Like any disease, treating laminitis comes at a cost. Usually it is the financial aspects that one — especially the client — considers. Cost for diagnosis and treatment may include radiographs, medicines, and the professional fees of the vet and farrier to name a few. Furthermore, the owner may need to address behaviors that contributed to the case, such as equipment to restrict feeding.

But there are other costs beyond money. The time investment and physical toll placed on the practitioners are difficult to measure at the onset of the case, yet must be considered. To adequately determine these, it requires a veterinarian and farrier to work together throughout the case.

The Veterinary Perspective On The Cost Of Treatment

After years of practice, Dr. Amy Rucker says she approaches laminitis cases two ways.

“In the horse industry, there are two types of people — and this includes vets, farriers, owners,” she says. “When presented with a horse with a problem, one person asks, ‘What can this horse do for me?’ ‘Can I ride it?’ ‘Can it show this weekend?’ The other person asks, ‘What can I…