Hoof Problems & Cures
Founder & Laminitis
LAMINITIS
Is the inflammation of the laminae. Laminitis is generally agreed to be due to ischemia of the laminae causing detachment of third phalanx (PIII) from the horny wall.
FOUNDER
Is a maritime term meaning "sinking". Founder is secondary to laminitis and is the sinking of third phalanx (PIII) in the hoof.
CHRONIC FOUNDER
Is an old founder that has survived by some means. The third phalanx is demineralized, with lytic areas radiographically, is badly deformed, with periodic and/or chronic lameness. Intermittent inflammation can occur in chronic founder.
ACUTE CASES
occur in a short course. Active abscesses may be prevalent with inflammation to the laminae bed. These conditions must be corrected before a favorable response can be expected.
SINKER
Is when the bony column sinks downward, inside the hoof capsule, and 100% of the laminae die. This condition should be considered an emergency and heart bar shoes applied and a hoof resection performed. If the blood supply is destroyed, all aspects of it returning are futile, however, the horse and feet can be salvaged if a live nail bed and a live coronary plexus remain intact.
What should I do if I suspect laminitis?
If the horse is shod, pull the shoes. A temporary first-aid measure can be provided by using a roll of gauze or carpet in the same triangular shape as the frog. This is placed directly on the frog for constant support and taped in position by using an adhesive bandage.
When should I call my Veterinarian?
If you suspect laminitis call the veterinarian. He will administer whatever medications he deems necessary for the underlying causes. Lateral X-rays are recommended at this time.
What are the reasons for doing a hoof resection?
To relieve the pressure on the coronary plexus by the coronary crown of the hoof wall. To debride any necrotic laminae entrapped between third phalanx (PIII) and the wall. This can be treated as an open wound. Systemic antibiotics are of very little value as there is no blood supply to carry medication to this area.
When pressure is applied to third phalanx via the apex of frog the anterior edge of third phalanx will have no resistance to it thus forcing the third phalanx back in a more normal position. To relieve any edematous swelling which occurs between PIII and wall.
Why does the Veterinarian need to run an SMA 12 or SMA 20?
This is done to determine any underlying causes that affect the feet. Treatment begins with an accurate diagnosis and evaluation of the primary cause.
How much pressure (support) must be applied to the frog?
The amount of support varies with each individual case. This depends upon the amount of rotation of the PIII at the time of application and whether the sole is dropped. Stabilization of the third phalanx is calculated by measuring the amount of rotation.
When do I expect abscesses to occur?
When more than 4 degrees of edematous swelling occurs of if sinking and/or rotation has occurred, abscesses will develop. If this takes place the soles should be opened at the junction of distal laminae and the horny sole. Opening the sole at this junction helps prevent swollen solar corium and resulting exuberant tissue.
How should I treat decubitus ulcers or bedsores?
On non-suppurating decubitus ulcers, zinc-oxide and maalox mixture (approximately one bottle of maalox to one tube of zinc-oxide) is helpful. On suppurating decubitus ulcers betadine ointment is used. These horses should be bedded on straw or shredded newspaper.
How should I deal with osteomyelitis?
It normally will occur when there is an exposed bone and must be addressed by only those who are extremely knowledgeable in treating this problem. The severe cases result in chronic abscesses. These can be treated with sugardine but most often require surgery which involves a bone biopsy, a culture and sensitivity to determine what antibiotics are beneficial for treatment. These must be done by an experienced veterinarian.
When should soaking be done and how often?
When there is an open wound the foot can be soaked in betadine and hot water one day, then hot epsom salt water the next. Soaking or turbulation, 10 to 15 minutes per day, when helping to clean up abscess is done until there is no more drainage or suppuration. The foot is treated with sugardine and bandaged daily. Ichthammol can be used on the coronary band to draw abscesses and to keep the coronet soft and pliable. Each case is treated individually. In the case of osteomyelitis the foot should not be turbulated.
What should I do when the drainage stops?
Merthiolate is used when there is no more drainage. Turbulation and soaking should also be discontinued.
What is happening when a severely foundered horse walks on the toe?
There are two possibilities:
An abscess has formed in the heel area. This is usually best treated by using ichthammol ointment or magna paste around the entire coronary band, to break out the infection.
