chronic laminitis?

[Woody2375]

I started doing this horse approximately one year ago after he foundered due to grain overdose. Films were taken and the vet said there was no rotation, I never saw the pictures. The off fore came along nicely with just trimming and relaxing the breakover. The near fore abscessed, but showed improvement after similar shoeing and the application of a treatment plate per the vet's instruction. For a while he would start to improve and then he would blow another abscess that the vet or myself would open. This has happened time and time again. He will look great and I would be happy with the appearance of the foot so I tried a shoe with Equipak. Another abscess shows up. We decide to stick with a treatment plate for 4 months.

Went out today to shoe him and he is quite lame on the near fore. The dorsal wall is completely separating as well as the lateral quarter. The sole is soft, sensitive, and shows signs of infection just in front of the tip of the frog. I am fairly confident I am at the true graft of the frog and this makes me wonder if the coffin bone has rotated. There is also a severe dip in the wall just below the coronary band. I did nothing to the foot today other than trim out excess sole. I hope to meet the vet at the barn in the next day or two in order to get radiographs and come up with a plan. I did not trim the foot today in hopes that the extra length would keep the sole from feeling too much pressure in the next day or so, not sure if I made the right call there. Owner is keeping the foot wrapped and the sole covered with a diaper until the vet gets there. The horse is also being left in his stall.

I hope to have pictures to post after the next appointment. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Rick Burten]

While there may be no rotation, what you describe is classic for a sinker. And if the vet has not picked up on that, then a different vet is indicated.
All that soft , sensitive sole you describe, is indicative to me that while there is probably some infection present, more importantly, p3 is ready to drop right out through the bottom.

If you are not providing any additional mechanical support(styrofoam, OSHA pads, something) to the rear portions of the hoof(from the true apex of the frog rearward), then the likelyhood is that the coffin bone on this foot will penetrate(if it has not already done so.)

Also, if you trimmed the dead sole out from in front of the apex of the frog, you may have unintentionally sped up the process.

Would you please provide us with some additional information: Horse's age, breed, s*x, conformation, physical characteristics, diet, etc. Also, the result of any diagnostics that have been performed since the onset of the pathology.

[Tom Stovall, CJF]

I agree with Mr. Burten. To explain a bit further, a sinker is characterized by near total laminar dysfunction and can be another way of saying, "dead horse" if the connection between dermal and epidermal laminae cannot be re-established before the bony column passes through the hoof capsule.

Quick and dirty sinker test: If the coronary band is concave, the horse is a sinker; if it's convex, the horse hasn't sunk appreciably. On a lateral radiograph, the proximal portion of a sinker's hoof capsule will appear as a pronounced lip just distal to the coronary band.

While waiting for the vet, I'd probably be a good idea to tape some construction grade styrofoam to the bottom of the horse's feet.

[Jan Palmer]

I think you will know more about what's going on after the new films are reviewed. Since the horse apparently never fully recovered from the original laminitic episode a year ago, follow up radiographs should have been take long before now. If he is non-weightbearing on the bad foot at all he needs both feet supported ASAP before the good one becomes overly stressed and foundered too.

See the styrofoam protocol at the website below if you are unfamiliar with it. Tip: Follow the instructions *exactly*. Don't take shortcuts. You can order preformed pads from this site (they're easier to apply) but to save time you can make your own from construction grade styrofoam (blue or pink) sold in large sheets at Home Depot's, Lows, etc.. Another tip: use 3M's best duck tape, not the cheaper no-name brands or it will be a constant battle to hold the pads on securely.

http://www.hopeforsoundness.com/techsupport/instguides/styrofoamguide.htm

Jan

[Woody2375]

Thank you for your replies. I agree it does sound like a sinker.

The horse is an eleven year old gelding, 16.2 hands, and is at a healthy weight. Not obese by any means.

Styrofoam was taped on today. Had to use construction type, did not want wait for the good stuff to get shipped. I should probably keep some in stock.

I dropped not so subtle hints over the past months of getting more films but the owner never had them done. I guess I should have been a little more direct. I can understand their optimism when he was feeling good. The vet only appeared worried about the abscesses. I went with him and tried to resolve that issue. It seems we were treating the symptoms and not the cause of the problem. No matter which way this turns out it will be a huge learning experience.

Again, I appreciate your replies and I will keep you posted. Feel free to offer any more suggestions.

Regards,

Woody

[Dave Whitaker]

I have found that the construction grade foam works just fine....you can precut a bunch out of a sheet in various sizes with your band saw and have them on hand..... just remember....the blue is for the boys, the pink is for the mares..................... :).......... Dave

[calshoer]

The blue condstruction type 2" thick is the same material as the pre cut blocks that EDSS sells. Pink construction is a little firmer, good for the larger horses like drafts. The pre cut blocks are nice because they are nicely formed, ready to go , and some vets and farriers like to keep them on hand all the time.
In an emergency, if you have to use white foam, it can be done, but is so soft that it will take at least four or five layers compressed to get the same support as the blue or pink.
Be sure you remove and trim the first two compresessed layers of the blue material back to behind the bone edge, as in the instructions.
The bone edge can be found by careful use of hoof testers ,or if you don't have any, at least trim the material to a half inch behind the tip of the frog.
Patty