Posted by Patty Stiller on November 09, 2003 at 11:50:48:
In Reply to: Unknown situation with hoof causing lameness posted by Eve on November 07, 2003 at 13:26:10:
: This is a new horse as of two weeks ago. He is currently on layup due to a mild bowed tendon, but about a year ago, he foundered badly--suspect as a reaction to a steroid injection for a respiratory problem. When he arrived, with all four legs bandaged for support during a six-hour ride, he was very upset for about a week. He has since become sane and seems to be happy and relaxed. I could feel no heat or swelling, so stopped wrapping. HOWEVER, he's now presenting a reluctance to step out from a standstill, and walks toe first on his right front. My farrier used hoof testers and found sensitivity in the navicular area. The horse has no history of navicular problems. The first dose of 1.5 grams bute gave him back a normal gate, but it's not enough today. I hope it's a bruise or an abscess instead of a recurrance of the founder. I don't know whether founder ever causes a heel sensitivity. I intend to soak the foot--hoping that it will at least feel good.
: This horse has been barefoot for about 2 months. He's 16 yrs. old and trained to upper level dressage.
: BTW, Anybody know where I can buy Venus turpentine? Do feed stores carry it?
I would rewcommend a vet exam, including radiographs to asses everything from current coffin bone position within hr hoof capsule, sole thockness, beakover point relative othe bone and and coffin joint alignment.
It is doubtful that a recurance of the laminitis would cause a toe first landing in one foot. However many other things could,either acute or schronic. These could include items such as a stone bruise,or poor conformation in the heels and bars resulting in internal bruising,or heel abscesses, or inflammation in any bone or tissue around the coffin joint including the navicular bone, impar ligament or the deep flexor tendon .
The reason to ascess hoof balance bone alignment and breakover point radiopgraphically is that if his coffin joint is misaligned, (broken back )or the breakover point is too far forward it can cause inflammation in the pmentioned structures. Also, if his hoof angles are too low internally, it will exacerbate the bowed tendon as it creates excess stresson the tendon.
Many times a flexor tendon injury is better served in the early healing process by wedging the foot some, to ease stress on the healing tissues.
So, I recommend get the vet out to do more diagnostics and Xrays, then go from there. Hopefully it is just a heel abscess. But if not, and there is any doubt about internal hoof balance or the condition of the tendon, then you may have to get shoes back on to realign and support things.
Patty