Lameness is a disease of the hooves in horses. Many horses and therefore their owners suffer from it sooner or later. The condition can be painful for the horse and it is important to find the right treatment for it. Additional treatments such as red light therapy can help with this. In this article you can read more about laminitis, and how red light can help in the recovery process.

What is laminitis?

Lameness is an inflammation in the lamellae in the hooves. These lamellae connect the horseshoe to the hoof capsule. When they become inflamed, this tissue becomes damaged. This can cause a lot of pain, and in severe cases can even cause permanent damage.

How does it arise?

This condition can arise from a variety of causes. These are the most common:

• Foods with too many sugars or fructan;
• Obesity with the risk of metabolic problems;
• Hormonal imbalance, such as insulin resistance or Cushing’s disease;
• Stress or medication such as corticosteroids.

In many cases, the horse suffers from a combination of these factors.

What are the symptoms of laminitis?

It is important to recognize the onset of laminitis right away. Therefore, the symptoms of mild laminitis are that the horse wants to move less, walks stiffly or turns with difficulty. In addition, the animal may also suffer from warm hooves, increased heart rate in the foot, restless behavior or wanting to lie down more often.

Many horses with laminitis have a classic convulsive posture. This involves the horse shifting its weight backward. Often the animal also suffers from an increased heart rate, pain when turning and sweating.

Can a horse heal from laminitis?

With proper care, it is possible to recover from this condition. Especially in mild cases, the horse may heal completely. Nevertheless, the laminitis may become chronic. In this case, healing is not possible, but damage can be limited and you can reduce pain.

How do you treat laminitis?

Treatment often begins with rest, an appropriate diet and support through the veterinarian. These are usually the steps during the recovery process:

• Adjust diet, and avoid sugars and starches;
• Additional hoof care by regular trimming, sometimes under the supervision of a farrier;
• Controlled movement as far as the horse is able;
• Hoof boots for laminitis, for extra relief and support;
• Support through red light therapy that can be used by itself.

Many horse owners today are also opting for natural and complementary therapies. For example, red light therapy is increasingly being used.

Red light therapy as an aid in laminitis

Red light therapy, also called photobiomodulation, is a safe and natural way to treat laminitis. With that, it is also often used as a support or complementary method to speed up the recovery process and relieve pain. The red light reduces inflammation and supports the repair of tissues and cells. It improves blood flow, reduces pain and promotes cell repair.

This works because the red light penetrates deep into the skin and underlying tissues. As a result, it stimulates energy production (ATP) in the cells. As a result, cellular functions such as regeneration and anti-inflammation improve. The red light also causes dilation of blood vessels, which increases blood flow, thus speeding up recovery.

How can red light be used for laminitis?

Red light therapy can be used in laminitis to stimulate blood flow in and around the hooves. Red light also inhibits inflammatory responses, reduces pain and supports the repair process of damaged tissues. Both acute and chronic cases can benefit from this non-invasive therapy.

Use red light therapy yourself with PowerCure

A good example of a red light therapy device that you can use yourself for horses is the PowerCure Pro laser. The PowerCure laser is a powerful red light therapy device that you can easily use on your horse (and also on yourself!). By treating a few minutes daily around the hoof, you can support the healing process in a natural way by helping the body processes.

Why should you use the PowerCure laser?

The PowerCure laser is a powerful device that you can use not only for your horses, but also for other animals or for yourself. Here are the main benefits of the light therapy device:

• Compact and wireless, easy to take to the barn;
• Proven effective technology in inflammation, pain and recovery;
• Suitable for topical use on horses, animals and humans;
• Easy to use, no professional needed.

In addition, PowerCure has many positive reviews indicating the effect of the red light in horses. And the laser need not be a substitute for other treatments, but can be used well as an adjunct to accelerate processes and relieve pain.