lameness

Equine Hoof Affections

 Laminitis
INTRODUCTION

o Laminitis is a painful condition of the

sensitive laminae which attach the hoof wall
to the pedal (coffin) bone.

o It can affect one foot or more and most

commonly affects the front feet as they bear
more weight than the hind feet.
 Laminitis
INTRODUCTION

o Laminitis occurs or progresses in three phases:

 Acute laminitis: initial phase of laminitis accompanied by severe pain
(acute phase may recur during sub-acute or chronic phases)
 Sub-acute laminitis: follows after acute phase subsides, it is a less painful
phase which involves either the repair of or progressive damage to the
sensitive laminae (depending upon the severity of the acute phase)
 Chronic laminitis: follows incomplete resolution of laminitis, where the
feet must accommodate to the rotation or sinking of the pedal bone (pain
is variable)

Laminitis is a potentially-life threatening condition and requires an urgent

attention from a veterinarian.
 Laminitis
CAUSATIVE DISEASES OR CONDITIONS

o The primary diseases which can eventually cause laminitis are usually systemic
abnormalities.
o The disease process causes toxins to be released into the blood stream, producing
toxemia and, eventually, laminitis.
o Primary conditions or diseases associated with laminitis:

Excessive Lush Grass Intake

Generalized Toxemia Excessive Carbohydrate Intake

Retained Placenta

Excessive Weight Bearing on Leg Thyroid

Hormone Imbalance Excessive Work on Hard Ground Pituitary

Gland Tumors
 Laminitis
DEVELOPMENT OF LAMINITIS

o The primary disease process results in the release of toxins into the blood stream
causing toxemia.

o Toxemia produces spasm in the muscular walls of the blood vessels supplying the
hoof laminae and as a result the blood supply to the hoof laminae is restricted or
abolished and its cells begin to die.

o Cell death releases biochemical mediators (body chemicals) into the surrounding
tissues, causing inflammation, fluid swelling and pain (acute laminitis).
 Laminitis
DEVELOPMENT OF LAMINITIS

o Severe or persistent cases of laminitis:

 Damaged laminae fail to support the pedal bone correctly and it rotates
('founder') or sinks within the hoof ('sinker')
 Pedal bone separates uniformly around the hoof wall (sinking)
 Pedal bone only separates at the front of the hoof wall (Rotation)
 If not corrected, the tip (toe) of the pedal bone will rotate down through
the sole of the foot, which often requires euthanasia of the horse on
humane grounds

o Less severe, chronic cases of laminitis:

 If neglected, these cases result in a misshapen ‘Chinese slipper’ foot
 Laminitis
DIAGNOSES / CLINICAL EXAMINATION

o Signs include an increased heart rate, depressed appetite, sweating, trembling and
rapid, shallow breathing.
o The acutely laminitis horse stands and walks with its weight shifted onto its heels
and hind limbs with a typical stance or gait
 Laminitis
DIAGNOSES / CLINICAL EXAMINATION

o The horse is reluctant to move, feeling footy (prefer soft ground) and may prefer
to lie down to keep weight off the feet.

o Affected feet are often warm to the touch

 Laminitis
DIAGNOSES / CLINICAL EXAMINATION
o In chronic laminitis
 Abnormal hoof growth
 long curled-up toes and collapsed heels
 Hoof rings (laminitic rings) sometimes
thickened sole
 Gas shadows at the toe may signify
infection.
 Laminitis
DIAGNOSES / CLINICAL EXAMINATION
o In chronic laminitis
 Wall cracks
 Changing in hoof angle
 Bruising (red) on the wall
 Laminitis
DIAGNOSIS / CLINICAL EXAMINATION

o The sole, particularly at the toe, is painful to examination with hoof testers
o A palpable depression at the coronary band at the front of the hoof and a convex
and painful sole ('dropped sole') suggests rotation of the pedal bone and the risk of
sole penetration by the tip of the pedal bone
 Laminitis
DIAGNOSIS / RADIOGRAPHY

o Used to determine whether the pedal bone has rotated or not, and to what degree
it has rotated.
o A wire taped to the front of the hoof helps to clarify the relationship between the
hoof wall and the pedal bone.
 In normal hoof anatomy, the hoof wall is parallel to that of the pedal bone

 Pedal bone rotation with < 5.5° between the hoof wall and pedal bone
 favorable prognosis for athletic use, if the horse responds well to
treatment

 Pedal bone rotation with > 11.5° between the hoof wall and pedal bone
 poor prognosis
 Laminitis
DIAGNOSIS / RADIOGRAPHY

Gas shadows at the toe may signify infection.

