Posted by M. W. Myers, D.V.M. on March 09, 2003 at 17:23:04:
In Reply to: OSTEOMYLETIS posted by KIM on March 09, 2003 at 11:00:21:
: I CARE FOR A 12 YR. OLD SADDLEBREED MARE THAT WAS HAS CHRONIC FOUNDER....CHEMICALLY INDUCED APPROX. 4 YEARS AGO. THE RIGHT FRONT WAS ALWAYS THE "BAD" FOOT, BEING RESECTED TWICE, EACH TIME GROWING A HOOF THAT STILL CONTINUED TO ABCESS AT 1-2 MONTH INTERVALS, USUALLY IN THE SAME PLACE. WE WOULD TREAT AND CONTINUE THE CYCLE. THIS WEEK SHE BECAME EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE ON THAT FOOT, WE PULLED THE SHOE AND WERE UNABLE TO FIND AN ABCESS, HOWEVER SHE HAD SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT WITH THE SHOE OFF. THE VET TOOK X-RAYS, WHICH ARE USUALLY DOEN EVERY 6 MONTHS, AND THE DIAGNOSIS IS NOW OSTEOMYLETIS WITH A GOOD PORTION OF THE COFFIN BONE MISSING. PROGNOSIS IS NOT FAVORABLE....ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR CONTINUED CARE VS PUTTIN HER DOWN?
You would need a venogram to see if the circulation is adequte to save this horse. You may also be running into some metabolic problems - Cushing's disease is common in Saddlebreds - and mechanical issues. The chronicity of this condition calls for very specific shoeing protocols. Dissolution of the coffin bone may be due from inadequate blood supply or chronic inflammation and may not be osyteomyelitis.
M. W. Myers, D.V.M.