HAPPY, HEALTHY HENS
(Page 3 of 6)
Pay close attention to horses turned out to pasture and
consider having front feet shod during fly season and in
dry weather. Likewise, damp or wet footing found in areas
of flood, swamp, or high humidity can cause a horse's foot
to expand, creating gaps at the white line (junction of
sole and hoof wall). Small pastures with many horses are
usually knee deep in manure at certain points, and bacteria
or parasites thrive here simply waiting for a chance to
invade a damp and injured hoof.
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Use a hoof pick to clean manure and dirt from the hoof on a
regular basis. Carefully examine the hoof wall and
frog/sole to check for stones or plant matter. Puncture
wounds often appear as black spots which are extremely
sensitive to pressure. To locate an abscess, the
veterinarian will probe the hoof, sole, frog, and heel with
fingers and a hoof tester to find the precise spot of entry
of a penetrating object. The horse will commonly flinch
when it is pressed. Using a sharp hoof knife, a window is
created (usually less than half an inch in diameter) around
the wound or suspect area to allow infection to escape.
This is called "paring out" the wound. Soaking the foot in
warm Epsom salt baths and cleaning with hydro gen peroxide
helps keep this window open from drainage, and kills
bacteria. I am in favor of keeping small wounds un covered,
as ban daging often promotes wicking of material into the
wound and may also prevent proper drainage.
Conformation plays an incredibly large part in lameness.
Some horses with flat or thin soles, worn heels, or thin,
weak walls are susceptible to hoof injury. Horses with
upright pasterns-i.e.: not enough angle from heel to hoof,
contracted tendons, or knee deformities-are also
particularly prone to further damage to foot and hoof.
Regular visits from the farrier are important, especially
in horses with conformational faults, as corrective shoeing
is not only protective to the hoof, but can guard against
stress and pain in the rest of the leg and body during
exercise. Check the shoes frequently to see if they are
loose or in need of resetting, which should be done every
812 weeks. If the hoof grows quickly, the shoes can
actually cause harm by forcing an unnatural angle to the
pastern. Lameness so caused is usually temporary and
resolves with new shoes, but can become permanent if left
unattended due to abnormal stresses placed on the rest of
the leg.
Proper nutrition plays a great part in prevention of hoof
injuries and lameness. Whether the animal is an elite
athlete or a backyard companion, the types and amounts of
roughage, grains, and vitamins/minerals should be tailored
to exercise/stress needs in order to avoid problems with
either obesity or poor body condition.
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