 Laminitis
TREATMENT
o Complete stable rest is required in acute laminitis to prevent further damage to the
laminar support structures.
o Radiographs:
 Radiographic examinations of the feet will determine to what degree the
pedal bones have rotated and, therefore, guide treatment
 Follow-up radiographic examinations of the feet will assess the response
to
treatment and determine requirements for further treatment
o Euthanasia
 may be indicated in the following instances:
 Severe, acute cases where the horse is suffering uncontrollable pain
 Severe, chronic cases where the horse is suffering incurably
 Cases where the pedal bone has penetrated the sole of the foot or where
the hoof wall completely separates from the foot
(sloughing, exungulation, shedding or casting of the hoof)
 Laminitis
TREATMENT
o Primary Goals of Treatment are:
 Eliminate the initiating cause
 Relieve the pain
 Improve the blood circulation in the foot
 Provide support for the foot through
 trimming and shoeing and corrective surgery
 Laminitis
TREATMENT
o Primary Goals of Treatment are:
 Eliminate the initiating cause
 Excessive lush grass or grain intake: Horse is removed from grass or grain
source and laxatives (liquid paraffin, mineral oil) are administered to
remove intestinal toxins. Small quantities of hay and plenty of drinking
water are provided
 Excessive weight bearing on leg: Lameness affecting other leg is treated.
 Long toe conformation: Feet are trimmed and shod correctly
 Generalized toxaemia, pituitary gland tumours: Diarrhoea, liver
disease, or other initiating cause of toxin production are treated
 Retained placenta: Retained placenta and associated inflammatory
uterine fluids are removed and uterine infection is treated
 Laminitis
TREATMENT
o Primary Goals of Treatment are:
 Eliminate the initiating cause
 Relieve the pain
 Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
and anti-endotoxic drugs (i.e.
phenylbutazone, flunixin, ketop
rofen) provide humane relief
and inhibit the inflammatory
process
 heart bar shoes can be fitted to
remove pressure on the toes
and hoof wall
 Laminitis
TREATMENT
o Primary Goals of Treatment are:
 Eliminate the initiating cause
 Relieve the pain
 DMSO 20-100 mg/kg bw IV
 Local anaesthetic blocks of the heel nerves will abolish the pain but will
encourage rotation of the pedal bone as the horse takes more
exercise, and are therefore best avoided
 Laminitis
TREATMENT
o Primary Goals of Treatment are:
 Eliminate the initiating cause
 Relieve the pain
 Improve the blood circulation in the foot
 Vasodilators (i.e. acetylpromazine, isoxsuprine) may help by relieving the
vasoconstriction which occurs in the arteries of the laminae of the hoof
 Nitroglycerine ointment 10-15 mg per foot, applied locally, improves
blood vessels repair through cutaneous absorption
 Laminitis
TREATMENT
o Primary Goals of Treatment are:
 Eliminate the initiating cause
 Relieve the pain
 Improve the blood circulation in the foot
 Hot or cold hydrotherapy use is controversial
 Cold water cools the feet and reduces the inflammation but
increases vasoconstriction
 Hot water warms the feet and amplifies the inflammation
but
decreases vasoconstriction
 Both hot and cold hydrotherapy have beneficial and detrimental
effects and must be used with caution (depends upon each
individual case)
 Laminitis
TREATMENT
o Primary Goals of Treatment are:
 Eliminate the initiating cause
 Relieve the pain
 Improve the blood circulation in the foot
 Provide support for the foot through
 Horse should be bedded on wet sand or wood shavings (these materials
pack up into the foot supporting the sole)
 Frog support pads, taped to the feet, will transfer weight bearing from
the walls to the sole and frog, reducing the stress on the weakened
laminae of the hoof wall
 Feed intake should be reduced to lower body weight,
 maintaining mineral, vitamin and trace element
supplementation, especially biotin, methionine, and amino acids
which
 Laminitis
TREATMENT
o Primary Goals of Treatment are:
 Eliminate the initiating cause
 Relieve the pain
 Improve the blood circulation in the foot
 Provide support for the foot through
 trimming and shoeing and corrective surgery
 Expert trimming and shoeing should be performed
 Corrective Surgery may be helpful in some cases (dorsal hoof wall
resection DHR)
 Laminitis
TRIMMING & SHOEING

o During the trimming and shoeing process the foot is gradually re-structured to
accommodate the effects of the pedal bone rotation
o Expert trimming progressively reduces the length of the toes and lowers the heels
to improve the angle between the pedal bone, hoof wall and sole and to allow new
shoes to seat further back under the weight of the foot at a better angle to the
pedal bone
o Heart bar shoes or other shoes designed to support the frog, transfer weight from
the damaged hoof walls and encourage blood circulation in the foot
 Laminitis
TRIMMING & SHOEING

o Shoes which support the frog must be expertly and individually made and fitted or
their use may be counter-productive (can act as a fulcrum over which the pedal
bone will be encouraged to rotate further):
o Apex of the 'V' is positioned in front of the attachment of the deep digital flexor
tendon to the pedal bone (by approximately 2 cm)
o Bar should not extend beyond the limits of the frog or damage to blood vessels
may occur
 Laminitis
CORRECTIVE SURGERY
o Deep digital flexor tenotomy:
 The surgical section of the deep digital flexor
tendon has been suggested as a therapeutic
option, but results have been variable

o Dorsal wall resection:

 In appropriate cases, a partial or complete surgical removal of the front
hoof wall is performed under local anaesthesia
 Requires expert farriery with veterinary help and supervision
 May help by initially relieving pain and pressure and allowing treatment of
infection
 If successful, the hoof re-grows intimately with the pedal bone, creating a
better angle between the pedal bone, hoof wall and sole
 Laminitis
AFTER-CARE

o Varies in each case depending upon severity

o Clinical condition must be carefully monitored
o Analgesic and vasodilator medication is carefully reduced over a 2 to 4 week period
o Horse should have box rest until off all medication
o Heart bar shoeing and foot trimming should be continued as determined by the
veterinarian and farrier
o Once off medication and clinical condition allows, there should be a gradual
return
to walking exercise
 Laminitis
PREVENTION

o Keep horses (especially small ponies) in fit and healthy body condition, avoiding
obesity and sudden access to lush grass or a high grain diet
o attention without delay for lameness, diarrhea, retained placenta and generalised
illnesses
o Maintain correctly conformed and balanced feet by regular hoof trimming and
shoeing (especially to prevent the development of long toe conformation)
 Laminitis
CAUTION

o The symptoms associated with laminitis are sometimes misinterpreted as signs of

colic, muscle pain or back pain
o Laminitis is a very painful, debilitating and potentially life-threatening disease, for
which veterinary attention should be sought without delay
 Nail Bind & Nail Prick
INTRODUCTION

o Accurate placement, by the farrier, of each nail through the insensitive epidermal
laminae of the hoof is essential
o Nails must penetrate deeply enough to hold the shoe firmly, but without
penetrating the sensitive laminae of the hoof
o If the nail does penetrate the sensitive laminae, pain, infection and
lameness can
result
Nail 'bind'
 is the term used when the nail has been driven too close to the sensitive
laminae.
Nail 'prick'
 is used when the nail has been driven through the sensitive
laminae.
 Nail Bind & Nail Prick
CAUSE

o Nail bind and nail prick are caused by the direct penetration of a nail through the
sensitive laminae of the hoof, or close enough to impinge upon the laminae.

