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  Discussion on Contracted heel / slight club foot
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 10, 2000 - 8:09 pm:

DEAR DR. O,

I HAVE 5 YR. OLD PAINT FILLY THAT HAS A RIGHT FRONT SEVERLEY CONTRACTED HEEL, THE FROG AREA HAS SPLIT, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SPREAD IT OPEN & CLOSED, WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL FARRIERS WORK ON HER FOOT OVER THE LAST FEW YRS. WE HAVE EVEN TAKEN HER TO NC STATE A FEW YRS AGO. IT HAS JUST RECENTLY GOT TO THE POINT OF THE FROG SPREADING. ANYWAY THE LAST FARRIER CUT ALMOST ALL OF HER HEEL OFF ( AFTER AN EX-RAY WAS DONE TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO BONE DAMAGE ) AND PULLED HER SHOES. THAT WAS A MONTH AGO, SHE IMMEDIATLEY WENT LAME, THE FARRIER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT, WELL AS THE DAYS GO BY SHE IS NOT GETTING ANY BETTER, TODAY WE CALLED THE VET THAT IS WORKING WITH THE FARRIER ( NOT HER REGURLAR VET ) , HE SAID , MORE THAN LIKLEY HE FEELS WE WILL NEED TO BLOCK THE NERVE. WELL THAT REALLY SCARED ME. WHAT IS BLOCKING THE NERVE ? WILL SHE BE ABLE TO FEEL HER FOOT, OR TO SHOW AGAIN ? WHY WOULD THE VET EVEN SUGGEST BLOCKING HER NERVE ? AND DO YOU THINK SHE SHOULD STILL BE SO LAME AFTER 30 DAYS ? IS THIS NORMAL AS THE FARRIER SAYS ? HE HAS BEEN SICK THIS WEEK SO HE CAN'T COME OUT & LOOK AT HER RIGHT NOW. HER ATTITUDE HAS REALLY CHANGED SHE IS DEPRESSED AND DESPONDENT, WE HAVE HOSED THE LEG WITH COLD WATER & KEPT HER IN THE PASTURE THE FARRIER SAID DON'T PUT HER IN A STALL SO THAT IS STRESSFULL TO HER ALSO BECAUSE SHE ALWAYS COMES IN AT NIGHT & GOES OUT ALL DAY. I FEEL SO LOST, WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE THIS FARRIER MAD BECAUSE HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE BEST THERE IS IN THE ENTIRE SOUTH. PLEASE ADVISE , BY THE WAY SHE WAS NOT BORN WITH THIS, IT STATED WHEN SHE WAS A YEARLING & THE TRAINER THAT HAD HER STOOD HER UP ON HER TOES FOR HALTER. I AM SO WORRIED THAT THIS IS DOING PERMANENT DAMAGE TO HER TENDON, HE SAID THAT HE CUT 7 DEGREES OFF OF THAT FOOT. THANK YOU AND I AM EAGERLY WAITING ON YOUR ADVISE

Posted on Friday, Aug 11, 2000 - 3:52 pm:

Hello Sabina,
You need to learn to type using proper capitalization it is very hard to read posts in all caps. The nerve block will not have any permanant effect on the nerve and will wear off in less than a hour. The vet wants to use it to localize the pain area. Let us know what he finds.
DrO

Posted on Friday, Aug 11, 2000 - 6:59 pm:

Dear Dr. O,

Please forgive my improper use of capitalization, I'm afraid I was more concerned with the health of my horse, rather than my typing abilities.
You answered my question regarding the nerve block, although I fail to see the purpose of doing it? since it lasts less than an hour. what would be the benefit?
I would still like to hear your opinion on whether or not we are creating permanent tendon damage and if she should still be so lame, since it has been 30 days from when her heel was trimmed 7 degrees ?
Do you have any suggestions on where I might find more information on the treatment of contracted heels?
thank you

Posted on Sunday, Aug 13, 2000 - 9:07 am:

Concerning the benefit: it is a diagnostic tool to localize the source of the pain, so you must ask the vet why he thinks it is necassary. Concerning permanant flexor tendon damage, it would require an examination of the horse to know if this might be a problem. Concerning more information did you read the article associated with this forum. In my experience contracted heels of long standing durations, it is a permanant change in both the shape of the horn and the coffin bone. Returning a foot to its correct angle and length while allowing the foot to go barefoot make make slight inprovements over the years.
DrO
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