Hoof Aliments

Founder (Laminitis)

What is considered the second biggest killer of horses after colic

The damage that the laminitis causes kills the horse. Causes catastrophic lameness, horses often end up having to be euthanized when treatment is unsuccessful

Laminitis is painful but the disease itself doesn’t kill horses what does?

The front hooves (more weight is applied here)

Laminitis can affect all four feet but is more commonly observed where?

The basement membrane

What structure is damaged at the start of laminitis?

The dermal laminae and epidermal laminae

What does the basement membrane connect in the hoof?

The attachment between the laminae is compromised

What happens when the basement membrane is damaged in laminitis?

The basement membrane, capillaries, and laminae are destroyed

What happens if the laminitis damage becomes severe?

Capillaries in the laminae can be destroyed when the basement membrane breaks down

What role do capillaries play in laminitis damage?

The coffin bone separate as from the hoof capsule

What happens to the laminae after unzipping ?

When the coffin bones are no longer anchored to the wall moving within the hoof capsule

Two forms are rotation and distal descent

What is displacement? What are the two forms?

Laminitis

What is caused by poor management and feed particles that are not in line with the natural requirements of equine physiology

Laminitis because its ingestion of significant amounts of non structural carbs cause that systemic inflammation in horse

That inflammations leads to laminitis

Diets high in starches and sugars cause what

Lameness caused by disorders of the navicular bone and surrounding tissues

What’s the navicular syndrome/disease?

The navicular bone and surrounding tissues in the hoof

What structures are involved in navicular syndrome?

It’s a progressive and incurable often leading to long term disability

What’s the typical progression of navicular disease ?

A positive response to a nerve block of the foot- but some horses would mark changes yet not be lame at all

X-rays showing degenerative changes in the navicular bone (typically in the form of pitting or lollipop shaped lesions)- other horses have perfect x-rays but lame, with every navicular sign in the book

What two main reasons would a DVM diagnose based on certain signs of lameness for a navicular diagnosis what problem do they each have

Palmar Heel Pain

Caudal Heel Syndrome

Palmar Foot Pain

Podotrochlear Syndrome

What 4 names do DVMS today typically refer to Navicular as ?

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology- it helps us visualize soft tissue disease and damage, and to see bone abnormalities that don’t show up on traditional x-rays.

What’s the best way to label a navicular disease/syndrome

MRI the gold standard

The tendon should show as completely black if it shows up as disrupted and much lighter it indicated an area of damage. This injury would show up with what instrument