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  Discussion on Toe dragging/snappy comeback
Author Message
Member:
Bblack

Posted on Friday, Aug 8, 2003 - 2:18 pm:

Hello all,

Yesterday I went to a new clients farm (I trim hooves) and she showed me a 6-month old miniature colt she has. When starting out to walk, he drags each back feet for two or three inches, then they will snap off the ground to the normal high position, back down, drag, then snap off the ground again. After a few steps, the process will smooth out to a normal gait. When I lift the back leg, it is stiff at first, then you can feel it snap before it bends. This is a fast growing colt, so the owner is of the opinion that the growth of his bones are outpacing the growth of his tendons, especially the DDFT in the back, thus causing this motion problem. I have seen cases where fast growing colts do outgrow the DDFT, causing the hoof to pull down in the front, mimicking a club foot. The owner wants me to keep the toe a little long, thus placing a stretching strain on the DDFT, which I sometimes do, but carefully monitor, on new colts, to keep pressure on the tendon, then take the toe back down to a normal position over the first year of growth.

She said she received a second opinion where the extendor tendon was the problem, thus they suggested that the heels be left long to put pressure on the extendor.

I have never before seen a case like I saw yesterday. Does her first opinion make sense to you? It kind of does to me, only I don’t understand why a tight DDFT would be causing the snapping action. It appears to me that the hocks are locking, then snapping out when they reach a certain angle as the leg moves foreword.

Thanks for your input.

Billy Blackman
Member:
Swarnick

Posted on Friday, Aug 8, 2003 - 3:32 pm:

Hi Billy,

Have they ruled out luxating patellas? It is very common in young minis. The reason I ask is that you said when you pick up the rear leg you feel a resistance then a snap before bending. My colt was also like this at the same age and you could actually feel the patella click in and out when he walked if you put your hand on the stifle. Until he put on a few pounds and was in good condition he also would drag the toe then snap back up. If so, most likely genetic and the owner should be advised to geld no matter how wonderful otherwise.

Shirley
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Aug 8, 2003 - 11:15 pm:

Shirley is correct what you describe is upward fixation of the patella (it is not truly a luxation though this term is used often). To learn more about this see » Equine Diseases » Lameness » Diseases of the Upper Rear Limb » Diseases of the Stifle » Stifle Lock: Upward Fixation of the Patella.
DrO
Member:
Bblack

Posted on Saturday, Aug 9, 2003 - 5:18 am:

Thanks DrO and Shirley. I will pass this info on to the owner.

Billy Blackman
Member:
Bblack

Posted on Sunday, Aug 10, 2003 - 8:09 am:

Hello again,

I was told last night that the colt is 4 months old instead of 6 as I said. Would this age difference change your opinion of the problem?

Also, would changing the foot angle, such as long toe to stretch the DDFT or long heel to stretch the extendor, as was suggested to the owner, be a fair approach? Or, would it be best to strive for a natural toe angle and wait on the colt to grow to see if the condition improves?

Thanks

Billy
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Aug 10, 2003 - 9:03 am:

No the difference is not significant. The problem has nothing to so with the extensor tendon. We describe the cause and useful treatments in the article I reference above.
DrO
Member:
Swarnick

Posted on Sunday, Aug 10, 2003 - 9:08 am:

Hi Billy,

While going through our ordeal with it we learned, if it is indeed an intermittent upper fixation of the patella, a two month difference in age shouldn't be a factor. My sources say they have encountered the problem as early as a few weeks after foaling.

We have been working with our farrier and vet since diagnosis on all possible remedies to the problem. My farrier does a balanced trim and slightly squares the toes, nothing technical or creative. Both farrier and vet agree the best treatment for this condition is time, conditioning and weight. If all of this fails and the locking increases in frequency or duaration, then surgery may be our final option, but the colt is doing very well at this point having met the above three criteria. Fortunately, he has not had a lock up for 3 months.

Shirley
Member:
Bblack

Posted on Sunday, Aug 10, 2003 - 10:58 am:

Thanks to all for the information. I am printing out a copy of the article, Upward Fixation of the Patella, and your answers from this page, and giving a copy to the horse owner.
Thanks again.

Billy
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