Q & A with The Vet

Horse Question... Conformational Problem

Hi Dr. T,

I came across your name regarding a question someone had about a horse and thought perhaps I could ask you one of my own.  I am looking to purchase a particular 4 year old buckskin mare potentially to do amateur barrel racing.  The only fault physically in her is that her right front hoof is slightly turned out.  It does not affect her gait and she is still incredibly sound and sure-footed, however I am not sure if it would be safe for her heath to begin training her for barrels as they are quick turns and sudden stops.  Do you have any information on this topic?  The current owner assures me that this condition is not due to an injury of any sorts, but that she was born this way. Thank you so much,

-S

Dear S,

I would venture to say you'd have no problems with this horse as long as you don't attempt to correct her conformation with special shoeing or too radical of trimming.  The horse knows exactly where her hooves are and will compensate no problem.  I have horses myself with severe limb conformation problems and they perform at a high level with no interferences.  Ones I have tried to "fix" or use "therapeutic" shoes they start to have problems they didn't have before.

That being said, you don't want to allow the conformation to get worse, and through consistent and respectful trimming and balancing the hooves the way they are, and not giving in to flaring and imbalances, you can keep the horse going just fine.  Many vets and farriers will attempt to "scare" an owner into special procedures and/or shoeing in cases like this, and for the greatest percentage of the cases, it's totally unwarranted and unnecessary.  They simply don't know and understand how it all works, and this ignorance gets passed on to the owner. 

A small conformational problem isn't a career-ending thing for a horse.  Ride and be happy.

Dr. TT

Horse with Sidebone

Dr. Tom,

I just read your response to a sidebone question.  I have an 11 year old warmblood with perfect feet, never had a shoe on him.  He is out 12 to 14 hours every day of his life.  Worked lightly as a dressage horse.  Came up lame and x-rays shows extensive sidebone.  My vet described it as the most she’s ever seen in 15 yrs.  Her suggestion is to put shoes on him, your article says not to shoe.  I am so confused.  Any suggestions?

LB

Hi LB,

I'm curious, why would your veterinarian want to prescribe shoes for sidebone?  What exactly is the expected "therapy" going to be from shoeing?  She may also say it isn't completely curable, which is also a misconception.

My guess is that your horse does not have "perfect feet”.  Something in the past has contributed to the formation of the extra bone.  This is usually repeated trauma and/or concussion and/or inadequate movement.  I realize there's lots of horses that don't get the kind of turn out time you give your horse, but it's STILL not enough.  Full time turnout is the only way to go to maintain optimum health and attempt rehabilitation.  Time spent  more confined leads to improper and repetitive movements which have likely contributed to the sidebone/hoof problems.

My best suggestion would be to continue your research into natural hoof and horse care.  It'll be quite a wonderful adventure in the end.

Dr. TT

Navicular Diagnosis... Finding Help

Dr. Tomas Teskey,

While searching the internet in hopes of finding the miracle shoe for Navicular, I ran across your article:  Treating Navicular Syndrome.

This is the second horse I have purchased that has been diagnosed as Navicular.  In my first search the future was always doom and gloom. So I donated the horse to a camp for troubled children after informing them of his diagnosed problem. The Farrier nor Vet seemed to offer any help.

In order to make a long story short. Can you tell me of anyone within a reasonable distance from Dickson, TN zip code 37055 that might possibly help me and my mare?

Sincerely,

RC

Hi there,

Check out EasyCare for their page that helps you locate people to help, as well as Pete Ramey's website Hoof Rehab.  Many of the other natural hoof care websites also have lists of people that are knowledgeable.  You can also check out The Horses Hoof, Bare Foot Horse websites.

Keep up your research.  You're on the right track now!

Dr. TT

Grain Overload is an Emergency

Hello Dr. Tom,

I'm fairly new to horses, (5 years only) and constant changing…

My horse has just learned today that he can open yet another door.  This time into the feed room.   He and the donkey helped themselves to what appears to be about

a feed bucket full of crushed oats.  Of course I am now concerned about grain founder.  Can anything be given to them to help the body rid itself of any overage??

Please help

Hi There,

Hopefully you have all ready called for some veterinary help on this.  It could be a bad problem.  It isn't something I can help you with much over the email.  There is a pretty standard protocol for treatment that is successful that should have been in place.  AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.  This generally involves giving the horse laxatives to help the gut rid the grain quickly.  I also believe in exercising them at a walk and trot until they begin to pass the grain.  If your horse is showing lameness now, it's too late for the preventative treatment. If he’s doing OK you may be out of the woods.

