The Horse:Your Guide To Equine Health Care provides monthly equine health care information to horse owners, breeders, veterinarians, barn/farm managers, trainer/riding instructors, and others involved in the hands-on care of the horse.
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A25 TheHorse.com/AAEP2017 March 2018 THE HORSE AAEP Wrap-Up multiple small openings (in the sole or hoof wall) to allow both drainage and ac- tive lavage of the abscess," said Belknap. Once drainage is established, treatment begins with Epsom salt soaks and lavage once or twice a day. If the horse will not bear weight on the limb, Belknap recommended applying open-sole casts, which are essentially half-limb casts (up to the knee) that encompass the entire hoof, supporting the sole with cushion material while still allowing access for treatment. He noted that products such as Clean- Trax can aid in healing, but cautioned that while they work well when used for soaking, they can make horses sorer when used for lavage. If neither Epsom salts nor CleanTrax work, medical mag- gots can help eliminate diseased tissue and offending organisms, he added. Belknap said it's important to deter- mine whether the horse has developed less common septic osteitis (infection of the coffin bone) in conjunction with the abscess. It's likely to be a septic condition if a focal area of bone resorption (remod- eling) is evident on X rays and must be treated; this requires surgical removal of the affected portion of the coffin bone either through the sole or the hoof wall. These animals commonly need foot care for four to eight weeks post-surgery. Solar injuries Injuries to the sole, such as prolapse (when a rotated or dropped coffin bone causes the sole to bulge out- ward) or perforation (when it penetrates the sole), present another management obstacle. For mild prolapsed soles (or horses with pain in the toe region), Belknap rec- ommended veterinarians or farriers apply a wooden shoe (clog), using a Dremel tool to create a gap in the clog's sole surface where the prolapse is present, then filling it with a rubbery cushion support mate- rial (commercial silicon putty materials sold for hoof care). The advantages the wooden shoe offers include: ■ The wood material provides more "give" than traditional metal shoes; and ■ The beveled ground surface around the circumference of the shoe takes some of the physical stress off the affected hoof wall/laminae. For horses with solar perforation, he recommended applying an open-sole cast. In some cases, he added, a deep digital flexor tenotomy (transecting, or cutting, the deep digital flexor tendon, or DDFT, in the mid-cannon bone region) can benefit these horses. The DDFT runs down the back of the horse's leg and attaches to the back of the coffin bone. Transection removes one of the main forces responsible for coffin bone rota- tion and could alleviate pain and further laminar injury by decreasing pull on the bone and inflamed lamellae. Belknap said not all horses can recover from this severe complication. However, in those that progress well through treat- ment, the solar tissue generally heals over six to 12 weeks. Not all laminitis complications are insurmountable. With proper diagnostics, correct treatment, and careful manage- ment, Belknap said many horses can overcome laminitis them. h SPONSORED BY e Visit TheHorse.com/AAEP2017 ■ Preventing and Treating Sepsis-Related Laminitis, TheHorse.com/40208 MAUREEN BLANEY FLIETNER Cryotherapy can benefit horses at risk of devel- oping sepsis-related laminitis. Get back on track with Tildren ® * Do not use in horses with impaired renal function or with a history of renal disease. NSAIDs should not be or with a history of renal disease. NSAIDs should not be used concurrently with Tildren used concurrently with Tildren ® . Concurrent use of NSAIDs with Tildren with Tildren ® may increase the risk of renal toxicity and acute renal failure. The safe use of Tildren renal failure. The safe use of Tildren ® has not been evaluated in horses less than 4 years of age, in pregnant or lactating mares, horses less than 4 years of age, in pregnant or lactating mares, or in breeding horses. Tildren or in breeding horses. Tildren ® is a registered trademark of Cross Vetpharm Group. All rights reserved. *CAUTION: Federal Cross Vetpharm Group. All rights reserved. *CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. © 2018 Bimeda, Inc veterinarian. © 2018 Bimeda, Inc