Solar bruising

Question 1

what is the difference between the Epidermis of the sole and the dermis of the sole?

Answer 1

Epidermis - Avasuclar, highly karatinised, very firm, insensitive
Dermis - vasular, nerves

Question 2

What are solar bruises?
What occurs?

Answer 2

• Blunt trauma to the solar surface of the hoof during locomotion
• Haemorrhage into the sensitive tissues of the foot
• Tissues become inflamed, vascularity increases
• This leads to increase in tissue fluid
• Hoof is a sealed, non-compliant structure and thus leads to focal increases in pressure

Question 3

what are the clinical signs of solar bruising?

Answer 3

Presenting signs can be extremely variable:
* Acute, severe unilateral lameness
Ddx – subsolar abscess, pedal bone fracture
* Mild bilateral (or quadrilateral) pain
Ddx – laminitis, bilateral forelimb lameness

Examination findings:
* Increased digital pulses to affected hooves
* Increased hoof temperature
* Sensitivity to hoof testers

Question 4

what is the differenence between solar bruising and a corn?

Answer 4

All depends on location!
A “corn” is just bruising at the “seat of corn”
Hoof testers will localise the focus of pain
Can be dry or suppurative as tissue fluid leaks through the epidermal tissues

Question 5

What is the inital managment of a solar bruise?

Answer 5

If lameness is acute, unilateral and severe:
* Likely manage as a subsolar abscess and assess response
* If the horse has bruising, the lameness will improve rapidly without any drainage of pus

If the lameness is mild or multi-limb:
* Non-specific management including box rest and NSAIDs (phenylbutazone)
* If the horse has bruising, the lameness will improve rapidly

If there is significant haemorrhage then these can progress to become subsolar abscesses –> blood is an excellent culture medium!

Question 6

What are the risk factors for solar bruising?

Answer 6

• Surface: Uneven or highly concussive surfaces
• Shoeing/farriery: Barefoot horses will be more prone, Long shoeing interval (particularly corns)
• Activity type: Horses used for hacking will be more likely
• Activity level: Repetitive concussive forces
• Conformation: Horses with flat foot and low heel conformation

Question 7

What is the normal shoing interval for horses?

Answer 7

6 weeks is the “norm” but consider individual variation

Question 8

What are the prevention stratergies for solar bruising?

Answer 8

*Maintain shoeing intervals around 6 weeks but consider individual variation

In at-risk horses or at-risk environments consider ways to prevent concussion and contusion:
* Shoes fitted to horses that are barefoot
* Pads fitted between the shoe and the hoof
* Packing material injected between the pad and the sole

Horses with poor hoof conformation should be actively corrected:
* Sparing the heel when trimming
* Avoid working on firm or uneven ground