GRAIN FOUNDER Meaning and
Definition
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Grain founder refers to a painful condition that affects horses, particularly their feet, and is characterized by inflammation and damage to the sensitive laminae within the hooves. It is most commonly caused by a sudden intake of excessive amounts of concentrated carbohydrate-rich grains, such as barley, oats, or corn.
In normal digestion, starches within these grains are broken down into simple sugars, which are then absorbed by the small intestine. However, when a horse consumes an excessive amount of grains in a single feeding, the digestive system may become overwhelmed, resulting in undigested carbohydrates reaching the hindgut. This can disrupt the delicate microbial balance in the large intestine, causing fermentation and production of lactic acid. The accumulated lactic acid can then impair blood flow to the hoof, leading to inflammation, swelling, and severe lameness.
Clinical signs of grain founder include sensitivity to pressure on the hooves, warm hooves, increased digital pulses, reluctance to move, and an altered stance to alleviate pain. If left untreated, grain founder can lead to permanent damage to the sensitive laminae, resulting in chronic lameness and potential hoof wall displacement.
Treatment for grain founder typically involves removing the offending feed and providing supportive care to reduce pain and inflammation. This may include cold therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and in severe cases, the use of therapeutic shoes or corrective trimming to alleviate pressure on the affected hooves. Adjusting the horse's diet and feeding practices to prevent future occurrences is also crucial.
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Indigestion, gastric impaction, or gorged stomach, in the horse, caused usually by overeating; there are loss of appetite, a desire to eat dirt and filth, rough skin, possibly a dry cough, and colicky pains an hour or so after eating.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for GRAIN FOUNDER
- frain founder
- vrain founder
- brain founder
- hrain founder
- yrain founder
- train founder
- geain founder
- gdain founder
- gfain founder
- gtain founder
- g5ain founder
- g4ain founder
- grzin founder
- grsin founder
- grwin founder
- grqin founder
- graun founder
- grajn founder
- grakn founder
- graon founder
Etymology of GRAIN FOUNDER
The term "grain founder" does not have a well-established etymology as it is not a commonly used or recognized term. It appears to be a compound noun made up of two separate words: "grain" and "founder".
"Grain" generally refers to the small, hard seeds that form the edible part of cereals and other plants. Its etymology can be traced back to the Old English word "græg" meaning "grain, seed" or "corn".
On the other hand, "founder" has multiple meanings, including one that refers to a person who establishes or founds something, but it also has a specific meaning related to horses. When used in the context of horses, "founder" means a condition where a horse's hooves become inflamed or sore due to excessive feeding of grain or lush vegetation.
