At the Second International Equine Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot, held Nov. 10-11 in West Palm Beach, Fla., a guide to laminitis terminology was presented by course director James A. Orsini, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, associate professor of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center. Universally understood terminology helps everyone communicate what is going on with a laminitis case, he noted.

Laminitis–inflammation of the laminae within the hoof. (Note: Lamellae and laminae are synonymous. Lamellar and laminar are the best descriptive terms; in the United States, laminar is commonly used.) It is characterized by clinically normal hooves and none of the hoof distortions typical of chronic founder. There is a failure of attachment between the distal phalanx and the inner hoof wall. The condition involves a metabolic disturbance in the laminae of the digit and the consequent compromise of their biochemical integrity. A laminitic horse shows a characteristic lameness and other signs, including warm feet, bounding digital pulses, and abnormal positioning of the coffin bone inside the hoof. Part of the difficulty with early laminitis is identifying it in the horse which is still radiographically normal.

Founder refers to a chronic laminitis condition. The interdigitation (interlocking) of the laminae fails, with separation and pulling of the coffin bone (P3) away from the hoof wall. Many times the separation is worse on the medial side (inside) of the hoof.

Sinker–a hoof with coronary band depressions that extend over the length of the coronary band. This is a serious problem with much greater injury and problems with support than lower-grade laminitis