Dr. TT

Navicular Again

Dr. Teskey,

I recently read an article that you wrote about Navicular, and found it very interesting.

I own an 11yr old Quarter Horse that was diagnosed with Navicular in Feb. We put wedge shoes on him and he has been completely sound for the past few months.  I know that with wedge shoes they put more pressure on the front of his foot. My concern is that it is eventually going to cause more damage than good.

I have retired him from showing, and moved him to a barn where he can be out in the pasture all day. I wanted to see how he would do if we pulled his shoes, so I had them pulled 2 days ago.  The first day he had a real hard time getting around.  He seems to be feeling a little better today though.  I am hoping he keeps improving.

I am against having him nerved.  I want to know if he is in a lot of pain, and how fast he is declining.  I have read so many different articles, and they all say the same thing (put corrective shoeing on them).  I was just thinking he might do better barefoot.  I was just wondering if you had any suggestions on how to keep him healthy, happy, and sound?

Are there any supplements you could suggest?

Thank you,

N

Dear N,

You're on the right track.  Funny how the traditional "treatment" of navicular pain/lameness hasn't changed, and yet all those horses never get better.

Check out Hoof Rehab, and do more searches on the computer for navicular and barefoot trimming.  You'll also do a great favor to the horse by getting a couple of hoof boots and comfort pads for those front feet.   Visit EasyCare Inc. to learn more.  The Old Mac G2 hoof boot  they have work really well.   You only need to use them intermittently/when riding.  Also, having someone experienced in natural hoof care is pretty important.  There is a list on the EasyCare site and other sites where you can hopefully find someone close to you to help.

Keep your chin up,

Dr. TT

Navicular Treatment Failure

Hello Dr. Teskey-

I recently acquired a 6 yr old gelding as a rescue whom I was told had a shoulder injury from being a rope horse.  After bringing him home I learned through an extensive veterinary work up and X-Rays that he has navicular bursitis with bone loss.  He is very tender, especially in his right front foot.  I have a natural hoof care practitioner who has been working with him since March of this year.  He does not seem to be making much progress to this point, in fact this week seems slightly more sore and is walking with a noticeable head bob, which had started to become much less noticeable.  We have him in Easyboot Epics with Comfort Pads, but I am worried that he is not getting any better.  He is also getting Isoxsuprine and one bute tablet each day.  My farrier is wonderful and is trying everything she can and is even working with him for free as a case study.

Can you tell me if there is a time when you know that this method will not work?  I want what is best for this horse, he is beautiful and has an absolutely one of a kind gentle soul, however, I can hardly stand to see him continuing to live in pain.

I would appreciate your insight!!

Sincerely,
KJ

Dear KJ,

Most natural hoof care folks will tell you that at least one, and often times TWO years will pass as a horse gets steadily better.  If you think about how long it took for them to develop their deformed hooves, you can better understand that it will often take just as long to get them back to health. Sometimes longer (it's harder to fix something versus preventing it from getting broken in the first place).  You've only barely begun the process.

The isoxsuprine shouldn't be used.  It's been shown not to make any difference for a horse with hoof problems, and it can have toxic side effects.  Perhaps your veterinarian isn't aware of recent studies showing it doesn't help improve blood flow to the hooves. I would also discontinue the use of the Bute.  Again, it's been shown to actually inhibit healing and proper function in the hoof.

There are many other aspects to a successful hoof rehab program, such as nutrition, lifestyle (MOVEMENT), herd psychology.  There are many websites that are excellent in discussing these.  How the horse is trimmed is not the most important part of the program, so the actual trimmer is not the most important person involved.  In fact the trimmer should be out of a job if you provide enough of the other ingredients.

This may well be one of the hardest things you'll try to tackle regarding horses, but most times it's a hell of good learning process and satisfying in the end.

Dr. Tom T.

Follow Up On Hoof Injury

Hi Dr. Tom,

New vet is coming out to x-ray tomorrow (not sure how many views we will need??).  Most swelling is in lower pastern.  He puts weight on the toe for balance when he moves but is really working his hind end to take the weight off.  I did see him standing fairly square this noon time and resting one hind leg.  He took several naps in the sun.