What feed supplement have you found obtainable on today's market which stimulates rapid hoof growth?
In the past I used and recommended the amino acid powder, methionine, essential for epithelial cell formation. However useful it may be, many horses found it unpalatable and refused to eat it. Consequently, the internal nutrients needed to build strong hooves were lost. In the late 1970's Life Data Labs began marketing an alfalfa-based equine supplement, FARRIER FORMULA or NUTRI-TONE, which most horses like. This product contains the essential amino acid, methionine, as well as biotin and other nutrients needed to maintain healthy hooves. I have seen a visible difference in hoof growth, within weeks, using this product.
How much time is involved in returning the horse to sound pasture condition or performance condition?
The cause of the problem must first be corrected. The severity of the problem within the hoof capsule must be evaluated before any decision can be made as to the future of the animal. Sometimes the horse will respond and return within 9 months to a year. The horse must grow a complete new hoof before any favorable commitment should be done. Again, it depends on each individual case and its severity.
Do you recommend pads?
No. If PIII sinks inside the hoof capsule the vessels become compressed, the blood supply (arteries and vessels) can be destroyed. Pads which cover the sole cause complications because abscesses must be allowed to stay open for ventral drainage and healing.
What is my responsibility, as owner, after the initial treatment?
A commitment must be made of time and money by the owner. It takes months for nature to restore the damaged hoof. Each case is different, but these horses do not get well overnight, therefore require good nursing and after care. I must stress the importance of after care. This care includes resetting the shoes on a frequent basis; rebandaging; exercising; and it often requires regular checkups by experienced farriers and veterinarians. Prompt resetting of the shoes, as needed, can prevent unnecessary problems caused by feet left to grow too long. Depending on the individual horse, bandaging will be needed every few days, which can sometimes last as long as several months. Exercising the horse by daily walking is beneficial in order to obtain the return of overall body mechanics and general well being. This care can be done by the owner, his agent or left in the care of a "treatment center". All of these can be time consuming and expensive.
How should I control exuberant granulation tissue?
In extreme cases cauterization is the best method I have found to control this tissue. This is followed by application of copper sulfate powder and continued until exuberant tissue is below
the epithelial cell line.
What is a "sinker" or "straight vertical displacement"?
A "sinker" is when the PIII is going downward in the hoof capsule. The hoof capsule moves proximally. No rotation is noticed except at the coronary band. This can be easily diagnosed by manually palpating the coronary band. If a distinct depression is noted at the coronary band from heel to heel the result is a "sinker". If the sole is intact then a heart bar shoe can be used in conjunction with a frontal hoof resection and by opening the sole at the junction of the distal laminae and the horny sole.
Navicular Syndrom
Navicular syndrome is usually diagnosed by x-rays of the navicular bone, anesthesation of the navicular area and putting the hoof on a wedge with the high end towards the front. If the horse - besides tiptoeing and lameness - shows x-ray degenerations (bone loss) inside of the navicular bone (bubbles, ...) or other changes (ossifications), the diagnosis is set to navicular. These changes are made responsible for the pain in the feet and thought to be incurable.
Medication like Isoxuprine and Tildren are prescribed in order to increase blood supply to the navicular area and heal the bone.
Dr. Strasser In the 1990's, Dr. Hiltrud Strasser from Tübingen/Germany discovered that long bars and/or contraction of the hoof leads to pain in the navicular area. When the contraction is removed, the navicular symptoms disappear.
Dr. Bowker In 1999, the research of Dr. Robert Bowker/Michigan State University has found that wild horses growing up on hard ground and with lots of movement do not develop navicular syndrome. He attributes it to 2 factors:
- The wild horses develop tougher tissue in the hind part of the foot (digital cushion with tougher fibers) as well as strong, high bulbs and
-wild horses do not have high heels, their frog is strong and weightbearing. Whenever he trimmed navicular horses to his "physiologic trim", the symptoms of navicular syndrome disappeared.
Many hoof care experts around the world are working according to this research and helping " incurable" navicular horses by restoring healthy shape, structure and function in the hoof. The list of reasons for pain in the hind part of the foot and tiptoeing is long, the hoof care expert has to find out the problem of the individual horse and act accordingly: - high heels - long bars - weak, collapsed heels - underrun heels - vertical cracks in the bars - heel contraction - bar contraction - sole contraction - axial contraction - too full sole - sole inflammation - abscess - weak digital cushion - weak frog that doesn't bear part of the weight - fungal infection in the central frog fold - long toes.