DIAGNOSIS: CLINICAL EXAMINATION

o Horse becomes lame, often not immediately, but usually the next day or within the
first week after shoeing
o Increased digital pulse
o Pain on percussion of the hoof, or application of hoof testers, directly over the head
of the nail
 Nail Bind & Nail Prick
TREATMENT

o The shoe should be removed, any pus drained, and the nail hole flushed with
antiseptic solution
o Politic ( antibiotic ointment + MgSo4 ) and hoof bandage should be applied
o Tetanus antitoxin injection given for prophylactic issue.
o In severe cases, infection may track under the sole, or even track up to and burst
out from the coronary band, in which case local resection of the necrotic sole
and/or hoof wall, and a course of antibiotic treatment may be necessary

AFTER-CARE

o Once the horse is sound, with no discharge from the nail hole, careful re-shoeing
may be recommended
 Penetrating foot wounds
INTRODUCTION

o Any penetrating injury to the horse foot is potentially serious

o Can cause physical damage to the important anatomical structures within the hoof
and, more seriously, may introduce infection
o Identifying the site of injury, the direction of injury, and the depth of penetration
enables the veterinarian to establish which structures of the hoof may be damaged
and potentially infected
 Penetrating foot wounds
INTRODUCTION

o Site of Injury
 To explain the correlation between the site of injury and the seriousness of the
injury, the hoof is divided into 3 regions: dorsal third, mid third and palmar
third
 Deep penetration into the dorsal third of the hoof may involve the pedal
bone
 Penetration into the mid third of the hoof is potentially the most serious
as it can involve the navicular bone, navicular bursa, deep digital flexor
tendon and the distal interphalangeal (DIP, coffin) joint
 Penetration into the palmar third of the hoof is most likely to involve the
digital cushion
 Penetrating foot wounds
CAUSE

o Penetrating injuries to the horse foot are most commonly caused by

 nails,
 screws and
 pieces of wire.
 Penetrating foot wounds
DIAGNOSIS: CLINICAL EXAMINATION

o In all cases, lameness is the clinical sign which alerts an owner to a penetrating
injury.

o Where synovial structure penetration has occurred the following may be

noted:
 Straw-coloured, yellowish synovial fluid discharging through the tract or
hole
 Very severe lameness with a sudden onset (up to l2 hours after the
injury), sometimes to the point where the horse will not bear weight on the
injured foot
 Penetrating foot wouunds
DIAGNOSIS: RADIOGRAPHY

o If the penetrating object remains in the foot, the temptation to immediately

withdraw it should be resisted (during radiographic examination it helps identify
affected hoof structures).

o If the penetrating object is no longer present in the foot:

 A sterile probe is carefully inserted into hole or tract and a radiograph is taken
to determine the direction and depth of the injury
 Injury is filled with radio-opaque dye and a radiograph is taken to determine
the extent of injury
 Penetrating foot wouunds
DIAGNOSIS: SYNOVIAL PENETRATION

o The most serious penetrating injuries are those which enter synovial structures
such as the navicular bursa or DIP joint
o Infection within these closed cavities is extremely difficult to treat, often leading to
a fatal outcome
 Penetrating foot wouunds
TREATMENT

o Non-synovial Penetrating Injuries

 Tract or cavity is opened with a hoof knife to establish good drainage and then
flushed with hydrogen peroxide and/or antibiotic solution or spray
 Antiseptics and astringents (i.e. dilute povidone iodine) or antibiotic wound
spray should be applied to the wound daily
 May need to be treated with antibiotics, active against both aerobic and
anaerobic bacterial infections
 Penetrating foot wouunds
TREATMENT

o Synovial Penetrating Injuries

 Require treatment similar to that described for non-synovial injuries
 In addition, synovial injuries require repeated lavage (flushing with large
volumes of sterile saline solution) of the affected joint and/or bursa to remove
inflammatory chemicals and to reduce the numbers of infecting bacteria.
 Penetrating foot wouunds
AFTER-CARE

o Antiseptics and astringents (i.e. dilute povidone iodine) or antibiotic wound spray
should be applied to the wound daily
o Tetanus antitoxin injection given if necessary
o Horse should be kept in a clean, dry environment
 Penetrating foot wouunds
CAUTION

o Prognosis for synovial penetrating injuries is always guarded

o Even the smallest penetrating foot injury may be very serious, introducing infection
deep within the foot, so always treat such injuries as potentially serious until
proven otherwise
o If the degree of lameness seems to exceed the severity of the visible injury, synovial
penetration should be suspected and immediate investigation is justified
 Corn
s
INTRODUCTION

o Important cause of lameness in shod horses

o A corn is a specific bruise of the sole, found in the 'seat of corn (angle between the
hoof wall and bars)
o Caused by an injury which results in hemorrhage into the sensitive tissues of the
sole, increasing pressure and causing pain and discoloration
o Most commonly affects the medial side of the front feet and may be either acute or
chronic
o Three types of corns
1. dry corns,
2. moist
corns,
3. suppurati
ng corns
 Corn
s
CAUSE

o Almost invariably caused by shoes which fit improperly (fitted short and tight at the
heels) and traumatize the seat of corn

o Corns are also caused by:

