Equine Foot: General

Question 1

a horse sustains a wound to the hoof wall that exposes the lamina interna. what do you do?

Answer 1

if lamina interna is exposed, treat as an open wound (cover in 0.1% PI soaked gauze until thin layer of horn develops followed by hardening products like copper, iodine, 10% benzoyl peroxide acetone)

if extensive -> provide stability: acrylic made of PMMA + fiberglass cloth = earlier return to work

Question 2

broken backwards foot conformation

Answer 2

long toe + low heels/underrun heels

extra strain on DDFT -> pressure on navicular bone -> navicular syndrome and palmar heel pain

Question 3

broken forward foot conformation

Answer 3

club foot

common due to flexural limb deformity

hits ground at STEEPER angle (common in donkeys)

Question 4

long toe + low heels/underrun heels

Answer 4

broken backwards foot conformation

Question 5

ligament distal to navicular bone

Answer 5

impar ligament

Question 6

this type of foot conformation hits ground at STEEPER angle

Answer 6

broken forward/club foot

Question 7

hardening products that can be used on hoof wall (3)

Answer 7

• copper
• iodine
• 10% benzoyl peroxide acetone

Question 8

this type of foot conformation causes extra strain on DDFT -> pressure on navicular bone -> navicular syndrome and palmar heel pain

Answer 8

broken backwards

Question 9

coffin bone

Answer 9

P3

Question 10

where is the palmar pouch of the distal interphalangeal joint located?

Answer 10

just proximal to navicular bone

Question 11

normal foot conformation

Answer 11

no breaks + hits ground at 50 degree angle

Question 12

ligament proximal to navicular bone

Answer 12

collateral ligament

Question 13

how to treat solar defects (defects to sole of hoof)

Answer 13

if lamina interna is exposed, treat as an open wound (cover in 0.1% PI soaked gauze until thin layer of horn develops followed by hardening products like copper, iodine, 10% benzoyl peroxide acetone)

once thin layer of keratinized horn forms, needs time to harden (pressure can -> lameness) -> lightly pack defect with 0.1% PI soaked gauze

will take several months to harden. after initial healing process, can apply shoe/treatment plate and return to light work

Question 14

what to remember when debriding/resecting a piece of the hoof wall

Answer 14

leave 1 cm of hoof intact at bottom

if lamina interna is exposed, treat as an open wound (cover in 0.1% PI soaked gauze until thin layer of horn develops followed by hardening products like copper, iodine, 10% benzoyl peroxide acetone)

if extensive -> provide stability: acrylic made of PMMA + fiberglass cloth = earlier return to work