Hoof Rehab
Below you will see just a couple of my extreme hoof rehab cases. Don't forget to follow me on facebook for other case studies, progress pictures, and more.
I am educated in hoof pathology & experienced in restoring health, balance, and improving functionality to hooves that need to rehab & heal. This includes laminitis, founder, navicular, underrun heels, thin soles, ect. I have worked on a wide variety of hoof pathology and I enjoy helping horses find their way back to soundness and comfort. For complicated cases I'm well acquainted to working in collaboration with an attending vet for best possible plan & outcome.
Severe White Line Disease and Rotation
This is one of many horses I have worked on with severe hoof disease. This is a case of extreme white line disease that resulted in laminitis, rotation, and the tip of the coffin bone close to penetrating the sole. Euthanasia was suggested by the first vet who responded to the emergency call. Which was logical looking at the first x-ray, but the owner wanted an alternative option. That's when she got in touch with me. I worked alongside a wonderful vet to come up with a plan of action. We were able to resect the the detached diseased hoof wall, stabilize the hoof, and treat the underline infection. Corrective trimming and a variety of wraps, specialized casting and glue on shoes were used during the healing process. Although the long term damage is thin soles, he is comfy in glue on shoes and has returned to work.
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Laminitis & Severe Rotation
This is a case of mechanical laminitis that resulted in rotation, and the tip of the coffin bone was very close to penetrating the sole. So much so that the sole was soft, pliable, and painful to the touch. Euthanasia was suggested by the vet who responded to the emergency call due to the severity of the rotation. The owner of this horse reached out to another vet and I was called onto the case. The attending vet and I worked together to come up with a plan of action. Corrective trimming and specialized glue on shoe packages were used during the healing process. We were able to help the horse achieve increased sole growth and a better HPA. The horse was pasture sound, with a good prognosis to return to low level riding.
Navicular/Caudal Failure
This horse was diagnosed with navicular disease via x-rays & MRI showing significant damage to the navicular bone and surrounding tissue.
He was in various traditional shoe packages, tripping often, not completely comfortable, so his owner decided it was time to try something new. I pulled his shoes about 8 months ago in the follow up picture. He transitioned well. He was sound enough to enjoy trail rides with his owner in his Scoot Boots after shoe removal.
But what really makes me happy in his follow up photo is the improvement of his caudal hoof health (back portion of the hoof, heel region, which includes the digital cushion & frog). Why is that so important? Because the navicular bone is sitting above the frog & digital cushion. The digital cushion is literally a pad composed of fibrocartilage and fat. As you can imagine- this cushion has an important job of absorbing impact, which protects structures like the navicular bone. What happens when we have caudal failure (caudal hoof collapse/ weakness of the back portion of the hoof) like this horse? We have a weak atrophied inefficient digital cushion, contracted heels, underrun heels, and an atrophied frog. Simple terms- The back portion of the hoof can't function well and perform its protective duties. That's why this picture is so important- because healing to the back portion of the hoof means restored support & protection to the navicular bone. This is why many horses with navicular disease improve with barefoot rehab. Just like a muscle- if you don't use it, you lose it. Once the shoe is removed, the back portion of the hoof must function again & naturally begins to rebuild and strengthen.
Prolapsed Frogs/Thrush
Caudal Failure, prolapsed frogs, and thrush are all issues of the caudal hoof (back portion of the hoof/heel area). This is often seen when horses are not loading the heels due to thrush, pain, and/or shoes without support. I do see prolapsed frogs often when removing shoes on shod horses. But I also see severe thrush and caudal failure on barefoot horses. This is because the back of the hoof is not in normal use, lacks stimulation, is being damaged by micro-organisms if thrush is untreated. I'm experienced in helping these horses transition to barefoot, even if attempts have failed in the past. There is more to "just removing shoes" for some horses. I achieve this by using a very particular trimming style and supporting the hooves in either casting or glue on shoes (if needed). I believe most horses can go barefoot.
Additionally, it is SO important to learn about frog health, treating, and preventing thrush infections. Just because thrush is common doesn't mean we should ignore it. One of the most problematic issues that cause lameness in horses is an unhealthy infected frog. Our horses absolutely need healthy frogs to be their best barefoot.