Posted by Anne (Tree) Coley on July 16, 2003 at 23:22:17:
In Reply to: Think I have sorted it out now but treatment questions posted by Alexandra Wikner on July 16, 2003 at 05:06:24:
: I think I have sorted it out now. Bilateral = on both legs (front in this case). contracture of DDF = The deep digital flexor tendon is too short compared to the bone, ie the bone has grown faster than the bone.
: And this will, if left untreated, lead to clubfoot? Right?
Alexandra,
I'm not a vet but yes, left untreated, this would lead to club foot and since your filly was already showing signs of "hanging knee", this would worsen as well too. Foal bones are so soft and easily changed, for better or worse!
: In Sweden we treat clubfoot with either trimming of the heel, lowering the heel every 3-6 days in mild cases. Or as the next step by fitting a glue-on shoe with toe extension (Dalric type of shoes). Walk the foal on hard ground (prefferably tarmac) for 10 minutes twice a day and then increase it, to stretch the DDF. If noone of this helps, they do a surgery and cut off the DDF.
This is what I do in my trimming practices only I can make more abrupt changes in one trim vs spreading it out over 3-6 day intervals. Foals change so quickly so allowing them to remain in an uncorrect form can do more harm than good. Time is of the essence. Attention is not left to just lower the heels though. The bars are also trimmed. They can become impacted high into the foot (as evidence by deep collateral grooves found on either side of the frogs). Left in this manner they cause heel pain which the horse would seek to avoid by placing more weight onto the toe. This allows the heels to grow faster than toe and it's an ongoing battle to keep the heels lowered and the horse to use their heels more than toe. This may be something yet to consider in your country.
: But when I have searched on the internet, the english and american sites recommend as much turnout as possible. In Sweden the opinion is that excessive motion actually can CAUSE clubfoot.
This is true. If the pain causing conditions are not removed, the foal will continually misuse its feet and the more it moves, the more abuse its feet would take.
: So I am a bit confused there? A friend of mine had a colt that developed clubfoot on first one forleg and then the other. In his case the vets said the cause was the mare giving to much and too rich milk, and that the mare was walking around to much in the field due to the flies, and therefore the foal didnīt get enough time to rest properly, and that stressed the legs and worsened the clubfoot condition.
I would not think that milk production was the problem but rather a hoof condition that was missed. If the causes for the foal placing more weight onto its toe is not addressed, the condition worsens. Horses can alter their shoulder angles causing them to steepen when they are trying to avoid heel pain. It becomes a vicious cycle from there because now the DDFT's are thought to be contracted. Muscles control them though.
: I donīt like to get "stuck" with one wiew only, so I would really apprichiate more experiences and wiews on how to treat it and so.
My point of view is certainly different!
:
: : And what does that mean? (English isnīt my first language you know).
: : : These pictures depict a foal with bilateral DDF contracture - Grade 2 on the left and 2 to 3 on the right.
: : : M. W. Myers, D.V.M.
You did very well in figuring out what Dr. Meyers said in his medical language!
Tree