“No hoof, no horse.” It’s such a simple statement, but it holds so much truth. Your horse’s hooves provide the foundation for everything you two do together, so it’s important to know the horse hoof care that will keep them healthy and sound.
Thundering horse hooves
Some common horse hoof problems and hoof diseases happen to the healthiest hooves, so it is important to know what to watch for, and what to do when a problem arises.
© 2016 by Mark Higgins
SmartPak has a great interest in helping horse owners keep their horses' hooves healthy. Here is a list of common hoof problems and more information is available at SmartPak about maintaining healthy horse hooves.
Thrush
- How to spot it: Thrush is a common infection of the frog of the hoof and is usually most evident in the sulci (grooves) on either side of the frog and in the central section. There are two main ways you’ll notice your horse may have thrush – sight and smell. Thrush causes black discharge to occur on and around the frog, and the discharge is accompanied by a strong, unpleasant odor.
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Treatment -
Treatment of thrush is best done by a farrier or veterinarian, although commercial treatments are available to owners and handlers to treat the disease. The horse should be moved to a clean, dry area, and antiseptic foot wash used to clean the hoofs. The hoofs, particularly the frog area, should be thoroughly cleaned and trimmed. This will help aerate the frog area, and the effectiveness of medication applied to the affected areas will be maximized.
Once cleaned and medicated, the hoofs should heal within six to seven days if the horse is kept in clean, dry conditions.
Quarter Crack
- How to spot it: A quarter crack is a vertical split that occurs in the side (quarter) of the hoof. These cracks usually occur between the widest part of the hoof and the heel. Depending on the severity of the crack, the horse may or may not be lame.
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Treatment -
hoof cracks usually requires the services of an experienced farrier and/or veterinarian, not only for the preliminary treatment and stabilization, but also to help determine the reason for the hoof crack. They also can ensure that proper hoof balance is achieved through corrective and supportive shoeing.
If quarter cracks are caught early and have not penetrated the sensitive tissues within the hoof, the primary treatment will include proper trimming, thorough cleansing of the quarter crack, immobilization of the damaged area, and stabilization of the hoof wall. Sometimes, trimming the hoof properly and applying the correct shoe will solve the problem.
When quarter cracks are substantial and inflammation and infection have developed within the sensitive tissues in the foot the services of a farrier or a veterinarian are usually necessary.
Hoof Bruise Also known as a Sole Bruise
- How to spot it: A hoof bruise is similar to any other type of bruise – hemorrhage within tissues usually caused by blunt trauma, often times visible as discolored patches on the sole or hoof wall. Bruises can have a variety of causes, from acute trauma to concussive exercise to improper trimming/shoeing. Depending on the severity, a horse with a hoof bruise may be sensitive or even lame.
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Treatment
When a bruised sole is discovered, the horse's shoes should be removed and the sole pared over the bruise to relieve weight-bearing pressure. Your farrier or veterinarian should be consulted about the best methods to use with your horse. Avoid excessive paring in thin soled horses to prevent severe pain in the horse's foot.
Most farriers and veterinarians recommend that a poultice and protective bandage is applied to the bruised area. To promote healing, the protective bandage is removed after 24 hours and replacedwith a fresh poutice and bandage for an additional 48 hours. When the foot is no longer painful, it is then trimmed and reshod.
A veterinarian should be called if the bruise develops into an abscess or if the horse does not make satisfactory progress. If the sole becomes infected, a tetanus shot should be given. A horse with a bruised sole should be given a few days without exercise for the bruise to heal.
Horse Hoof Abscess
- How to spot it: A hoof abscess is an infection inside the hoof. Horses suffering from an abscess will often be suddenly and severely lame, and some horses may have lameness that seems to “come and go.”
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Treatment
If a foreign object is observable when examining the foot, remove it carefully, noting the point of entry so that a veterinarian and/or a farrier can be made aware of the site. Some puncture wounds are well-hidden by the spongy frog and the dirt-filled sulci, so a careful examination as soon as any lameness is noticed is extremely important. .
Depending on the severity of the abscess, both a veterinarian and a farrier may need to be in attendance for the best possible prognosis. The first procedure is the thorough opening up of the focus of the infection to ensure complete drainage. If not opened promptly, the pus will take the line of least resistance and the infection will spread between the laminae and the sole or between the laminae and the wall.
After the pus is drained, an antibiotic or antiseptic solution should be applied to the abscessed part with a syringe to make sure all parts of the surrounding tissue, bone, and hoof wall are saturated.
