Hoof Care Flashcards
Cornfield epidermis or horn, keratinized structures are constantly growing and protect the sensitive structures
Hoof capsule
Dermis or coria, elastic structures do not grow, perfumed with blood and innervated
Deep structures
2nd phalanx, P2, middle phalanx
Short pastern
3rd phalanx, P3, distal phalanx, pedal bone, gives shape
Coffin bone
Distal sesmoid, non weight bearing, deep digital flexor tendon, source of lameness
Navicular bone
Hoof wall, grows from coronary band, laminae (sensitive and insensitive), weight bearing
Structure of the hoof
Connected to the hoof wall
Sensitive and insensitive laminae
White line
Coffin bone
Concave in shape
Expands and contracts
Bears weight on soft ground
Thick
Hoof sole
Insensitive and sensitive laminae
From sole and wall
White line
Tubular, high moisture, absorbs shock, support
Frog
Flexible
Interacts with frog
Shock absorber
Lateral spread
Expansion
Contraction
Behind the hoof under fetlock
Digital cushion
Hoof pumps blood to heart, compression, forces blood up
1 way valve in vein
Blood enters foot when raise
Blood flow
Occurs from coronary band down
Growth rate correlated with age, season (slow in winter), nutrition
Hoof growth
Criterias for shoeing
Protection, traction, support
Dependent on foot type and conformation
Environment
Protection
General, deceleration, acceleration
Traction
Capsule and bone column
Support
General conformation
History
Way of going
Discipline
Ferries assessment
Pastern sits at weird angle
Broken hood pastern axis
Crushed heels, poor digital cushion, greater risk of tendon injury
Under run heel
Frog cannot make contact with ground
Poor shock absorption
Heel cannot expand
Contracted heel
Due to unbalance hoof
Environment
Hoof wall quality
Superficial or deep
Cracks
Sole, wall
Lead to abscess
Results from over trimming
Prevent with shoes and pads
Bruises
Painful infection
Acute lameness
Remedied by pressure relief; dig out sole
Abscesses