Laminitis and Founder

There really is a great deal to say about laminitis and founder. For this blog session I will give a simple definition / difference in the terms.
Laminitis is basically any disruption of the lamina (the hoof structure which makes up the observable white line). Lameness in the horse may or may not take place depending on the severity of this disruption. However if the probable cause is detected and is known to perpetrate severe laminitis the protocol would be to support the hoof structures with pathological techniques to ward off lameness before the lameness even becomes apparent. Typically, laminitis goes undetected until lameness occurs. It is at this acute stage that methods can be applied to remedy the lameness and have the best prognosis of recovery.
Founder should be a term used when there have been permanent structure changes (i.e. rotation of coffin bone) and the lameness progresses to chronic lameness. Shoeing methods can be applied to help the horse find comfort, but the prognosis for total soundness is uncommon, though not impossible.
FYI: It has been observed that during the months of February and March laminitis can be intensified triggered from systemic problems.