If all four feet are involved, the animal stands in the usual position assumed in health, but if urged to move, the least effort to do so usually brings on chronic spasms of the entire body.  In very severe cases, a slight touch of the hand will develop the spasms.  At times they are so severe, and have such short intermissions, that the disease has been mistaken for tetanus.  However, the clonic nature of the spasm should prevent such an error.  If they are lying down, it is difficult to get them to arise, and if they do so, they show marked symptoms of pain for some time after rising.

If the disease is confined to the hind feet, they are placed well forward to relieve the strain on the toe caused by the downward pull of the perforans (deep flexor) tendon, but in place of the front feet being kept in front of a perpendicular line, as they are when the disease is confined to the front ones, they are placed far back under the body, so they will carry the maximum share of the body weight of which they are capable.  The position of the feet is of great importance and offers symptoms that should not be overlooked.

When the subject is caused to walk, symptoms of excruciating pain are manifested in all acute cases of laminitis.  In some cases where all four feet are affected, no reasonable amount of persuasion will cause the suffering animal to move from its tracks.

There is acceleration of the rate of heart action; the pulse is full and in some cases, bounding.  As the affection progresses the pulse becomes rather weak and irregular.  The character of the pulse in the region of the extremity is a reliable indicator; but one has to learn to make necessary discrimination because of the condition of the parts, as in some cases of lymphangitis or where the skin is abnormally thick.  The characteristic throbbing pulse is, however, easily recognized in most cases.  Temperature is variable, though usually elevated from one to four degrees above normal.  This symptom varies with the type and stage of the affection.  In a subject that has been down, unable to rise for several days, where there is a suppurative and sloughing condition of the laminae, the temperature is high.  Whereas, in some other and less destructive cases there may be little thermic disturbance after the first few hours have lapsed.

A constant symptom in bilateral affections of acute laminitis is the difficulty with which the subject supports weight with one foot.  It is this which causes the victim to stand as if “rooted to the ground” when all four feet are involved.  If one attempts to take up one foot, thus causing the subject to stand on the other, there is much resistance and in many cases the animal refuses to give the foot.

When we consider that the sensitive parts of the foot are encased by a horny, unyielding box and that, when the laminae are congested, a great pressure is brought to bear upon the sensitive structures, it is easy to understand why the condition is so painful.