 Shoes left for long period (as the hoof grows the shoe is carried forward
causing the heel branches of the shoe to traumatize the seat of corn)
 Stones or other debris becoming lodged between the shoe and the seat of
corn, resulting in bruising
 Excessive weight bearing at the heels (seen in horses with low heels or where
heel calks or heel studs have been used, traumatizing the seat of corn)
 Corn
s
DIAGNOSIS

o Severity of lameness depends upon the degree of bruising)

o Affected horse may have shortened cranial phase of stride with toes contacting the
ground, saving the heels
o Lameness is usually increased on hard ground, when circling, or when shoes are
removed and
o Lameness decreased on soft ground
o feet may feel warm to the touch
o After sole paring, a dry, moist or suppurating bruise can be seen at the seat of
corn
o There is pain response to hoof testers specifically over the seat of corn rather than
all over the sole.
o Radiographs may be used to rule out other causes of lameness
 Corn
s
TREATMENT

o Horse shoes are removed.

o In dry or moist corns the sole is pared out to relieve pressure (sole should not be
pared excessively in horses with thin soles as this may worsen the condition).

Paring out a dry corn

 Corn
s
TREATMENT

o Suppurating corns are opened and drained:

 Infected corn is located with a hoof knife
 Sole opened over the corn to allow pus to drain
 Hole is flushed with hydrogen peroxide and/or antiseptic foot spray
 Poultice is applied to the foot to encourage drainage of pus
 Poultice is removed 24 to 48 hours later and hole treated with antiseptic foot
spray
 Foot is dry bandaged for a further 24 to 48 hours

o Horse is rested until it is better.

 Corn
s
PREVENTION

o Regularly trim and shoe the horse's feet

o Make sure that shoes are fitted correctly to the
horse's feet (not too short at the heels)
o Avoid excessive trauma on hard ground
o Horses with thin soles often have poorly balanced
feet (usually with long toes and low heels) and this
should be corrected if possible with egg-bar shoes
fitted when needed
o Hoof pads, which remain very popular with some
owners and trainers, are often fitted in an attempt
to prevent bruising of the sole, however they must
be used with care since they are often ineffective
and sometimes even detrimental
 Thrush
INTRODUCTION

o Thrush is an unpleasant infection of the frog

o Thrush is predisposed by moist, damp, dirty ground or stable conditions
 Thrush
CAUSE

o Thrush is an infection of the central and lateral sulci of the frog.

o Bacterial infection is most often involved in the development of thrush:

 One species of bacterium, Fusobacterium necrophorum, is particularly
aggressive and it invades and destroys the frog, sometimes exposing the
deeper sensitive tissues

o Occasionally a fungal infection can lead to thrush as well.

o Long heel conformation encourages the development of deep narrow frog sulci
which, under appropriate environmental conditions, become more prone to the
development of thrush.
 Thrush
DIAGNOSIS: CLINICAL EXAMINATION

o A foul smelling, black discharge is found in the affected sulci of the frog
o Horse demonstrates pain when pressure is applied to the affected area
o Infection may result in a general swelling of the distal limb
 Thrush
TREATMENT

o Horse should be moved into a dry, clean environment

o Foot should be thoroughly cleaned and the necrotic debris within the affected frog
sulci removed
o Sulci should then be pared to reveal the healthy tissue beneath and allow air to
reach any remaining damaged tissue
o Frog should be scrubbed daily with a dilute iodine solution
o Any remaining areas of unhealthy tissue should be regularly plugged with cotton
wool soaked in antiseptic (e.g. povidone iodine)
o Two weeks of treatment is usually effective
o Tetanus antitoxin injection given, if necessary
 Thrush
AFTER-CARE

o Horse should be kept in clean, dry stable conditions

o The frog should be cleaned and trimmed regularly until the infection is controlled
and the tissues heel
 Thrush
PREVENTION

o Preventing thrush is better than curing thrush

o Thrush can be avoided by good stable management, and regular foot care and
inspection
o Stable horse in clean dry conditions
o Have horses' feet regularly trimmed and shod by a competent farrier to avoid the
development of long heel conformation and to keep the frog healthy
 Thrush
CAUTION

o With early treatment and good stable and environmental management, the
prognosis for complete recovery is good (treatment will usually be required for 7 -
14 days)
o Prognosis for complete resolution is good unless the infection has been allowed to
become chronic and/or there is extensive involvement of the deeper tissues (even
then, diligent draining and plugging every two days for two weeks is usually
effective)
 Canker
INTRODUCTION

o A rare condition which more commonly affects

the hind feet
o Most often seen in horse kept in wet topical
climate
o It is a proliferative, foul smelling infection which
usually starts at the frog and may spread to the
adjacent sole and hoof wall
o Results In formation of characteristic hoof
growth, which are fragile (brittle, and weak) and
wart- like.
o If left untreated , canker will result in a
progressive destruction of the hoof
 Canker
CAUSES

o Mixed infection with aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and fungi

o Predisposed by wet, unhygienic stable condition
o Infection starts around the frog and then extends to the sole and hoof wall
o In advanced cases, infection may inter the underlying sensitive lamillae
 Canker
DIAGNOSIS

o Canker in early stage:

