Page 250 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

Treatment

• The toe is trimmed as short as possible and the minimum amount is removed from the
VetBooks.ir • heels.

Where the heels are very collapsed and underrun, they require some trimming in order to
move the weight-bearing surface backwards on the foot. The hoof-pastern axis of these

horses is sometimes improved by the use of a wedge pad or raised-heel shoe to elevate
the heel. Alternatively the heel can be artificially built up with specialist materials. This

also decreases the strain on the deep digital flexor tendon.
• Raising the heels can also correct the pedal bone alignment.

• A shoe is selected that best fits the requirements of the individual horse. Where the sole

has become longer and narrower over a period of time, it is helpful to select a shoe with a
®
squared toe, e.g. a Natural Balance shoe that brings the point of breakover back from
the tip of the toe.
• In every case the shoe should provide adequate support at the heels. Normal shoes with

extended heels, and egg bar or heart bar shoes are commonly used. There are an
increased number of purpose-designed shoes to help improve such problems.

Prognosis

With regular trimming and shoeing, this type of conformation can be successfully managed.

In cases where the heels are severely underrun, the hoof changes may be irreversible.

LAMINITIS

Laminitis is a condition that affects the horse’s feet, causing pain and lameness. In a normal,

healthy horse, the pedal bone (distal phalanx) is held securely in position within the hoof
capsule by a complicated arrangement of interdigitating laminae. On the inner surface of the
hoof wall, approximately 600 leaf-like projections – the insensitive laminae – interdigitate

with the sensitive laminae on the surface of the pedal bone. Each of these laminae has 100–
200 microscopic secondary laminae, which further increase the surface area for attachment.

When laminitis occurs this attachment is disrupted and the laminae may become stretched or
separated. The separation occurs at the innermost layer of the hoof wall, known as the

basement membrane. Unless immediate steps are taken to halt the progress of the disease, the
weight of the horse pushing down plus the upward pull of the deep digital flexor tendon on

the pedal bone and the mechanical forces of movement may cause the pedal bone to rotate