Most of these conditions develop because of unnatural living conditions, shoeing, lack of move- ment, lack of stimulation to the hoof (improper terrain) or incorrect nutrition.
Equine podiatrist KC LaPierre calls it in general the DHS (Deformed Hoof Syndrome). So besides hoof trimming, the living conditions of the horse must be improved for stimulating the development of a healthy hoof. Trimming a navicular hoof Some of the horses shown on the Signs of Pain page have been diagnosed with navicular. Others which show the same symptoms are not, just because their navicular bone does not show degenerations on x-ray. Trimming a navicular hoof is not different from trimming any other barefoot horse. The main focus lies on: - relieving pressure on the corium if contraction is present, but not at the cost of weakening healthy structure - encouraging the hoof capsule to regain its natural shape, but not forcing it there - strenghtening structures that are weak/degenerated, but not at the cost of overloading.
ARTICLE WRITTEN BY HOOFCUR.COM
Thrush
Treatments
For years, it was thought to be a fungal disease, but modern science has cleared that up, and we now know that the thrush we find in horses' hooves is bacterial. In fact, we know that it's an anaerobic bacteria, fusobacterium necrophorum , which is present in all animal feces and most soil samples.
When it sets up residence in the horse's hoof, it generally localizes in the frog and is usually most prevalent in the collateral sulci (or commissures) and/or in the central sulcus. As an anaerobic bacteria, it thrives in a moist, dark, poorly oxygenated environment. Once it's established, you can recognize its presence from many symptoms typically associated with thrush infections:
1)Repulsive odor
2)Watery or oily discharge—often black in color
3)Fissures / Deep pockets extending to the heel bulbs
4)Loss of frog shape / integrity
Standard texts on equine health will tell you that horses develop thrush because they're being kept in a sub-standard environment. And there's no doubt that poor conditions, especially wet conditions, will promote the problem. But professional farriers will tell you that it's a more complicated issue that simply can't be explained away by pointing at dirty stalls and mud puddles. They'll tell you they've seen horses with thrush in some awfully clean, pristine barns. Likewise, they'll tell you they've seen feedlot horses with no thrush despite their living fetlock deep in manure and mud. So keep a clean stall, but realize that prevention involves more than simply providing a clean / dry environment.
It also involves performing regular maintenance to maintain the hoof capsule in a balanced, supportive manner, and allowing the horse to get sufficient activity and/or exercise.
In fact, one of the most important factors in avoiding and/or eliminating thrush is exercise. Those feedlot horses are working hard all day, getting a lot of activity and moving in a natural manner that promotes good vascularity in the foot. The horses standing in those pristine stalls are simply standing, so they are not promoting the same kind of vascularity to generate a good healthy foot.
Likewise, the horse that is receiving regular maintenance from a professional farrier will maintain a more balanced and supportive hoof. And that balance lends itself to even loading, compression, and concussion, all of which promotes good vascularity and overall health. If you're too late for prevention and need to be worrying about treatment, it will vary according to the severity of the condition.
Should the thrush be advanced to the point that the horse is lame, blood is present, and/or puss or proud flesh is present, an equine Professional should be contacted to debride the infected area and administer appropriate medications and possibly a tetanus vaccine or booster.
Cases of a more intermediate nature (i.e., ones which are not invasive of sensitive tissue), should be debrided and treated aggressively with commercially available medications. While home remedies and recipes abound, many are simply inappropriate. For instance, you will find texts advocating the use of bleach on thrush. The authors of these treatises would likely never pour bleach on an open wound of the hip, yet they willingly recommend that you soak an open hoof wound and its exposed sensitive tissue in bleach. You're much better off to use mild disinfectants and hoof packing! Ultimately, you need to have your horse trimmed properly from the beginning, make sure he gets plenty of exercise, and keep on top of maintenance, including regular hoof care and a good environment. Horses especially need lots of exercise; those that stand in stalls are more prone to thrush, which is likely more related to the standing than it is to what they're standing in.
White Line Disease
What Is White Line Disease?
Not really a disease, this condition is actually an anaerobic, fungal infection, which invades at the white line or least resistant area of the hoof's ground surface.
