Do weather events trigger laminitis?
Other than the fact that weather influences fructans in the grass in the spring and fall of the year and the associated impact on grass laminitis, there is no evidence that any weather event can trigger laminitis. We do see some correlation with horses that have chronic laminitis, some of these horses have Cushings disease or metabolic syndrome. Many of these horses have reoccurrences or an exacerbation of laminitis about a week following extremely hot weather. Similarly in the winter after very severe weather for a week or two, a week or so afterward we see an outbreak of a number of cases.It is not known whether this is stress-related or has to do with thermal problems in these horses’ feet.
