associated with a sudden initial. Some people though just don t want to feed alfalfa they believe it causes laminitis.

The terms laminitis and founder are used interchangeably. She is doing well on the grass alfalfa mix hay you are currently feeding. Three benefits of feeding alfalfa to horses. I often recommend feeding it because it boosts the overall protein quality of a grass hay diet and in general enhances the horse s muscle tone immune system and overall health.

Soaking can cause nutrient and even dry matter loss which is important for laminitis prone horses and or those in a weight loss program. It can also increase the hay s bacterial load. Alfalfa can be an excellent addition to most horses diets even for those that are insulin resistant ir. Alfalfa is a high protein forage so it makes an excellent supplement for horses that are protein deficient or for horses that have higher protein requirements such as senior horses or pregnant or lactating mares.

Traumatic laminitis is caused by repeated physical trauma to the feet during e g. She is getting no grain and she has never developed laminitis inflammation of the soft connective tissues within the foot that can result from a variety of causes including a diet too rich in nscs. Because really high quality alfalfa in the sw of the us can average up to 25 protein which can be utilized as energy when in such excess and up to 20 nsc this type of forage is totally inappropriate for any horse prone to laminitis unless fed in small quantities. This can all occur before any symptoms are apparent and once the process has started it is extremely difficult to stop.

Alfalfa seed products may cause reactions that are similar to the autoimmune disease called lupus erythematosus. If the horse is overweight but developed laminitis from a cause other than insulin resistance you can still use the insulin resistance diet guidelines below or implement the tips in our lean cuisine article. A lot of horses seem to tolerate straight alfalfa diets fairly well while.