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Discussion on Crack in frog / bulb
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New Member:
Shagya
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Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 11:49 am:
Dear Dr. O,
my 11-year-old gelding has recently developed two cracks in the frog of his right front hoof. I have attached a picture, which is probably worth a thousand words.
There is no sensitivity when touched or pressed on the bulb. There is no lameness on the ground, but I can feel he is just a tiny bit off on that leg under work.
As for his history, we have recently moved from the midwest to Florida and the moisture has weakened his strong hooves somewhat. He has been barehooved for the last several years without any problems. He was trimmmed one week ago, but was about 6-8 weeks overdue at that time.
He is turned-out nightly on a sand/grass pasture but has only been worked sporadically in the last months.
Since the cracks appear to be almost symmetrical, I am unsure if this could be a sheared heel? When pushing on the cracked area, it almost seems as if the soft bulby tissue is separated from the harder frog tissue, but I don't know if it's an actual separation. He has no history of overreaching.
Your advice is greatly appreciated.
Yours, Marc.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 6:35 am:
No this is not sheared heels but a simple failure of the thin horn that covers the heels. Both the wetness and the overdue trimming may nave contributed to the problem. Did the problem occur before or after the recent trim?
The suggestions on controlling hoof moisture and stengthening horn in the article Equine Diseases » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Poor Horn Quality should go a long in helping the fooot recover.
DrO
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Member:
Shagya
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Posted on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 11:39 am:
Dear Dr.O.,
I was not aware of these cracks before the trim, neither was he feeling off either. There might have been initial small cracks I did not see, but I can't remember any. So, this problem seems to have occured after the recent trim. What's your prognosis for his condition?
I am worried about three immediate care concerns mostly:
A) Thrush building inside the cracks. I usually use ThrushBuster when needed, but I don't know if this will harm any growing/healing processes.
I don't think rinsing it out with water is a good idea either, since it will weaken the horn more.
B) I am also worried about external contaminates reaching the inside of the hoof. There is no blood leaking, but I don't know how strong or permeable the underlying structures are?
C) I also don't know if I should put him on stall rest. Do you think movement will cause the cracks to become worse or will horn just grow as the hoof grows?
Thank you for your help.
Yours, Marc.
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Member:
Annes
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Posted on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 3:55 pm:
My TB also has a crack in his heel bulb plus a horizontal crack on one side. I have been pouring betadine over the heel once a day hoping it would prevent an infection. The cracks are now improving and look to be closing up. I am sure all the wet weather caused the cracks. (My other three horses are fine though). Like your horse, he is not sensitive to pressure or lame. The farrier saw him yesterday for trimming and didn't seem to think it was out of the ordinary considering the weather and he thought the betadine was a good idea. Maybe Dr. O can tell you if this would benefit your horse. - Ann
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 7:26 am:
The prognosis is excellent as long as any predisposing causes are removed. Other than correcting these problems (see the article), I am not sure treatment with anything will be neccesary.
A) Keep it dry and thrush is not likely to be a problem.
B) This is not a problem.
C) I don't think stall rest is called for unless the condition becomes progressive.
DrO
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Member:
Shagya
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Posted on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 1:08 am:
Hi Dr.O.,
thanks for your input. The cracks haven't gotten any worse, but my other gelding is now starting to develop similar cracks in one of his hind hooves. This surprised me quite a bit since I have kept their hooves meticulously clean and dry in the last weeks.
I am now beginning to suspect whether they were trimmed properly the last time. This was our first time with this farrier and the trim doesn't follow the guidelines of your article about the Four-Point Trim. First, the toes seem to be longer than his previous trims, and I've even seen him stumble every now and then. Second, the frogs touch the ground, but just barely.
Do you think these cracks could have been caused by a long toe/little frog support trim?
I have also had another farrier look at the cracks today, but he suggested it was Thrush. However, there is no pungent smell coming from the cracks (or frogs). Your Thrush article mentions that the bacteria can rot out the frog. Could a rotten frog cause cracks like the ones in the picture?
Thanks for you advice.
Yours, Marc.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 6:54 am:
Marc, I avoid the "could it be" questions because most anything is possible but that does not help you make a accurate judgement, but yes, this is possible. If the farrier is keeping the toes long and there is more stumbling, a direct result of too long a toe, I would discuss this with him.
I see no evidence of Thrush in your photo. One other thought does occur to me. Occassionally you see a horse shed their frog and it will usually start at the heel and work forward, perhaps you are having this occur. If so the crevisse will deepen and eventually can be peeled forward all the way to the tip of the frog with normal frog below.
DrO
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