Founder, also known as laminitis, is a serious condition that affects the hooves of horses. It occurs when the laminae (sensitive tissue that connects the hoof wall to the pedal bone) become inflamed. This inflammation can lead to pain, lameness, and even the separation of the hoof wall from the pedal bone.
Intestinal twists, on the other hand, are a different issue altogether. They are a type of intestinal obstruction that occurs when a portion of the intestine twists on itself. This can block the passage of food and waste through the digestive tract, leading to severe pain, vomiting, and potential death.
Here's a summary to clarify:
* Founder is an inflammation of the laminae in the hooves.
* Intestinal twists are a blockage in the digestive tract due to a twisted portion of the intestine.
It's important to note that founder can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
* High-carbohydrate diets
* Obesity
* Endotoxins
* Cushing's disease
* Sepsis
* Trauma
While founder and intestinal twists are both serious conditions, they are distinctly different and require different treatment approaches.