Posted by Patty Stiller on February 27, 2004 at 23:16:25:
In Reply to: Barefoot & WLD posted by Sarah on February 27, 2004 at 18:57:32:
: My horse was diagnosed by my farrier with WLD in all feet last summer and underwent treatment which seemed to clear it. I have kept applying a solution made up by my vets daily since but when my farrier came this week, it was evident that WLD is returning in his hind feet. My farrier shod him as normal but cut away as much bad hoof as he could and has suggested the possibility of leaving him with no shoes on next time. However, due to my horse having had a long period of time off work due to the severity of WLD last year (previous farriers had dismissed his feet as having a problem! I finally found a farrier who wanted to help my horse!), I am eager to be able to compete him in hunter classes this year so would be glad for any thoughts on what would be best - with or without shoes?
: Thankyou :)
First, I have to ask, is this horse stalled most of the time? I ask because I have never seen a case of whiteline begin in a horse who was living in pasture....always the cases I have seen were stalled, and bedded in shavings.
So if he is inside, I suggest move him outside. Full time.
As for shoes, if you can leave him barefoot I sure would. If you have to shoe him for traction or protection, the entire area that is infected should be resected so it can be treated effevctively. And do not patch over it. A large resection may mean the foot needs extra support to the remaining wall and bone column, such as a frog support pad or a heart bar shoe and clips in the areas of wall that are left intact. If you do not adequately support it, and do a big resection, the foot may spread and flatten from the weakening of the hoofwall.
I would give the whiteline problem first priority , this means you may have to forego shows till the resected wall grows back in because it is inappropriate to patch over it. Covering up the resected area may allow reinfection if there is speck of the fungus left alive under the patch. Patty