Where is the interface between vets and farriers in managing laminitis?

There is probably not a disease state which causes more controversy and conflict between veterinarians and farriers than equine laminitis. This controversy, enveloping both the medical management of the animal and the therapeutic management of the foot, is primarily due to a lack of scientific data to document (or refute) the efficacy of a treatment. Although rapid advancement of medical research techniques in the past decade has vastly improved our ability to investigate pathophysiology and the efficacy of pharmacotherapies in blocking the pathophysiological events, many medical therapies currently used for laminitis are not documented to be effective. Similarly, despite the rapid advancements made in technology regarding research in the engineering/physical sciences, the unique anatomy of the digit of the horse has eluded investigators from being able to accurately assess the physical components of displacement of the distal phalanx in laminitis (and therefore the ability to test the efficacy of different farriery techniques on neutralising the physical events occurring in the laminitic digit). The result of this lack of concrete data is the use of anecdotal information when choosing different medications and foot management techniques. Although anecdotal information (and experience) is critical in the treatment of disease states with a lack of scientific data, it commonly adds further to the controversy due to the fact that opinions take the place of hard scientific data. Surprisingly (at least to this author), in a disease such as laminitis with so many unknowns resulting fairly commonly in treatment failure – which would make one think that most individuals would be open to new therapies, many farriers and veterinarians treating the disease have strong feelings on what should and shouldn’t be performed in these cases. The controversy created not only inhibits the advancement of treatment of the disease, but is also very upsetting to owners of animals suffering from laminitis. It is an obligation of both veterinarians and farriers to be open to each other’s views/suggestions (and respect each other’s experience and expertise) when approaching a laminitis case together. […]