Founder

[avacanora/mom]

I would like to know more about about foundering. Once a horse has founderer, how do they get over it? How do you know they have foundered. What happens?

[WildHorseSpirit]

A/M see the colic/founder post for most of my reply.

As to getting over it, you may have a horse who does and not know it and never have another issue, but the norm is it does come back if the horse's diet isn't controlled. Anything can set it off in some foundered horses but with todays advances this is no longer always a death sentence.

The best way to tell is if the horse stands around alot and sits back on his or her back feet with the fronts stretched out in front of itself and may refuse to walk and when they do it is like they are walking on eggshells as some put it. There is usually heat in the hoof *summertime can distrupt that test* and the true test besides the stance is the digital pulse will pound in the fetlock area you can have your vet show you where to check for it.

Abcesses are known to be with this so be aware.