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Table 2 The ‘modified Obel’ or ‘Meier’ method of laminitis diagnosis and severity scoring

From: The application of a new laminitis scoring method to model the rate and pattern of improvement from equine endocrinopathic laminitis in a clinical setting

Order of examination

Criteria

Description

Points

Given Points

Stage 1

Examine horse standing

Weight shifting

No weight shifting

0

 

Weight shifting – including shifting weight between all feet;

2

 

Abnormal time spent lying down; placing forelimbs in front of body

  

Gently lift each foot up and put back down straight away

Forelimb lift

Prompt and willingly maintained (each forelimb)

0

 

Reluctant and maintained with difficulty (each forelimb)

1

 

Unable to lift foot/resists attempts to lift foot (each forelimb)

2

 

Stage 2

Conduct on hard surface Walk horse approx. 30 m side-on to examiner

Gait at walk

Normal gait

0

 

Mild - short, stilted gait - still moves willingly

1

 

Moderate - short, stilted gait - reluctant/difficult to walk

2

 

Severe difficulty walking or unable to walk*

6

 

*do not force horse to walk; skip gait at circle and continue with digital pulse

  

Turn on a short lead clockwise and anti-clockwise

Gait at circle

Normal circling

0

 

Mild head rise, difficulty when turning, still moves willingly

1

 

Moderate, sharp head rise, reluctance/difficulty turning

2

 

Severe difficulty turning, slow and clearly painful

3

 

Stage 3

All feet must be square on ground

Forelimb digital pulse

Normal - able to palpate, normal magnitude but not bounding

0

 

Increased magnitude or bounding digital pulse (each forelimb)

2

 
 

Total Score