Posted by Denise McLain on December 16, 2003 at 10:06:15:
In Reply to: Re: navicular horses - "Masking Pain" posted by M. W. Myers, D.V.M. on December 11, 2003 at 22:01:26:
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: : : : In actual fact, when correctly applied, the shoeing protocol so rapidly normalizes bloos flow and weight distribution in the hoof so far beyond what is possible with a trim alone, the healing process is greatly accelerated and the pain reduction is a real phenomenon and indicative of healing and not "masking". This "masking" statement is akin to leaving a cast off a broken limb to allow it to "heal naturally" and not mask the pain. Note how silly this really is.
: : : : Dr. Myers, you state that it is a fact that application of a shoe rapidly normalizes blood flow and weight distribution? Can you please refer me to the research that verifies that statement? It seems like "simple logic" to me that just the addition of the extra weight of a shoe to the hoof would prevent "normalization of weight distribution" and that the very act of nailing on a shoe, by restricting expansion/contraction of the hoof, restricts blood flow. You might be able to make an argument that there is still some movement in the hoof, but you certainly cannot make a valid one that this movement would be "normal."
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: : : : : An even more frightening concept is the one in which the "horse will get worse before it gets better". What happens in reality is that the load distribution is now incorrect for the situation and the pain is telling the horse to limit his movement while nature attempts to repair the damage that has been done. Pain is part of injury, not part of healing. Simple logic.
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: : : : : M. W. Myers, D.V.M.
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: : : : Of course pain is part of the injury -- it is the main symptom that there is damage in the hoof. And, as you pointed out, it is the message to the horse which will prevent it from using itself in a way which will further the damage. With all respect, Dr. Myers, do you truly believe that when a shoe is applied to a horse who is in pain and the pain now disappears that the shoe has corrected the problem? If you were to remove that shoe immediately and the pain returned would you believe that the lack of a shoe is what is causing the pain? Do you believe that healing can take place with reduced circulation? Do you believe that neural function is independent of adequate circulation?
: : : : It is my belief that the only way to heal lameness is to remove the cause and support the horse (the whole horse) as naturally as possible through the process of healing the damage.
: : : : Anne Daimler
: : : : SHP 2002
: : : : DeLand, FL
: : : Anne, I have seen absolutely no scientific proof from Dr Strasser that physiologically CORRECT shoeing masks pain or reduces blood flow.
: : : If ALL shoes masked pain, then all lame horses who got shod would all walk off sound. But they don't. And if a shod horse steps on a sharp rock or gets an abscess, he limps. Geesh think about it.
: : : I know that DR Strasser tries to cite DR Pollitt in claiming that shoes reduce blod flow, but that little bit is taken completely out of the full context of that section of the the Pollitt study and is in fact contradictory to what DR Pollitt actually said.
: : : On the other hand, there IS indeed plenty of scientific proof that blood flow can indeed be enhanced by the right kind of shoeing. (which does not include most of the older, long accepted, 'thought to be therapeutic' shoeing methods).
: : : The new proof about circulation comes from studies using venograms, doppler ultrasound of the digital arteries,and MRI studies on the internal hoof tissues. Those science modalities offer immediate and positive proof about changes in circulation due to changes in shoeing. You can see inside the living foot, and see the changes.
: : : If you want to ignore new, good science, fine. But you may as well quit trying to argue it with theories that have not been proven with scientific method.
: : : Patty
: : So where are all these studies? I would really like to see them.
: : I have seen Pollitt's video (the entire video) and am aware that the video itself shows something different from what he says. I am more likely to rely on what I saw than what he said.
: : Anne
: For those of you that missed a great Horseshoes On Line Seminar, Dr. Page has measurements to corroborate the claim that the plain shod horse has only half the blood flow of the barefoot hotse. However, before you "barefooters" jump too high for joy the addition of a wedge pad increased the blood flow 50% greater than barefoot. This measurement was done with doppler ultrasonography.
Dr. Myers,
Could you explain a little bit more how doppler ultrasonography works to measure blood flow? Dr. Strasser feels high heels or wegdes would cause a "back-up" of blood flow and increased fluid congestion around the navicular bone, with little blood getting to the toe region or to the laminar and solar coriums. With wedges does this "DU" show increased blood flow everywhere in the hoof, or just in certain loactions (ie. around the navicular area) and could it possibly be confused with a back-up of blood and congestion?
Denise