| TOE
ABSCESS
THE CAUSE
The toe abscess will be found at the junction of the sole and
the hoof wall between the white line and the sensitive laminae.
It usually starts from the hoof wall being too long, causing it
to .are out and separate from the laminae. Often the hoof wall
cracks vertically, allowing dirt and grit to build up inside against
the sensitive tissue which when aggravated becomes inflamed then
infected.
THE EFFECTS
The horse will stand with the leg pointed forward to relieve the
pressure at the toe, and will show a head bobbing action at the
trot.
THE TREATMENT
The separated or cracked area must be thoroughly cleaned out to
remove all dirt and grit. This can be done by flushing or by using
a narrow blade sole knife or similar and can be achieved without
causing blood flow.
The flares at the toe must also be reduced
back to an even hoof wall thickness at this time to prevent stress.
If the abscess is not yet visible, a poultice
should be applied to the complete sole, (use as directed) to try
drawing out the intrusion; this may need to be repeated until
lameness is eased.
Some toe abscesses will travel up through
the hoof wall and blow out at the coronary band - these need to
be poulticed in that area.
The long term effects of these top releasing
abscesses will be seen about two months later, when a small horizontal
crack appears in the hoof wall directly above where the original
abscess was, and just below the coronet. It will grow down as
the hoof grows, and will need to be opened up to prevent it from
holding dirt and causing another abscess. There will be a capillary
track from this horizontal crack down to the tip of the hoof which
must be opened and cleaned, and if necessary refilled with synthetic
material (used as directed).
SOLE ABSCESS
THE CAUSE
The cause is either from bruising to the sole (which is common
to wide flat footed horses, and usually results from the sole
not being concave enough to allow free movement downwards when
the hoof is under load), or from a stone bruise which may also
puncture the sole; these usually
occur in the front half of the sole.
THE EFFECTS
Accelerated digital pulse, pointing the toe, hoof feels warm to
touch, often swelling in the lower leg and obvious lameness.
THE TREATMENT
For a blind sole bruise/abscess there is sub-surface bleeding
and this can be treated first with an ice boot or similar until
any heat or swelling has subsided, then protected with an under-pad
.tted between the shoe and hoof and left in place for a week or
two as protection for the affected area.
It is not advisable to try to drain this type of abscess by opening
up the sole; it increases the risk of infection and delays the
soundness.
As soon as the bruise has subsided, any excess
thick or crusty sole should be pared away to achieve a concave
profile which will help in the rehabilitation of the hoof and
the prevention of another bruise.
In the event that the sole has been punctured by a stone, there
will already be bleeding from that point so it needs to be cleaned
and disinfected and a poultice applied to draw out any dirt etc.
The
punctured area needs to be protected with a pad or boot for a
few weeks to allow the sole to heal over, and the horse must be
given antibiotics.
HEEL ABSCESS
THE CAUSE
These occur in the corn area at the junction where the bars meet
the heel buttresses.
The cause is from excess pressure from the bar under the heel
of the shoe, or from high impact to the heel as a result of the
heels of the hoof capsule being too high; this starts off as bruising
and progresses to inflammation and finally becomes abscessed.
THE EFFECTS
Acute lameness, strong digital pulse, horse will rest the leg
toe .rst with the heel off the ground. There will be visible swelling
in the lower leg and hoof feels warmer to touch.
THE TREATMENT
Trim the bars down to sole level and lower the heels to expose
the bruised area.
Apply a poultice and repeat until soreness
has eased, trim the hoof to achieve a straight line from the front
of the pastern down to the tip of the hoof and remove all flares
in the hoof from toe to heel, sometimes a heart bar shoe will
be necessary to help the hoof return to normal by easing further
pressure at those heels during rehabilitation.
BAR ABSCESS
THE CAUSE
Occurs about half way back along the bar where a crack develops
when the bars have not been maintained to a short strong profile.
THE EFFECTS
When the bar cracks there is almost always an infection, extreme
lameness, swelling, and pulse, and then progresses to an under
run sole abscess.
TREATMENT
Carefully clean the affected area of all dirt and excess .aky
sole, disinfect and apply a poultice for about three days, repeating
the cleaning process each time. When the soreness decreases, a
straight bar shoe and an under pad should be fitted as protection.
About six weeks after the initial infection from a cracked bar,
if there has been an under run infection, the sole will feel hollow
in that area and occasionally at least half of the sole will be
affected. Care should be taken not to pare away this separated
sole too soon as nature is using it as a buffer until the new
sub sole is strong enough to protect the pedal bone.
Be patient as it will remove easily when its
ready and not before.
CONCLUSION
Hoof abscesses are unnecessary and prevention is far better than
cure.
Avoid allowing flares to develop in the hoof wall - this will
eliminate cracks and laminae separation which invite the abscess.
Balance the hoof to the correct pastern angle to eliminate heel
damage, trim the sole to its natural
concavity and trim the bars to be strong.
This will solve most potential hoof related lameness problems.
If
detected early, most
abscesses can be treated
in a simple fashion and
the horse returned to
work within hours.
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