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  Discussion on Laminitis or not ???
Author Message
New Member:
Kowal

Posted on Monday, Jul 24, 2006 - 2:33 pm:

My gelding had his shoes pulled over three months ago, and was trimmed by an AANHCP trimmer . He was sound before the shoes were pulled, but has had a history of lameness issues in the right front hoof (soft tissue injury). His front feet are very flat-soled and since he's been barefoot he has been foot sore on and off, especially on the right foot which is flatter soled than the left.

The walls of his front feet are cracking and crumbling away so he really has no wall support at all, and is walking on his soles. The walls remind me of corrugated cardboard, as they break away, I can see several layers...This is only happening with his front feet....his back feet are great, no cracking or chipping, but he has always been barefoot behind.

I normally touch his feet up between trims, but the trimmer said not to touch his feet this month to see if he can grow out some wall. Well, I hadn't seen him for three days this week, and when I went to the barn tonight his feet were horrendous.. large chunks had been ripped off, and other pieces had bent back and were hanging off. He was quite sore. I trimmed off all the hanging pieces as best I could. Basically, it seems his walls can not support his weight. It is obvious to me he is sore because he is walking on his soles.

pictures:

https://www.equinedesign.ca/feet/feet.htm

I sent these pictures to the trimmer and she believes he has grass laminitis. He is out 10 -12 hours a day on an average quality pasture (has been on hay for part of the month due to overeaten pasture), is a very hard keeper and is not overweight. He definitely has hoof wall separation, but his soles have always been this flat, the only thing that has changed is that he's lost much of his supporting wall. Also, the new growth at the top half of his foot looks good, much better than the older growth. I have been dealing with a bad case of thrush which the trimmer said was also in the white line, and I am now thinking perhaps a fungal infection of the wall is responsible for the deterioration of his feet. I have a call into my vet, but do you think this looks like laminitis?
New Member:
Kowal

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 25, 2006 - 2:38 pm:

Here's pictures of the left and right front feet:
left front


Right Front

Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Monday, Jul 24, 2006 - 3:16 pm:

I am not a hoof expert. But I would think from what you are saying its the white line infection that is separating the hoof wall causing it to come off and separate and chip . White line can cause bad lameness similar to founder. Maybe its both. Interested to hear what Dr O thinks.
Member:
Banthony

Posted on Monday, Jul 24, 2006 - 3:20 pm:

Karen,

From my experiences, I'll put my two cents in. You need x-rays to diagnose laminitis.

I looked at the pictures of your horse's feet. Is he due to be trimmed? It looks like he has a lot of toe and is trying to break off the excess. Seems like too much heel to me too. It also looks like the feet are very dry. Are you having dry weather?

My farrier keeps explaining to me... you only have so much foot surface and it can go out or down. When the foot is unbalanced and there is a lot of flaring the foot will remain flat and chip off and you will never get concavity.

I think it can take 6 months to a year for a horse that has had shoes on to grow a good foot.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 25, 2006 - 10:48 am:

Hello Karen,
I agree that from these pictures you cannot diagnose laminitis. The separation of the hoof wall and the run under heels most likely come from leaving too much toe out in front of the the feet. As to whether the toe could also be trimmed shorter would depend on the sole depth.
DrO
New Member:
Kowal

Posted on Saturday, Jul 29, 2006 - 12:49 pm:

Update:

My gelding has been getting progressively worse and can now barely walk. He definitely has laminitis. I am getting x-rays Monday to see if he has foundered and how bad it is.
Member:
Scooter

Posted on Saturday, Jul 29, 2006 - 3:36 pm:

Hi Karen, you should go to Dr.O's article on treatment and start following asap. If you know how to put the styrofoam hoof supports on that will usually give immediate relief. Your horses hoof kinda look likes it has seedy toe which is a result of founder and or poor trimming. (I am battling that right now). Get your horse in some deep bedding and administer some bute, until he can be seen by the vet. Don't forget that bute can make them appear better than they are. Good Luck.
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Saturday, Jul 29, 2006 - 6:56 pm:

sorry to hear that. Keep us informed.
Good luck
Member:
Jojo15

Posted on Sunday, Jul 30, 2006 - 9:12 am:

Karen, from what i see in the pictures it seems his bars and heels are higher than the hoof wall. i bet there is some heel pain and forcing him to walk on his toes. making the cracks and stressing that area more than normal. The bars are overlaid and might be putting too much pressure on that area. Also look at the hairline slope. and make one of those angle degree triangles. to monitor progress.

Yes, get an x ray. also aanhcp trimmers are more conservative. I used to use one. And just felt he wasn't trimming the way i wanted. They normally leave bars alone. and let them fend for themselves. They do leave the toe a bit longer. And they never cut out the frog or heel bulb areas. Where it seems in your pictures needs a bit too.

Pulling shoes will more than likely create abscesses as the coffin bone and foot start to readjust to being barefoot. and my horse was dead lame for a few weeks. Then ouchy. Then ouchy only on gravel. And now she's pretty sturdy for our terrain. I don't think laminitis is happening only because what you are describing i've heard happens to many horses. Getting an x ray is really a good idea to get a baseline on progress though.

So, are there any other signs that you think its lam, besides the soreness and lameness?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jul 30, 2006 - 9:23 am:

I would not wait for Monday to begin treatment Karen. The article associated with this discussion gives possible causes and treatment.
DrO
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