Disorders of Equine Foot

what to focus on when PE a foot

changes in color, odor, consistency

clean sole and examine entire foot

flex and extend foot

hoof testers

observe walking and trotting

shape and balance + wear of hoof

what would make hoof crack significant

involving sensitive lamina

goign up coronary band

when is digital pulse significant

when increased or bounding

hoof testers must be used

at least 5 points

What can be used to diagnose foot disorder

nerve blocks

radiographs

nuclear scintigraphy

CT

MRI

what is thrush

infection of the frog

what is white line disease

infection in white line

what can cause thrush and white line disease

MOSITURE!

poor hygiene and hoof care

reduced weight bearing

how can thrush be diagnosed

SMELL

hoof abnormalities

how can white line disease be diagnosed

radiographs

how to treat thrush and white line disease

improve hoof care and stall hygiene

debride damaged tissue

copper naphthenate

canker is common in what breed

draft horses

what is canker

chronic inflammation and proliferation

• hypertrophy of sensitive lamina, degeneration of superficial horn

  • looks like granulation

how is canker diagnosed

soft, greasy, friable, proliferative tissue over frog

smells yeasty

how is canker treated

surgical debridement

local antibiotics (metronidazole)

liquid nitrogen

can’t always cure because of o compliance

what can cause subsolar bruising

thin soled horses

wet conditions

rocky ground

what is corn

special area of sole bruise at angle of sole

usually from overdue shoeing

how is subsolar bruising diagnosed

variable lameness thats worse on rocky ground

positive to hoof testers

squishy sole

how is subsolar bruising treated

poultices

shoes

keep out of mud

What is one of the most common causes of SEVERE lameness

subsolar abscess

what can cause subsolar abscess

wet consitions

keratoma

sequel to bad bruise

puncture wound

nail from shoe “quicking”

what does pricked mean

into sensitive tissue

what does close or bind man

pushes on sensitive tissue

subsolar abscess may break out at

coronet or heel

still need to establish ventral drainage

what is the goal when you have a subsolar abscess

draining pus

how to diagnose subsolar abscess

acute onset, severe lameness

increased digital pulse

possible distal limb swelling

squishy spot at coronet

+++ hoof testers over area of abscess

how to treat subsolar abscess

pain relief (phenylbutazone)

tetanus toxoid vaccine

ventral drainage

soak feet

poultice

protect feet, often need shoe, dry clean area

how can inflammation be reduced

hyperosmotics

DMSO

clay poultice

animalintex

how can hoof be hardened

hyperosmotics

keratex

what is the #1 cause of tetanus

toe and quarter cracks

distal toe and quarter cracks are

usually superficial, can be painful is reach sensitive tissues

failure of hoof strength

proximal toe and quarter cracks are

usually painful

trauma to coronary band

floating crack is mostly at

heel and quarters

floating crack will

reduce weight bearing and shear on crack

when is notch used

where floating isnt feasible (toe)

what structures could be harmed by penetrating object in foot

flexor tendon sheath

navicular bursa

DDFT

DIP joint

impar ligament

when there is penetrating wounds to dole

do not take object out until after rads

how to treat penetrating object

early, aggressive treatment

broad spectrum antimicrobials, coudl do local

NSAIDs

tetanus toxoid vaccine

clean and disinfect sole

synovial → REFER

surgical debridement

what is aftercare of street nail procedure

keep clean, sterile bandage until granulation, hospital plate shoe

continued lavages as needed

antimicrobials and NSAIDs for several weeks

what is the prognosis of street nail procedure

guarded

depends on duration of clinical signs before treatment

what is seen when there is fracture to P3

acute, moderate to severe lameness

hoof tester sensitivity

increased digital pulse

what is important about diagnosing P3 fracture

if cant see, try again in 7-10 days

often need oblique

how can P3 fractures be diagnosed

radiographs

arthrocentesis of coffin joint (articular vs nonarticular)

CT and MRI

how is type I, II, and III P3 fractures treated

NSAIDs

stall rest 2-4 months

stabilize hoof capsule with foot cast or rim shoe

what is important about type III fracture of P3

lots of complications

SEPSIS!

how is type IV fracture treated

arthroscopic or arthrotomy removal

not all cause lameness

buttress foot

how is type V fracture treated

severe lameness

poor prognosis, euth recommended

how is type VI fracture treated

removal only if septic

most heal, small fragments resorbed

which P3 fractured have good prognosis

I, II, IV, VI

what is keratoma

abnormal thickening of hoof wall

likely secondary to inflammation or trauma of hoof

presses on P3 and causes remodeling

what are clinical signs of keratoma

distortion of P3

recurrent subsolar abscesses

how is keratoma treated

surgical removal of abnormal tissue

→ better prognosis