The white line is an area on the horses hoof that is at the juncture of the hoof wall and the sole. The white line is the bond between the hoof wall and underlying structures. When the hoof is examined from the bottom of the sole, the area is readily seen. White line disease is a breakdown of the integrity of the white line by bacterial and/or fungal invaders.
Once established, it spreads rapidly, effectively destroying the tissue which connects the sole and wall of the hoof, eventually undermining and weakening the integrity of the hoof wall. Because the condition is fungal, rather than bacterial, it is pervasive and persistent and requires long-term treatment.
Symptoms:
- weak, chipped, or shelly walls
- excessive black tracks in the water line and wall area
- hollow areas (voids) in the water line, extending up the wall
- thrush like appearence in the water line
Prevention:
- provide clean, dry environment
- apply commercial products to produce horn
- practice routine maintenance (picking)
Treatment:
Treatment varies according to the severity of the condition. Should it be advanced to the point that the horse is lame and/or hoof wall integrity is severely compromised and radically undermined, a veterinarian and a farrier should work in conjunction, performing a hoof wall resection and applying an appropriate supporting appliance (glue-on shoe) to be worn throughout recovery. Cases of a more intermediate and/or mild nature (i.e., ones which do not compromise the integrity of the hoof capsule), should be debrided and treated aggressively with commercially available medications; my usual recommendation is thrush buster, applied under a conventional shoe. Other acceptable medications include Hawthorne's Hoof Freeze and Hawthorne's Medicated Sole Pack, Farrier Science Clinic's Fungidye, and Merthiolate.
by Danvers Child , CJF
Canker
How to Treat Equine Canker
Equine canker is described as an infectious process that results in the development of a chronic hypertrophy of the horn-producing tissues.
1) It generally originates in the frog; may remain focal, but has the capacity to become diffuse and invade the adjacent sole, bars and hoof wall.
Canker can occur in one foot or multiple feet may be involved. The disease is commonly seen in draft breeds but can affect any breed or sex.
Recently, one author (SEO) has seen severe canker in two imported Warmblood horses. The etiology of canker remains elusive but wet environmental or moist unhygienic conditions have traditionally been thought to act as a stimulus, however, canker is commonly seen in horses that are well cared for and horses who receive regular hoof care.
One author (JBM) observed a seasonal incidence of canker in Florida as the majority of cases presented to his hospital were during the months of July through December. The treatments described in the literature have consisted of debridement and the application of topical medications including antibiotics, astringents, antiseptics, and caustic powders. No treatment to date has been consistently effective in treating this disease and the prognosis has always been guarded... Clinical Signs Canker generally originates in the frog and can be mistaken for thrush in the early stages.
Thrush is limited to the lateral and medial sulci or the base of the frog if a fissure is present whereas canker invades the horn of the frog anywhere throughout its structure. There is a proliferation of tissue with canker versus a loss of tissue as with thrush. In the early stages canker may present as a focal area of granulation tissue in the frog that bleeds easily when abraded. Upon closer inspection a light brown or grey tissue will surround this focal area.
If left untreated, the disease will become diffuse and involve the frog, bars, sole and the stratum medium of the hoof wall in the palmar/plantar aspect of the foot.
2) Canker is characterized by numerous small finger-like papillae of soft off-white material that resembles a cauliflower-like appearance.
1) The condition is frequently but not always accompanied by a foul odor and is covered with a caseous white exudate that resembles cottage cheese.
The frog is often undermined with the horny frog covering the bulk of the disease. The affected tissue will bleed easily when abraded and may be extremely painful when touched.
Varying degrees of lameness will be present depending on the extent and depth of the infection. Most horses are not lame when the disease is recognized and treated early.
The presence of lameness frequently indicates that the disease involves more than the superficial horny frog and warrants an aggressive approach to resolving the problem. Diagnosis A presumptive diagnosis of canker is based on the gross appearance of the affected horny tissue along with a fetid odor; however a definitive diagnosis may be confirmed with a biopsy. Biopsy is most useful in recurrent cases or when the lesions do not have the characteristic appearance or they appear in unusual locations of the foot. Care must be taken to remove the superficial necrotic tissue before the biopsy is taken from the margin of the lesion. The biopsy should include both normal and abnormal tissue.3 A 6 mm biopsy punch works well. Histologically, the lesion is read as a chronic, hypertrophic, moist pododermatitis of the frog. It is characterized by a proliferative papillary hyperplasia of the epidermis with dyskeratosis, keratolysis and ballooning degeneration of the outer layers of the epidermis. A mixed population of bacterial organisms are observed in the stratum germinativum layer of the epidermis of the frog.