Vet does not seem optimistic if he has fractured. I'm thinking a coffin bone I can work with, higher up fracture may be a different story (harder to immobilize and yet allow him to keep active.  Terrified of colic/laminitis in other hooves). Plumbing is working and he's drinking well, plenty of hay/grass available for him. We'll see tomorrow.

Thanks so much, and any additional info would be great.

Hi H,

You won't "need" any casting or special shoeing for a fracture.  On the contrary, it's even MORE important to keep the hoof unshod in a situation of a fracture, to allow at least a bit better circulation, and therefore healing, to take place. I've also rehabilitated fractures of the pastern and higher without any wraps or "special" shoes. The hoof capsule itself, even if it's damaged itself, will act as the best bandage and shoe for the horse.  Millions of years in the making made sure the horse could heal as fast as possible.  Without us adding more problems like casts and shoes, etc.

Take care,

Dr. TT

Recent Example of Barefoot Success

Dear Dr. Teskey,

I was cleaning off my desk and came across your article "The Unfettered Hoof," which I had previously read but had not looked at for some time.  You may not recall, but we have talked about my decision to go barefoot some time back, and I have appreciated your thoughts and advice.  I was
particularly struck this time by your discussion on the fact that a shod horse who loses a shoe goes immediately lame.  Here is an example of the difference between a shod and barefoot horse in this respect:

I am one of the joint masters of our local formal hunt, and have been hunting and whipping in to our hunt for about ten years.  About four years ago I made the decision to pull the shoes off all my hunt and polo horses.  This has been quite successful.

I use boots when I am whipping in at some of our most rocky fixtures, because when whipping in I don't have the luxury of letting my horse slow down and pick his way across the rocky areas. Often we have to go full out over country we can not see because of the grassy cover.  Nevertheless, most of the time it would not be necessary to use them.

As you may know, 2007 is the Centennial of the Masters of Foxhounds Association, the MFHA.  As part of that celebration, the MFHA organized a series of 'performance trials' across the country, whereby several hunts would bring their best hounds to a particular hunt fixture, mix the hounds together, hunt them under a single huntsman, and they would be judged and graded by mounted judges.  The hunting is usually very fast and hard, and the whips are called on to ride fast and hard to help manage the hounds.

At the trial held at our hunt, in late march, I was whipping in as usual along with a young lady, a protégé who I taught to ride and hunt.  She and I were the only two who were barefoot (but in boots).  To my knowledge everyone of the local and visiting hunters were barefoot.

About half way through the first day, I noticed I had lost one of my boots.  Later I learned that Madeleine had likewise lost one of hers. Since both our mounts were still going sound and there was a strong need for us to continue, we did.

Throughout the day several of the shod horses also lost shoes.   Every one of them had to immediately retire.   Madeleine and I finished the hunt with no problems.

It seems to me this is a complete vindication of the benefit of going barefoot.

MB

Hi M,

Thanks so much for relating this experience and insight.  Best wishes to you all for continued success with the horses.

Thank you.  Take care,

Dr. Tom T.

Need Help with Hoof Injury

Hi Dr. Tom,

I have a major issue on home front this afternoon… 11yo TB rehab, been bare 3+ years and doing great... building concavity… never been off.

Raced around today in a new paddock (we just moved) and found a 1" stump to land on with his right front, puncture/cracked sole just below seat of corn, cracked sole along bar and then 1" further toward toe callous.  No external damage.  Very concerned that he has broken the bar internally.

Dead lame, blood, the works.  He allowed me to take a little bit of bar, not much.  Soaked hoof, packed w/antiseptic, added foam pad/vetwrap and duct tape.  When he lays down again I'm slapping a boot/pad on the good hoof.  He's on bute/oral antibiotics. The vet I called in the area is not sure what to do.  Anyone who has had experience w/this type injury/treatment tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
H

Hi there,

Good wound care is all you need to do at this point.  Of course the boots with pads inside are a great idea, along with keeping the injured area clean.  The systemic antibiotics are likely not needed if you're able to keep the localized area clean.  An x-ray or other imaging might help determine if the coffin bone is intact.  Fractures can and do happen. Don't lock the horse up.  Keep them in the same area with their buddies, free to move about as they are willing and able.  Generally about a month will allow these injuries to heal up.  Left over lameness past this point may be indicative of a deeper problem.

Keep up the good nursing,

Dr. Tom T.