A self-contained medicated poultice obtained through a veterinarian or tack shop should be applied or the foot should be soaked twice daily in hot water with antiseptic and then covered with a clean sock or a plastic boot made specifically for the purpose.
\Make sure that the drainage hole is protected from being blocked by dirt or other foreign matter. A small gauze pad is often used for this purpose.
A tetanus injection or a booster dose of tetanus toxoid is advised by farriers and veterinarians.
White Line Disease also known as Seedy Toe
- How to spot it: White line disease is an infection of the white line, (the junction of the hoof wall and sole), causing a progressive separation of the layers of the hoof wall, which can lead to structural unsoundness and lameness.
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Treatment
Correcting the primary cause of the hoof wall separation is the first step in treatment. Any hoof capsule distortion that may contribute to hoof-wall separation needs to be corrected. If necessary, the hoof capsule that overlays the affected area needs to be resectioned. Supporting the foot with therapeutic shoeing is important if the hoof wall is extensively damaged.
In some cases, removal of the outer hoof wall to expose the diseased area may be necessary. Debridement of the infected areas should take place over a period of time. The resectioned area should be cleaned daily.
A change in the horse's environment may be necessary. The feet should be kept as dry as possible, with clean, dry bedding and without turnouts in rainy or wet weather.
A well-balanced diet with the addition of biotin and methionine can be helpful. The shoeing schedule should be maintained at four week intervals until all signs of the disease have been eliminated and the hoof wall grows out. The veterinarian or farrier can give advice on exercise and work schedules depending on the condition of the horse.
Laminitis & Founder
- How to spot it: Laminitis is an inflammation of the sensitive laminae of the hoof. Signs of laminitis include lameness, reluctance to bear weight, and warm feet with a strong pulse, among others.
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Treatment
Treatment of laminitis depends on the risk factors involved and the severity of the condition. Dietary restrictions to prevent overeating and too much weight gain are important. Administering drugs, such as antibiotics to fight infection, vasodilators to improve blood flow to the feet, anti-inflammatories, and painkillers may be recommended by the attending veterinarian.
Stabling the horse on soft ground, such as sand or shavings, encouraging the horse to lie down to relieve pressure on the feet, and corrective shoeing can be effective in both treating and preventing laminitis.
A certain amount of exercise on a daily basis to encourage blood flow into the affected area is also important. The healing process for laminitis is often long term, taking up to two years in severe cases. Regular examinations by a veterinarian can determine the extent of healing and help develop a timetable for return to full activity.
Navicular Syndrome
- How to spot it: The term “navicular syndrome” is broadly used to describe any type of caudal / heel pain in the hoof. Horses suffering from navicular pain will often exhibit lameness, especially under certain conditions such as working in tight, small circles or working on hard surface
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Treatment
The prognosis for a horse with navicular syndrome is guarded. By the time the problem is recognized, degeneration of the tissues, ligaments, and bone structure may be well-advanced. Management of the condition involves alleviating pain and slowing progress of the degeneration.
The services of a veterinarian to confirm the diagnosis, the extent of the degeneration, and the needs of the horse will help inform the best course of treatment in each case.
Anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat the pain include corticosteroids, NSAIDS, and other joint medications. Anticoagulants to improve blood flow are often used along with vasodilators to improve the flood flow into the vessels of the hoof. .
Proper trimming of the hooves and shoeing are important in long-term management of navicular syndrome. An experienced farrier can select or design shoes that will improve the neurological and mechanical balance of the foot depending on the conformation of the horse's hooves.
In some cases, surgery may be recommended after all other options have been considered. The palmar digital nerves may be severed so the horse loses sensation in the back of the foot. Because of possible complications, including infection, continuation of the lameness, and the loss of the horse's ability to feel pain if injured, most veterinarians are reluctant to take this approach.
Another procedure, navicular suspensory desmotomy, during which the ligaments supporting the navicular bone are severed, is successful about 50% of the time.
Usually, a horse diagnosed with navicular syndrome will need a careful evaluation and development of the best exercise program possible to relieve pain and slow the progress of the condition.
Swimming and slow, long-distance work are often recommended, along with a reduction of work on irregular, hard surfaces or terrain, and either a reduction in frequency of jumping or eliminating jumping altogether in order to prevent further injuries.
Press release by SmartPak - Edited by EquiMed Editor