2) Cultures per say are unrewarding as they typically produce an assortment of environmental organisms.
3) Treatment Canker always carries a guarded prognosis but recently these authors have been successful with the following approach. Treatment consists of thorough careful debridement of the affected tissue followed by a regimen of topical therapy applied daily and continued until the disease is resolved.
To debride the affected tissue, the horse can be placed under general anesthesia or regional anesthesia can be used with the horse standing.
The horse’s foot is trimmed appropriately removing all loose exfoliating sole as well as any excess toe or heel. All abnormal tissue is removed down to normal corium. It may be helpful to remove 1-2cm of normal tissue around the wound margins to ensure all abnormal tissue is removed.
4) If the decision has been made to place the horse under general anestelectrical circuits. The area of the foot that has been debrided will be soft and pliable. Freeze this affected area until the tissue becomes hard (known as hard freeze), allow the area to thaw and then repeat the freeze once more. of the foot .
The impression material should not extend below the bearing surface of the hoof wall as this will create excessive pressure and make the horse sore. The foot is then bandaged with a dry bandage. The affected area is cleaned daily with surgical scrub, rinsed with saline, dried and the topical medication reapplied. It is crucial to keep the animal in a dry environment.
A shoe with a treatment plate can also be used but it is sometimes hard to keep the foot as dry as necessary with this method. take several weeks to months depending on the stage of the disease until the affected tissue is cornified .
The treatment of equine canker has always presented a dilemma for veterinarians and farriers due to the poor prognosis. It does not appear to be a disease of poorly cared for horses. In the majority of cases, the condition starts on the frog near the heel lateral or medial to the sulcus. From that point, it can extend anywhere in the foot and even break through the hoof capsule.
A variety of systemic and topical therapies have been tried for canker. While a given treatment protocol would seem to work in some instances, results were inconsistent.3 In 1997, one author (JBM) began using a topical therapy reported by a Texas farrier consisting of benzoyl peroxide in acetone and metronidazole.
Since that time all horses have been managed with surgical debridement followed by this combination of topical therapy with excellent success. The combination of thorough surgical debridement coupled with topical benzoyl peroxide in acetone and metronidazole have yielded consistent predictable results in 56 cases. While the cause of canker remains obscure, there are several principles of therapy for this condition for which the authors consider to be important. Thorough debridement of the lesion is essential. The method used to achieve this is probably of less importance. Electrocautery or cold steel excision followed by cryotherapy both cause tissue necrosis away from the surgical margins ensuring complete resection of the mass. It is important that the entire mass be followed to its extent wherever it takes you and removed. Lastly, methodical topical treatment is important.
Cleaning the affected area with an antiseptic solution daily removes surface bacteria and provides an environment conducive to wound healing, effect and finally the bacteria cultured from canker cases are usually anaerobic making metronidazole a good choice as a topical antibiotic. Emphasis must be placed on keeping the surgical wound clean and dry until the defect begins to cornify. Owner compliance to perform the daily foot care is another essential element in the treatment of equine canker.
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Dry Hoof Problems & Solutions
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"No Hoof; No Horse." This is an old saying that is as true today as the first time it was spoken. There are many factors that effect the health of horse hooves; in this article I'm going to discuss "Dry Hoof" problems and solutions.
No matter where we live and keep our horses, the climate and type of housing they have makes a difference in the moisture content in their hooves. It is quite interesting, as I travel, to see the types of problems that most commonly arise in different climates. I have been in the deserts of Arizona and Nevada treating hooves for extreme dryness and the next week treated just as many in Florida and Michigan for thrush and "rain-rot" which are caused by bacteria in wet climates.
