Shoeing and Laminitis

Question 1

How often should you trim horse feet?

Answer 1

4-6 weeks

Question 2

Where does the hoof wall grow from?

Answer 2

The perioplic corium

Question 3

What 3 things are evaluated on a hoof?

Answer 3

Hoof-pastern axis
Coronet symmetry
Sole symmetry

Question 4

What shape should the toes be?

Answer 4

Rear: top of an egg
Fore: bottom of an egg

Question 5

What 4 instruments do you need to remove shoes?

Answer 5

Shoe puller
Clinch cutter
Hammer
Nail puller

Question 6

What should you find on an old shoe?

Answer 6

There should be a polished spot from the heel expanding and contracting that tells you your heel mechanism is working.

Question 7

What 3 tools do you need to trim feet?

Answer 7

Hoof nippers
Hoof knives (left and right)
Rasp

Question 8

What do you give standardbreds a longer toe?

Answer 8

To give them a longer stride to help in competition.

Question 9

What 6 tools do you need to shoe a horse?

Answer 9

Nails
Shoes
Hammer
Clinch block
Alligator clincher
Rasp

Question 10

Where should a nail be placed in the hoof?

Answer 10

In the white line.

Question 11

When shoeing a horse, what do you do immediately for safety?

Answer 11

Bend the nails.

Question 12

What shoe do you use to help stabilize a coffin bone fx?

Answer 12

Full bar shoe for 4-6 weeks

NOTE: Minimizes heel mechanism.

Question 13

What type of shoe do you use to help a horse with navicular dz?

Answer 13

A rocker-toe shoe with elevated heels.

Question 14

Why does an elevated heel help with navicular dz?

Answer 14

Supports the DDFT and takes pressure off the navicular bone.

Question 15

What are 4 clinical signs of a solar abscess (puncture wound)?

Answer 15

Lameness
Thumping digital pulse
Draining tract from coronary band
Swelling

Question 16

How do you diagnose a solar abscess (puncture wound)?

Answer 16

Hoof testers
Sterile probe in draining tract
RADs

Question 17

What 4 steps do you take to treat a solar abscesss (puncture wound)?

Answer 17

Establish drainage
Tetanus (either toxoid or antitoxin depending on vaccine hx)
Antiseptic solution
Bandage

Question 18

How do you treat septic navicular burisitis/coffin joint infection?

Answer 18

Surgery

Plate shoe

Question 19

What is thrush?

Answer 19

Degenerative condition of the frog due to unhygienic conditions.

Question 20

What are 3 clinical signs of thrush?

Answer 20

Fetid odor
Undermined frog
Black discharge in sulci

Question 21

How do you treat thrush?

Answer 21

Remove all of the loose horn and apply a caustic agent (eg copper sulfate)

Question 22

What is the Obel grading system?

Answer 22

A way to grade laminitis/lameness.

Question 23

What is Obel grade 1?

Answer 23

No lameness at walk, short stilted gate at trot.

Question 24

What is Obel grade 2?

Answer 24

Stilted gait at walk, foot can be lifted.

Question 25

What is Obel grade 3?

Answer 25

Reluctant to walk, resists lifting foot.

Question 26

What is Obel grade 4?

Answer 26

Refuses to move, may become recumbent.

Question 27

What is a characteristic radiograpic appearance of bone remodelling in a lame horse?

Answer 27

“Ski tips”

Question 28

What are 5 risk factors for laminitis?

Answer 28

Ponies
Fat horses
Late summer
High carbs (grain)
Non-weightbearing lameness (transfers weight to the limb that is not being affected with laminitis)

Question 29

What type of shoe can help a laminitic horse?

Answer 29

A heart bar shoe.

NOTE: uses the frog as an additional weightbearing surface.

Question 30

What is a surgical treatment for chronic laminitis?

Answer 30

DDF tenotomy