 Foul smelling, moist, vegetative mass is seen
 Lameness is rarely encountered
 Cheesy foul smelling discharges

o Canker in advanced stage:

 A cauliflower-like, proliferative growth along the heel, bars, sole and wall
 Lameness may seen
 Swelling in the pastern and lower limb
 Canker
TREATMENT

o Removal of all abnormal, dead and infected tissue under general anesthesia
o Packing with sterile gauze socked in antiseptic solution,
o Foot bandage
o Antibiotic
o Tetanus toxoid
 Canker
AFTERCARE

o Clean dry stable

o Change bandage every 2-3 days
o Keep the horse out of wet and muddy conditions until the wound is completely
healed
 Canker
PREVENTION

o Clean and dry stable

o Regular exercise
o Regular trimming
 Navicular Syndrome
INTRODUCTION

o Recognized as an important cause of lameness in the horse since the middle of the
nineteenth century.
o Despite considerable research it remains a poorly understood condition, which
may be attributable to the following:
 Traditionally viewed as a single condition, it is now recognized to be a
complex, multi-factorial disease
 In the past, diagnosis was often imprecise and not based upon thorough
veterinary examination
 It involves other structures within the foot in addition to the navicular
bone
 It is a dynamic and not a static disease (anatomical structures of the foot all
move in relation to one another as the horse exercises)
 It is a progressive disease with clinical signs changing according to the stage
at
 Navicular Syndrome
INTRODUCTION
o Navicular syndrome is most commonly diagnosed as a cause of chronic forelimb
lameness in middle aged (6 - 12 years old) performance horses but, with detailed
investigation, is probably a much less common condition.
o Hunters and show horses are more commonly affected.
o A thorough knowledge of the normal anatomy of the horse foot is essential in
understanding navicular syndrome.
 Navicular Syndrome
CAUSES

o The causes of navicular syndrome are poorly understood, however current theories
include:
 Abnormal foot conformation and foot imbalance predisposes the horse to
navicular syndrome
 Repeated trauma to and wear and tear of the deep digital flexor
tendon, navicular bone and navicular bursa causes pain
 Poor blood supply to the navicular bone, associated with thrombosis and
pressure from the deep digital flexor tendon on the damaged bone, causes
pain (this theory is less favored)
 Navicular Syndrome
CAUSES

o Once navicular syndrome has been initiated

the resultant pathology includes
 bone changes,
 cartilage changes,
 tendon changes and
 ligament changes.
 Navicular Syndrome
CAUSES

o Once navicular syndrome has been initiated

the resultant pathology includes
 bone changes,
 Micro fractures and thickening of the
palmar cortex of the navicular bone
occur
 Lysis of the navicular bone occurs
(destruction or decomposition of
bone cells)
 Lysis results in holes developing in
the bone (these holes are sometimes
called synovial fossae)
 Navicular Syndrome
CAUSES

o Once navicular syndrome has been initiated

the resultant pathology includes
 bone changes,
 cartilage changes,
 Partial and full thickness erosions of
cartilage on the palmar surface of
the bone
 These erosions result in ulceration
and exposure of the sensitive bone
on the surface where the deep
digital flexor tendon moves over it
 Navicular Syndrome
CAUSES

o Once navicular syndrome has been initiated

the resultant pathology includes
 bone changes,
 cartilage changes,
 tendon changes and
 Damage to the deep digital flexor
tendon may occur, leading to
fibrous adhesions (scar tissue)
forming between the tendon and
the ulcerated navicular bone
 Navicular Syndrome
CAUSES

o Once navicular syndrome has been initiated

the resultant pathology includes
 bone changes,
 cartilage changes,
 tendon changes and
 ligament changes.
 Small areas of new
bone, sometimes called
entheseophytes, may form at the
insertion point of the collateral
(suspensory) ligaments of the
navicular bone
 Navicular Syndrome
CAUSES

o It is important to note that navicular syndrome is a dynamic problem:

 During each stride the horse lifts up the leg, moves it and then lowers the leg
to bear weight
 All of the structures of the foot are loaded and unloaded, stretched and
relaxed, time after time
 Navicular
Syndrome
DIAGNOSIS: CLINICAL EXAMINATIONS

o History of intermittent forelimb lameness of variable degree, which may shift from
one leg to another or involve both legs simultaneously
o Lameness develops insidiously over a period of weeks or months
o Horse may have a tendency to point one foot forward and then the other while at
rest
o Horse has a short forelimb gait with a tendency to stumble (worsens on hard
ground)
 Navicular Syndrome
DIAGNOSIS: CLINICAL EXAMINATIONS

o Toes of shoes show excessive damage

and at the toe the sole may be bruised
(caused by stubbing)
o In some chronic cases, abnormal gait
causes the feet to become small,
narrow and high at the heels (one foot
will often have poorer shape and be
more painful than the other)
o In rare cases, pressure with hoof
testers across the heels or diagonally
across the frog to the opposite heel
causes pain (not a reliable guide in the
diagnosis of navicular syndrome)
 Navicular Syndrome
DIAGNOSIS: NERVE BLOCKS

o A local anaesthetic nerve block of the palmar digital nerves, the distal
interphalangeal (coffin) joint and/or the navicular bursa results in an improvement
or abolition of lameness.
 Navicular Syndrome
DIAGNOSIS: RADIOGRAPHY

o Specific radiographic views may reveal:

 Micro fractures or thickening of the
palmar cortex of the navicular bone
 Chip fractures of the distal (bottom)
edge of the navicular bone
 An increase in the number of holes
normally seen at the bottom edge of
the navicular bone (synovial fossae) or a
change in their shape (mushroom-
shaped or rounded)
 Navicular Syndrome
DIAGNOSIS: RADIOGRAPHY

o Specific radiographic views may reveal:

