Definition

A condition in horses where the sensitive tissue inside the hoof becomes inflamed, often causing pain and lameness.

Example

The veterinarian diagnosed the horse with laminitis after noticing signs of discomfort in its hooves.

Conversation

Did you hear about the horse down the street that got laminitis?

Yeah, I heard it was really serious and the owner is worried.

It’s such a painful condition for them; I hope the vet can help.

Me too! It's always tough to see animals in pain.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Laminitis is derived from the Latin "lamina" (meaning plate or layer) and the suffix "-itis" (meaning inflammation). The term refers to the inflammation of the laminae, which are the sensitive layers of tissue in a horse's hoof.

Memory Tip

Think of 'lamina' as referring to the layers in the hoof, and '-itis' indicating inflammation — so laminitis means inflammation of the hoof layers.

Visually Confused Words