Lameness Flashcards
Abscess definition
a cavity filled with pus and necrotic (dead) tissue.
Abscess (reason)
Occurs when bacteria penetrates the horny regions of the foot
Abscess anatomy
Can involve any portion of the foot,the horny and sensitive sole, horny and sensitive laminae,and the coronary band
Symptoms abscess
Hold foot in the air and is extremely reluctant to put weight on it
Inflammation
heat, pain, redness ( in bare skin), swelling, loss of function from pain,
Abscess
Treatment
Drain abscess
poultice
shoe with a pad
Canker
Definition,
Is an abnormal and accelerated growth of tissue from the sensitive frog. It can also involve the sole, hoof wall, bulbs, and coronary band in severe cases. Most of these begin in the frog and move to the rest of the foot.
Canker
Reasons
The true cause or canker is unknown but is thought to possibly result from ammonia and wet paddocks
Anatomy
Canker
sensitive frog
Can grow to involve the sole,bulbs,wall and coronary band
Symptoms
Canker
Smell like ammonia, bleed easy, and may have a whitish appearance that looks abit like a cabbage
Treatment
Canker
Removal of the growth by vet
Bar shoe with hospital plate
Club foot
Definition
A club foot is an abnormally steep foot based on the rest of the horses conformation.
Reason
Club foot
Inherited trait due to short necks and head
Over feeding as yearlings causing the cannon bone to grow faster than the deep flexor tendon
Anatomy
Club foot
Deep flexor muscle, tendon.
Coffin bone, possibly the superficial flexor tendon, and suspensory ligament
Symptoms,
Club foot
One foot will be steeper than the other,
Club foot grade 1
One foot will be about 5 degrees steeper
Grade 2
Club football
One foot will be between 5-10 degrees steeper, growth rings will be wider at the heel than the toe, heel is growing faster
Grade 3
Club foot
Toe is going to have a dish, coronary band is going to be close to parallel to the ground.
Grade 4
Coronary band will be higher at the heels, dish in toe, and the fetlock knuckling over.
Treatment,
Club foot
Determine the cause,
If feed related change feed
If grade 1or2 work at fixing the foot and don’t try to match to opposite foot
For 3-4 vet must be involved
Coffin bone fracture
Definition
The distal phalanx has been chipped or suffered a break
Coffin bone fracture
Symptoms
Depending on where the fracture occurs, the horse may be mildly to severely lame, if the joint is involved the horse will be grade 4 lame
Coffin bone fracture
Treatment
Wide webbed bar shoe with clips
Use a pour in pad or use a regular pad if there is infection
Pedal osteitis
Is inflammation of the coffin bone
Pedal osteitis
Is inflammation of the coffin bone
Pedal osteitis
Reason
From lack of blood supply to the coffin bone, concussion, sole pressure and chronic bruising are thought to be the primary cause
Pedal osteitis
Anatomy
Coffin bone and the blood supply to the distal border of the coffin bone
Pedal osteitis
Symptoms
Often both front feet are affected
So the horse has a shuffling gate,
Pedal osteitis
Treatment
Main thing is to protect the bottom of the foot, and insure that there is not sole pressure
Shoe with a bar shoe with clips and equi -pak
Lameness
Abnormal gait due to pain
Most frequent lameness causes
List 4
Genetic
Environment ( including feed, injury and neglect )
Shoeing/trimming
Occupation
Coffin bone fracture
Reason
by trauma from repeated concussions
coffin bones that have been weakened due to pedal osteitis, bone cysts, or other causes.
Coffin bone fracture
Anatomy
Coffin bone
Can be articular or non articular depending if it involves the coffin joint or not
