An Alternate Approach to “White Line Disease” Repair

© Rusty Freeman

I recently reviewed a number of studies concerning WLD, and techniques on how to restore the hoof to good health. A study of particular interest was the one completed at Cornell University by Dr. Michael A. Ball, Michael Wildenstein and Sang Shin, which was printed in the American Farriers Journal.

Briefly, thier findings suggest that a favorable result may be achieved by the removal of the affected tissue, sterilization of the underlying tissue, protection/support with an appropriate hoof repair material, and appropriate shoeing.

This particular study revolved around the technique of debriding the hoof (see the left photo, below), and then placing felt over the debrided area, followed by covering the felt with a fibergalss patch (see the right photo, below). An antifungal medication is applied to the felt, which is then wicked down onto all affected tissue.

The study states that this type of procedure seems to work well, and that the development of an antifungal impregnated hoof repair material would be very beneficial.

The procedure that I favor is similar in terms of removal of all the affected area of the hoof which the disease has infected. The affected areas exhibit a soft chalky horn tissue. The differences between the technique I favor and the technique in the referenced article are:

• The hoof wall stays in place versus its removal.
• Affected hoof regions will have exposure to air versus being sealed off under a felt fiberglass patch.
• Affected hoof regions will have the ability to be flushed with anti fungal solutions and drying agents versus only being "wicked" over with antifungal medication.

Some background on the hoof with WLD disease presented in this article: The trainer was having difficulty keeping the shoe on because of the vacancies the disease has created in the hoof. (Photo 1, below.) He had his veterinarian evaluate the hoof, and it was suggested that WLD may be present.

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 2, above, shows the hoof being cleaned up, and the start of the removal process of the affected area. As can be seen, we start by working our way up the wall through the sole until we reach an area of good, unaffected horn. Points A & B show where we enter into what is believed to be the point where the affected area and the good hoof horn meet. Careful examination is necessary of the horn in the vicinity of these points, to assure that we've removed all affected and potentially migrating areas of the disease.

Photo 3 shows an entry point at the ”B” locator, and also shows the condition around where the hoof wall meets the sole.	Photo 4 shows the clean vacant area where the hoof horn once existed. Once this is thoroughly cleaned, I’ll build the neccessary channels and repairs that will enable this hoof to receive medication, air and stay clean, permitting new healthy growth.
Photo 5 shows the channels embedded in the hoof structures.	Photo 6 shows the shoe and placement.
Photo 7 shows the finished hoof.

This horse was back into training in three days, and successfully raced 2 weeks later.

I've found that exposing injury sites to air, medication, and the precise removal of the damaged hoof, combined with appropriate hoof reconstruction, all play a key roles in the recovery process.

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