Strategies for Preventing Founder

The coming spring will bring lush new grass, wild temperature fluctuations and other stresses to our horse's sensitive systems. Besides colic, the most prevalent and dangerous affliction I usually see around this time of year is laminitis or founder.

The terms "founder" and "laminitis" refer to the same basic condition, when restricted blood flow to the laminae structures (that which holds the coffin bone to the hoof wall) causes the laminae to weaken, and the coffin bone to shift downward, away from the wall. The more the coffin bone shifts, the more the condition worsens. Shifting of the coffin bone causes heat, soreness, lameness and permanent changes in the horse's gait. Corrective shoeing can help a horse with chronic pain. Generally, laminitis usually refers to a singular, acute condition, while founder describes the chronic, recurring condition.

A horse that founders tends to be prone to do so again, therefore, prevention is the best medicine.

On April 21, 2009 The University of Michigan is hosting a free one hour webinar called "Countermeasures for Equine Laminitis.” Dr. Bridgett McIntosh from the University of Tennessee will host the session, which will discuss strategies to prevent laminitis based on the most current scientific research.

Click Here to register for the Laminitis Webinar.

Treating a Hoof Abscess

I've received two emails asking for....

A Simple Guide to Treating a Sole Abscess:

If you are waiting for a sole abscess to resolve itself your vet or farrier has probably already removed the shoe. I don't reccomend soaking the hoof unless the shoe is removed and the horse is on stall rest. Soaking softens the hoof structure, which could lead to bruising or a lost shoe.

1) Get out everything you need within arm's reach of your horse: Bucket, epsom salts, rag, duct tape cut into 6" strips, hoof sized square of cotton batting or a disposable diaper, vetrap, ichthamol dressing, latex glove, scissors

2) Dissolve epsom salts in enough warm water to cover the top of the hoof. Remove any debris on the hoof. Soak hoof in bucket for 10 minutes.

3) Remove hoof and dry thoroughly with rag. Do not let hoof touch the ground so it stays clean. Work fast so that he doesn't get tired of holding the hoof up. Using latex glove, apply a thin layer of ichthamol dressing to the sole of the hoof and place the square of cotton batting over the sole.

4) Wrap the hoof with an entire roll of vetrap, starting at the heel and wrapping in even spaces all the way down around the toe, back to the heel and down again until you run out. Vetrap is really stretchy - don't pull too tight as you wrap. The end of the vetrap sticks to itself. Apply the strips of duct tape starting at the toe until the bottom of the hoof is covered. Then he can put the hoof down. Put two more strips of tape at the toe and just above the toe to form a "boot" of sorts that he won't wear through with his hoof. If he can walk reasonably well, take him out for a few minutes of hand grazing near the barn. If you walk too far, you will wear out the boot! Don't forget to pick his other feet and use Thrushbuster or another thrush remedy as needed since your horse will be cooped up in the stall for the next few days.