Every area has its own problems, and you just have to learn how to deal with them the best you can. I will discuss ways to cure problems that exist, but I want to stress that PREVENTION is the best and easiest medicine! I will discuss prevention of dry hoof problems too. Have you ever noticed how the hoof trimmings shrink after being cut from the hoof? Do you know why? It is because the moisture evaporates and the horny tissue shrivels up. Did you know that the external portion of the hoof you can see should be about 25% water in the wall and 33% in the sole, and 50% in the frog? This moisture is part of what gives elasticity and shock absorption properties to the hoof. Any loss of moisture decreases these functions and increases the probability of splitting hooves or injury to the limbs and joints.
Moisture in the hoof is supplied in two ways: systemic- through the blood supply, and environmentally- from the ground they walk on. Approximately 80% of their moisture requirements are supplied systemically; therefore, proper nutrition, exercise, and general good health are the most crucial factors for strong healthy hooves. For this discussion, I will address the other 20%, the environmental moisture accumulation, retention, and restoration
If you go to your local tack supply store, you will find a large selection of products available that are being marketed to restore moisture, increase pliability, and strengthen the hoof. I'm sure all of these products have some value, but certainly some are better than others for different applications. Without naming brands, I would like to give some advise on what types of products work best for which problems.
Let's first talk about preventing moisture loss and then restoring moisture. Over the top of the hoof wall there is a natural sealant called the periople, which grows down from the perioplic ring at the coronary band. This varnish like layer is effective in preventing evaporation through the top of the hoof, if it is unbroken. Very seldom, in most areas of the country, do you find a horse that has an adequate layer far enough down the hoof. This layer is worn off by friction as the horse walks through grass, brush, or sand. Any time a horseshoer rasps the top of the hoof wall, to shape the hoof, he completely removes this layer. (Note: This is a correct procedure when the farrier is removing a dish, flare, or bull nose. It is not correct when dubbing the hoof to fit the shoe!)
A sealant, rather than a moisturizing cream or oil, should be applied to the entire hoof wall, being careful not to touch the coronary band, to replace this lost natural layer. To restore moisture to an already dry hoof, several coatings of moisturizer may be applied and then thoroughly cleaned and dried prior to sealing the hoof. Many people like to put moisture creams on this outside hoof wall, which makes it look shiny, but does very little good unless applied almost daily or inside a boot where the hoof can soak it in. An exterior sealant applied weekly will do much more good, as it will hold in the systemic moisture, as well as the moisture soaked up through the bottom of the hoof. Some "old timers" had it right when they tied up their horses where they had to stand in a puddle of water occasionally. A water trough that is purposely overflowed can provide additional moisture to the hooves, if you don't mind the mess. You must make sure that the soil around the trough is not a moisture absorbing clay that will pack in the hoof and actually suck out more moisture as it dries than what was absorbed from the trough. It is a hot debate which is better, these hoof dressings or water. But one thing is sure; water is cheaper and takes none of your time to apply. My opinion, having worked with thousands of these cases, is that the additional time and money invested are worthwhile if you apply these dressings daily or soak the hooves with them inside a boot. But if you just apply it every now and then when you have time, you'd be better off sealing the outside to prevent moisture loss and putting the animal where its hooves can soak up water.
I shod a horse in 1998 whose hooves were full of cracks wide enough to put my thumb in, and they traveled clear up almost to the hair-line. His feet were dry, brittle, long neglected, and in dire straits. I shaped the hooves, made shoes with specially placed clips, filled the cracks with a hoof repair plastic, sealed the hoof wall surface with a liquid plastic, and gave instructions to the owners how to soak the hooves daily and seal them each week. The same month I did the same thing with another horse who was actually in worse condition; in fact, its hooves were split so deep that it looked like a cow's hoof and was bleeding out of the cracks. I had to disinfect these and also added hoof staples along the splits before filling with plastic. Anyway, the owner to the first horse never did his part to maintain the progress I'd made. Then about 6 months later wanted me to come back and do it again because his horse couldn't walk any more. By that time the owner of the second horse had an animal with 4 healthy hooves that could be used for anything. The last two staples were down as low as the nails and the hoof above was completely normal and healthy! He followed the instructions I'd given him to soak the feet and seal the hoof etc. & had me come every 6-8 weeks and redo the horse. The moral to this is that once a horse has a problem you must stay on top of it all the time; you can't just treat it occasionally. Every day you miss, that hoof is losing moisture. Also, the farrier can only set things in motion the right way; the horse owner is the one who makes the most difference by the daily care given!