 Holes in the wings or proximal (upper)
edge of the navicular bone (cyst)
 Areas of abnormal density or pattern in
the navicular bone (lollipopos)
 Formation of new bone
(entheseophytes) at the proximal border
or wings of the navicular bone
 Navicular Syndrome
DIAGNOSIS: RADIOGRAPHY

o Many of these radiographic abnormalities may be found during a routine or pre-

purchase examination of normal horses:
 May be argued that some of these horses are in the early stages of developing
the condition, however, navicular syndrome should not be diagnosed on the
basis of radiographic findings alone
 Confirmatory clinical examination and nerve block results help ascribe
significance to radiographic examination
 Navicular Syndrome

• TREATMENT

o Navicular syndrome is a progressive and

irreversible syndrome which cannot be truly
cured.
o Treatment of the condition is designed to slow
its inevitable progression and to relieve pain
through
 corrective trimming and shoeing,
 drug therapy and
 Navicular Syndrome
TREATMENT: CORRECTIVE TRIMMING & SHOEING

o Aim of trimming and shoeing is to correct

foot abnormalities or imbalances.
o For a broken backwards hoof pastern axis
which leads to a long toe/low heel
conformation or in cases where the heels
have collapsed badly:
 Toe is trimmed back as much as possible
from the ground surface
 Heels are trimmed only if they are
overgrown
 Horse is shod every 4 - 6 weeks with a
rolled toe, egg bar shoe, fitted full at the
quarters and extending well back at the
heels to provide support
 Navicular Syndrome
TREATMENT: CORRECTIVE TRIMMING & SHOEING

o Aim of trimming and shoeing is to correct

foot abnormalities or imbalances.
o For chronic cases where the feet are small
and upright:
 Horse is shod with a wide webbed,
rolled toe bar shoe, fitted well back at
the heels to provide support
 Navicular Syndrome
TREATMENT: DRUG THERAPY

o Vasodilator drugs
 Drugs (i.e. isoxuprine, papaverine) which cause blood vessels to dilate
 May improve the blood supply to the navicular bone
o Thrombolytic drugs
 Drugs (i.e. warfarin, streptokinase, alteplase, reteplase, and tenecteplase)
which dissolve blood clots
 May help remove blood clots and improve blood circulation to the navicular
bone
 Dosage must be carefully monitored through regular blood clotting tests to
prevent life-threatening internal haemorrhage
 Warfarin must not be used in combination with other drugs,
especially phenylbutazone, where there is the risk of a potentially
fatal drug interaction
 Navicular Syndrome
TREATMENT: DRUG THERAPY

o Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and anti-endotoxic drugs

 Drugs (i.e. flunixin, phenylbutazone) which inflammation or
bacterial
counteracttoxins
 Will help relieve pain but will not treat the cause
 Must not be used with warfarin because of the risk of a potentially fatal drug
interaction

o Long-acting anti-inflammatory or lubricating drugs

 Injections of long-acting anti-inflammatory (i.e. corticosteroids) or lubricating
(i.e. sodium hyaluronate) drugs may help alleviate pain in some cases but
response is variable.
 Navicular Syndrome
TREATMENT: CORRECTIVE SURGERY

o Desmotomy
 Surgical section of the medial and lateral collateral (suspensory) ligaments of
the navicular bone under general anaesthesia
 May relieve pressure on the damaged navicular bone and relieve the lameness

o Surgical section of heel nerves

 Will prevent the horse from feeling pain in the heel area
 Should only be used as a last resort for horses which are not used for
demanding athletic work
 Horse will no longer have sensation in the heel, therefore the foot requires
careful supervision to avoid heel injuries and infections
 Navicular Syndrome
AFTER-CARE

o Good foot shape and foot balance should be maintained through regular trimming
and shoeing by an experienced farrier
o A controlled exercise programme, whilst the horse is receiving non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory medication, is often helpful
o Feeding the horse supplements which include glucosamine and polysulphated
glycosaminoglycans may help cartilage repair
 Navicular Syndrome

• PREVENTION

o Maintaining good foot shape and foot balance

through regular trimming and shoeing by an
experienced farrier
o As not all the inciting causes of navicular
syndrome are known the condition is not always
specifically preventable
 Navicular Syndrome
CAUTION

o Navicular syndrome is a complex problem which may end the working life of a
performance horse
o An accurate diagnosis as well as the elimination of other causes of heel pain is a
pre-requisite for successful management
o The most common factors predisposing a horse to navicular syndrome are an
abnormal foot shape and hoof imbalance caused by inadequate or improper hoof
trimming and shoeing, therefore use a properly qualified farrier regularly
o Corrective trimming and shoeing should be performed by a specifically-experienced
farrier
o If a horse shows signs of lameness a veterinarian should be contacted to accurately
diagnose the cause of the lameness
 Side bones
INTRODUCTION

o Sidebone is a term that describes the ossification of the collateral cartilages of the
foot and results in the cartilages becoming no longer flexible
o Collateral cartilages are found on the inside and outside of the foot, and can be
palpated just above the level of the coronary band as flexible projections on either
side of the pastern
 Sidebones
INTRODUCTION

o The cartilages are important in the shock absorbing mechanism of the foot .
o The front feet are more commonly affected than the hind feet
o The condition is more frequently seen in the heavy breeds of horses (especially
draft horses) than the lighter breeds and ponies
 Sidebones
CAUSE

o Ossification, which begins at the junction between the collateral cartilage and the
pedal bone, is believed to be part of the horse's normal ageing process.
o Mild sidebone formation, unassociated with lameness, is sometimes
seen in radiographs taken from older horses and young heavy horses.

