Basic Hoof Conditions Flashcards
(24 cards)
How do the normal hoof forces change with movement?
What are 3 predisposing conditions to laminitis?
Endotoxemia (GI tract, pleuritis, placentitis)
Systemic metabolic dysfunction
Non-weightbearing lameness (fracture, septic synovial structure)
How does glucose deprivation lead to laminitis?
Cells of lamina preferentially consume glucose
Lack of glucose –> inflammatory response –> release of MMPs –> breakdown of basement membrane
What are the clinical signs of laminitis?
Varying degrees of lameness
Front feet > hind feet
Inflammation
What are the clinical signs of inflammation with laminitis?
Heat
Increased digital pulses
Positive to hoof testers (pain) especially at the toe
What are the 3 stages of laminitis?
Developmental
Acute
Chronic
Define: Developmental Laminitis
At risk!!
No lameness or clinical signs
Treat as if they will get laminitis
Define: Acute Laminitis
Lameness, clinical signs
Active separation of dermis from epidermis
Define: Chronic Laminitis
Displacement (or rotation) of distal phalanx
Chronic lameness, abscesses, abnormal hoof growth
What are the treatment goals for developmental laminitis?
Prevention of clinical signs
Treat systemic disease
Remove inciting agent or prevent from reaching lamina (cryotherapy)
Anti-endotoxin serum, NSAIDs, mineral oil/activated charcoal
Sole support
What are the treatment goals for acute laminitis?
Pain management
Increase perfusion (pentoxifylline, isoxsuprine, heel elevation)
Treat wind-up
Prevent overload of hoof wall with sole support
What are the treatment goals for chronic laminitis?
Decrease tension on DDFT
Realign hoof-pastern axis (trimming)
Treat systemic disease
What are the clinical signs of navicular disease?
Intermittent shifting leg lameness with short shuffling gait (often misdx as shoulder lameness)
Usually both forelimbs
When standing, the horse will often point the most severely affected limb
Stumbling at walk or trot
+/- brusing at toe
Lameness is exacerbated when the horse is turned in a circle
What clinical signs of navicular disease are seen with bilateral disease?
Horse will either alternately point the limbs or will stand with both front limbs held forward in the classical “camped in front” stance
Navicular disease: hoof tester examination
Pain at the center of the frog and across the heels, but is not always diagnostic
How is navicular disease diagnosed?
History, gait, and hoof tester response
Lameness often exacerbated when a 3/4’’ board is placed under the toe - places more pressure on the DDFT and the navicular area
What is the conservative treatment for navicular disease?
Stall rest
NSAID therapy
Trimming: correct hoof-pastern axis and balancing the foot
How can trimming treat navicular disease?
Increase the angle of the foot by raising the heel or shortening the toe to remove excess pressure from the navicular bone
What are the goals of shoeing?
Balance dorsal-palmar and medial-lateral
Squaring or rolling the toe for easier and faster breakover
How does shoeing treat navicular disease?
At least some type of corrective trimming and/or shoeing be performed before other therapy is begun
Many horses will respond to foot balancing alone
Tendon-ligament rehabilitation
What is the medical treatment for navicular disease?
NSAIDs
Isoxsuprine hydrochloride
Injections into DIPJ or navicular bursa
Bisphosphonates
What are the adverse effects of bisphosphonates?
Renal disease, colic
Increased likelihood of fractures
What are the clinical signs of subsolar abscesses?
Mild to severe lameness (fx lameness) - mild to severe
Usually single limb
Digital pulses, bounding (r/o laminitis)
Hoof tester sensitivity
Drainage at coronary band
How are subsolar abscesses treated?
Create ventral drainage
Soak in hyperosmolic MgSO4/salt
Bandage foot, allow tract to close
Treatment plate for large abscesses
Tetanus toxoid
Some exercise is good
