Corns are specific types of bruises of the sole, specifically occurring at the angle of the sole between the hoof wall and the bars, i.e., at the ‘seat of corn’, most commonly affecting the medial (inside) aspect of the front feet. They are an important cause of lameness in shod horses.
What is white line disease in horses?
White line disease is
characterized by an invasion of bacteria and fungi that destroy hoof-wall tissue
. Learn what it is and how to treat in horses. To understand the basics of white line disease, it’s helpful to know a bit about equine anatomy. The hoof wall – the outermost surface of the hoof – has three layers.
How do you treat cankers in horses?
Topical treatments that have been proved most successful in treating canker are daily cleanings followed by
application of 10% benzoyl peroxide in acetone c
, then packing the defect with crushed metronidazole tablets.
How can a farrier treat lameness caused by a corn?
If a barefoot horse develops corns, horse owners can use
pour-in pad materials to help with the healing process
and allow bruised feet to heal. Some fast-setting, soft pad materials bond directly to the sole and frog, and improve the depth of the sole.
What is seedy toe in a horse?
Seedy toe is
a separation of the horse’s hoof wall from the underlying sensitive laminae at the white line
, resulting in a cavity that fills with crumbling dirt, horn and debris and is prone to associated infection.
What does canker in horses look like?
Commonly, an affected horse will have white or gray matter that is moist and spongy appearing in the sulci region (grooves on either side and in the center of the frog) of the hoof. This characteristic growth’s appearance has been described as
similar to wet cauliflower with cottage cheese like exudates
.
What is foot canker in horses?
What is canker? Canker is now rarely seen but is
a serious infection of the horn of the foot
, that results in the formation of a soft, moist, disintegrating growth of horn. It most commonly affects the hind feet and is most often seen in horses kept in wet tropical climates, or in large draught type horses.
What causes corns in horses?
Corns are almost invariably caused by
shoes
which fit improperly so that they are fitted short and tight at the heels, traumatizing (injuring) the seat of corn. In some cases, shoes have been left on too long so that as the foot grows the shoe is carried forward causing the heel branches to traumatize the seat of corn.
Which ligament is affected when a horse has splints?
An injury to the splint bone itself as well as any trauma that strains or tears
the interosseous ligament
will cause irritation. The result is a painful, swollen lump that can be seen and felt on the side of the horse’s leg below the knee or hock.
What is Quittor in a horse?
Quittor is an old term for
a condition that involves death and destruction (necrosis) of the collateral cartilages of the foot
(see our information sheet on sidebones), following an infection in the foot (see our information sheet on pus in the foot).
How do I know if my horse has seedy toes?
A horse suffering from seedy toe usually has
poor hoof quality with crumbling horn
. Lameness is usually only seen if there is active infection within the foot or if the horse is suffering from laminitis.
What causes hoof wall separation in horses?
A separation in the hoof wall is considered to be a delaminating process potentially thought to originate from
genetic factors, mechanical stress, inappropriate farriery and environmental conditions affecting the inner hoof wall attachment
(Moyer 2003).
Is seedy toe the same as white line disease?
Seedy toe, otherwise known as white line disease, is
a type of infection that affects the hoof
. This condition involves bacterial and fungal invaders, and is caused by other hoof pathologies.
What is hoof rot in horses?
Any animal with hooves, cloven or not, are susceptible to hoof rot (also called thrush in horses). Hoof rot causes lameness and reduced weight gains in livestock while lowering a farm’s revenue. It can be highly contagious between animals and lead to widespread problems among the herd. Hoof rot is
caused by bacteria
.
What is Stringhalt in a horse?
Stringhalt, or equine reflex hypertonia, is
a neuromuscular condition that causes a gait abnormality characterized by involuntary, exaggerated upward movement of one or both of the hindlimbs
. It looks like a jerk or hop, with the affected hindlimb(s) snapped up towards the abdomen.
Is canker in horses painful?
Canker causes the horn growth of the frog to be very friable, and the horse is usually very sensitive when you poke around and inspect these areas. The infection, which can occur in one or multiple feet, can be
quite damaging and painful enough to cause lameness
.