o Excessive, abnormal or premature sidebone formation (i.e. bone change resulting

from undue loading and concussion of the cartilages) may be predisposed by:
 Poor foot conformation, especially chronic imbalance,
associated with
incorrect hoof trimming and/or shoeing
 Abnormal limb conformation (may cause uneven forces on the cartilages)
 Direct trauma to the cartilage
 Infection (i.e. Quittor)
 Sidebones
DIAGNOSIS

o Clinical
Examination
 Lameness rarely seen and, if present, is usually associated with
complications
is due to advanced ossification
 The coronary band may bulge over the affected cartilage

o Radiography
 Ossification of the cartilages is confirmed by radiographic examination of the
foot (normal cartilage cannot be seen, whereas bony cartilages can),
comparing one with another, to aid interpretation
 Sidebones

• TREATMENT

o No treatment is required for uncomplicated,

normal, progressive ossification of the collateral
cartilages which are not causing clinical
problems.
o Where clinical problems occur, the complicating
or predisposing problems may require
treatment:
 Foot imbalance should be corrected by proper trimming and shoeing
 Sidebones
PREVENTION

o Horses feet should be regularly trimmed and shod by a competent farrier, to

prevent imbalance, uneven weight-bearing and excessive concussion.
 Sidebones
CAUTION

o Prognosis is poor for cases where sidebone is causing lameness, especially those
with extensive cartilage ossification and hoof deformity
 Quittor
INTRODUCTION

o Quittor is an old term for a septic condition which involves the necrosis of the
collateral cartilages of the pedal bone following an infection in the foot.
o Quittor more commonly affects the front feet rather than the hind feet and was
more frequently seen in the heavy breeds of horses rather than in the lighter
breeds or ponies
o uncommon
 Quittor
CAUSE

o The collateral cartilages of the pedal bone have a poor blood supply and so they
respond poorly when infected and consequently infections can become chronic and
damaging.
o Quittor can be caused by the following:
 A condition known as 'treads':
 Draft horses which pulled loads in teams would tread on the feet of the
horse in front
 if they stood on another horse, resulted in damage to the skin over the
coronary band and introduced infection into the cartilages
 Occasionally occurs following external trauma or interference injuries to the
pastern and coronary band.
 May occur, very rarely, extending from a sub-solar abscess (see Pus in the
Foot).
 Quittor
DIAGNOSIS

o Once the collateral cartilage of the pedal bone is damaged and infection
established, bacteria converge on the area of dead tissue to live and multiply. The
infection results in an intermittently discharging wound on the inside or outside of
the hoof over the collateral cartilages.

o Clinical Examination
 Wound area is frequently warm, swollen, painful and multiple sinuses (holes)
may appear above the coronary band (over the infected cartilage)
 Purulent discharge erupts out of the sinuses
 Horse may exhibit mild to very severe lameness (lameness usually subsides
after the infection discharges or 'breaks out')
 Long term cases of quittor may result in deformity of the hoof wall
 Quittor
DIAGNOSIS

o Radiography
 Radiographic examination of the foot may reveal necrosis and/or gas shadows
which confirm the presence of infection or ossification of the cartilages (see
Sidebones), depending on the stage of the condition
 May be confused with an abscess (see Pus in the Foot)
 Quittor
TREATMENT

o Cases of Quittor often respond to topical and systemic antimicrobials (antibiotics)

active against both aerobic and anaerobic infections.
o If infection 'breaks out', due to the build up of pus within the foot, the dead and
infected material must be surgically trimmed away (often more effective to
anaesthetize the horse and then thoroughly investigate and trim the affected area
as any remaining infected or dead tissue will encourage the problem to recur).
o In some cases it is necessary to either remove a section of the hoof wall or drill
holes in the hoof to allow the infected area to drain.
o Wound is packed with sterile gauze soaked in antiseptic solution (i.e. dilute
povidone iodine) and the foot is bandaged until it has completely healed.
o tetanus antitoxin injection given if necessary.
 Quittor

• CAUTION

o Prognosis for complete resolution and a return

to soundness is poor for long- standing cases of
true quittor, especially those with hoof deformity
o Horses should always be fully vaccinated
against tetanus, an invariably
fatal infection, which can gain access
through hoof injuries
 Hoof Wall
INTRODUCTION
Cracks
o Many factors can result in hoof wall damage: poor hoof quality, overgrowth, poor
foot/limb balance, poor nailing and shoe fit, trauma, disease and environmental
conditions
o Hoof cracks are referred to by their type, location and depth
o Cracks are either complete (extend the entire length of hoof wall) or
the
incomplete (extend part-way up or down the hoof wall)
 Hoof Wall
TYPES OF HOOF CRACKS
Cracks
o Grass Cracks
 Vertical cracks originating at the ground
surface of the hoof
 May extend partially or completely up
the hoof wall (to the coronary band)
 Considered a split in the hoof wall
o Sand Cracks
 Vertical cracks originating at the
coronary band
 May extend partially or completely down
the hoof wall (to the ground surface)
 Considered a fracture of the hoof wall
o Horizontal Cracks
 Run parallel to the coronary band
 Hoof Wall Cracks
LOCATIONS OF HOOF CRACKS

