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Jeff Caneen
Member
Username: Caneenj
Post Number: 3
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, Apr 29, 2003 - 1:53 am: |   |
About 9 months ago my 4 yr old gelding impaled his right hind foot at the coronet band on a large sliver from a fence rail. The piece of lumber was removed with some difficulty by the vet but there was never any infection and the lameness was gone in a couple of weeks.
Despite the best efforts of my farrier the injury has resulted in a crack that now runs the full length of the hoof wall. The horse is shod behind to stabilize the hoof and the crack is filled with an acrylic patch. There doesn't seem to be movement at the crack, but new hoof wall continues to be generated with the crack.
There has never been lameness, but the horse is very reluctant to pick up the lead on the injured side. He was a good, natural lead changer before the injury.
I have two questions:
1.) Is there anything that can be done to repair the injury so that the crack will eventually disappear?
2.) As it seems obvious that there is some kind of discomfort that prevents him from taking his right lead, is there a better treatment than the one I am using?
Thanks in advance for any advice on this problem.
Jeff |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 8267
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Tuesday, Apr 29, 2003 - 4:01 am: | |
Hello Jeff,
The problem is the original wound damaged the coronary tissue which did not heal 100%. As a result the horn that it forms has the defect you see. At this point there is little you can do to improve the healing except give it more time.
If the horse really has no lameness visible at a trot under saddle, it is not the foot that is causing the lead change problem. So first have the horse evaluated carefully for lameness, under saddle on a hard surface. If uncertain have the foot blocked to be sure. If there is no lameness and the block does not improve the situation, you have a training issue.
DrO |
Joan Fouty
New Member
Username: Quailcrk
Post Number: 1
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jul 21, 2004 - 12:06 am: | |
My horse got a wire cut that goes from the heel to about 3/4 around the outside of the right front foot. It damaged the coronary band near the heel about 2" worth of the coronary band and skin and tissue above were sutured. The sutures did not hold causing the coronary band, top layer of it(at least what appeared to be coronary band?) and part of the heel skin and tissue to be trimmed off. It is healing very nicely now after only 2 weeks. But my question is how do tell if the coronary band was hurt bad enough to cause hoof problems. The horse has not been lame till just the past couple days. The deepest part of the cut goes directly in line with the crease up from the frog. So I am thinking it's time for a bar shoe to limit movement of that heel till the deepest areas can heal? It seems to be moving too much when he walks. Also how can we determine damage to the hoof from the coronary band being partly gone at this point? How deep does the coronary band need to be gone in order for there to be permenant damage? The hoof was in excellent condition and still is. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 10838
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jul 21, 2004 - 7:27 am: | |
I agree, a lot of movement between the disrupted parts will slow healing: if you can stabalize the various parts with a shoe it should be done yesterday.
Unfortunately you will only know how functional the coronet band will be when it heals. But take heart, I have seen injuries similar and worse than what you describe which healed with very good results, the coronet seems to be very robust at healing. I have never trimmed off living coronet even if flapped over. You clean it as described in the article Equine Diseases » Skin Diseases » Long Term Deep Wound Care then vet wrap it tightly back in place. The flap, if alive, granulates back in place dependably.
DrO |