o Wall Cracks
 Cracks which appear in the wall of the
hoof, such as toe cracks, quarter cracks or
heel cracks
o Solar Cracks
 Cracks which appear in the sole of the
hoof, such as sole cracks or bar cracks
 Sole cracks are often superficial and
usually radiate out from the apex of the
frog, however they can also be deep and
occasionally infected
 Bar cracks are often deep
 Hoof Wall
DEPTHS OF HOOF CRACKS
Cracks
o Superficial
 Penetrate only the outer insensitive horn of the
foot
 If neglected they can become deep cracks
o Deep Cracks
 Penetrate the sensitive laminae of the foot
 Often bleed during exercise and may become
infected
 Hoof
CAUSE:
Wall Cracks
GRASS CRACKS

o In general, hoof wall cracks, including grass cracks, are the caused by:
 Poor hoof quality: hooves of a brittle or 'shelly' consistency which are easily
split
 Environmental conditions: hooves are weakened in either extreme wet or dry
conditions
 Incorrect nailing: hooves can be split by the use of over-large nails and nailing
too superficially ('fine') into the hoof wall
 Hoof
CAUSE:
Wall Cracks
SAND CRACKS

o Caused by uneven stress to the hoof capsule, arising from a foot-limb imbalance.
o Sand cracks can occur following a traumatic injury or after excessive and repeated
concussive stress
o Additional causative factors include poor hoof quality, environmental
conditions, type of exercise surface and speed at exercise
o Although coronary band treads were often considered to be a cause of sand cracks
in working horses of the past, direct trauma to the coronary band is unlikely to
cause sand cracks in modern athletic horses.
 Hoof
CAUSE:
Wall Cracks
HORIZONTAL CRACKS

o Caused from an injury to the coronary band which results in the temporary
cessation of healthy horn growth
 Hoof
CAUSE:
Wall Cracks
SOLAR CRACKS

o Sole Cracks
 Most commonly seen in horses with chronic
laminitis Caused by the direct pressure from a
rotating pedal bone
 and in young horses with upright or 'clubby'
feet
 In a young horse solar cracks are temporary, but
in the laminitic foot they can be persistent
o Bar Cracks
 Can be caused by some cases of low
grade, chronic laminitis and in horses with a long
toe/low heel syndrome
 Hoof
DIAGNOSIS
Wall Cracks
o Hoof wall cracks are visibly obvious, but their
significance is determined by the extent of coronary
band involvement and whether or not infection is
present
o In lame horses, a crack through the coronary band may
be painful to palpate and the edges of the crack may
move apart when the horse bears weight (signifies
instability, pinching and inflammation of the sensitive
laminae)
o In lame horses, a crack through the ground surface of
the hoof may be associated with a localized area of pain
on palpation (signifies infection and abscess formation)
o In chronic cases of hoof wall cracks, radiographic
examination may reveal secondary changes to the pedal
bone.
 Hoof
TREATMENT
Wall Cracks
o Crack is trimmed out to debride the cavity and hoof wall, exposing the area to air
o If a solar abscess is present, it should be located, trimmed and treated
o Infected crack is flushed with a topical antibiotic
o Proper shoe (i.e. full-bar shoe) is applied to stabilize the foot (nails should not
intrude into crack)
o If required, toe or quarter clips are fitted on either side of the crack (clips should
not intrude into crack)
 Hoof
TREATMENT
Wall Cracks
o If crack is recent and uncomplicated it is wired or laced together (using horizontal
holes drilled through the hoof wall)
o If crack is long-standing and complicated it is filled with an acrylic hoof repair
material to hold the edges of the crack
o Bar and sole cracks should not be covered by any repair material
o Hoof hardener can be applied
 Hoof
AFTER-CARE
Wall Cracks
o Stable rest is required until the hoof wall crack is stabilized and healing
o The hoof should be trimmed and the stabilization components (i.e. wires or
laces, patch, shoe, clips) reapplied as the hoof grows and the crack changes
position
o Note: The hoof wall grows approximately 0.6 cm every month
 Hoof
PREVENTION
Wall Cracks
o Maintain regular hoof trimming and shoeing at all times but especially during times
of dry weather
o Feed supplements containing biotin and methionine to aid good quality hoof
growth, especially for horses with naturally brittle feet
 Bruised Sole
INTRODUCTION

o Important cause of lameness in shod or

unshod horses
o It is an injury which results in
hemorrhage into the sensitive tissues of
the sole
o Hemorrhage increases pressure in the
sensitive tissues of the sole which
results in pain
o Hemorrhage also causes discoloration in
the typical manner of a bruise
 Bruised Sole
CAUSE

o A bruised sole is caused by trauma resulting from the following:

 Treading on a stone or another hard object
 Poorly fitting shoe
 Excessive work on hard ground
 Bruised Sole
DIAGNOSIS

o Horse may become suddenly lame and then appear to recover but will often be
lame the next day
o Pain is located when pressure is applied with hoof testers
o Sole paring at the area of pain reveals a visible bruise
 Bruised Sole
TREATMENT

o Steps in the treatment of a bruised sole include:

 Trimming the overlying solar horn may relieve the painful pressure of
haemorrhage
 Applying an antiseptic spray to help keep the damaged horn clean
 Applying a poultice and bandage
 Applying a shoe with a pad
 Bruised Sole
AFTER-CARE

o The poultice should be removed after 24 hours but the protective bandage can be
left on for a further 48 hours
o The foot is trimmed and shod when it is no longer painful
o The horse may remain lame until it is reshod
 Bruised Sole
PREVENTION

o Pick and thoroughly clean out the horse's feet before exercise
o Avoid exercise on stony ground
o Maintain regular hoof trimming and shoeing
o Consider the use of pads to protect the sole if the horse is prone to bruising
 Bruised Sole
CAUTION

o A foot abscess can cause a similar type of sudden lameness with focal pain
o Abscesses must be found, drained and poulticed without delay