Footcap in horses is a disease that occurs in the toe of these animals, that is, inside the hoof. It is a problem that derives from the interruption of the blood supply that must reach the plates that make up the hoof, which join the finger or distal phalanx of the horse with the inner wall of the hoof. The interruption of blood circulation and the constant inflammation end up weakening the laminae and, therefore, the union of the bone and the hoof is reduced. It is an easily preventable disease, which has a slow process, but is very painful for equids.
If you are worried about the he alth of your equine companion, keep reading this new article on our site where we will explain everything about symptoms, treatment and prevention of laminitis in horses.
Causes of laminitis in horses
This disease can affect a single limb or several at the same time and, most commonly, it occurs in the front legs or forelimbs. Fossure in horses can be due to various reasons, but the main factor that causes a lack of blood supply in the laminae is the poor handling and maintenance of the animal in various aspects. Specifically, some of the main causes of laminitis are as follows:
- He alth problems and diseases that affect the horse's leg and foot.
- Constant overload in one or two limbs caused by an injury to another leg that prevents proper support and distribution of body weight.
- Overweight due to inadequate horse feeding or a sudden change in diet,
- Poorly cured infections in any part of the body
- Toxins elevated in the animal's bloodstream.
- Colic in horses also favors this he alth problem in horses due to the prolonged maldistribution of the animal's weight and the possible appearance of infections.
- The lack of movement, the same postures for too many hours in a row and very frequent blows to the hooves.
- Prolonged fever and significant alterations in metabolism.
- The abuse of the use of corticosteroid medications, either by lengthening the treatment or by high doses.
In addition, there are some risk factors that make horses more prone to this hoof condition:
- Overweight
- Wrong feed
- Horse classes that are large and heavy such as Percherons and ponies
- Animals that have already had this condition are likely to get it again
Symptoms of laminitis in horses
Detecting this condition in horses is relatively easy even in the early stages of the disease. Some of the clinical signs and symptoms of laminitis in horses are as follows:
- Helmet temperature high
- Increased pulse in the hoof area
- Limp
- Unusual postures to avoid supporting the affected leg. Normally, horses affected with lameness stretch their legs forward and their body backwards
- High sensitivity and pain in the hoof when touched or pressed
- They avoid walking and when they do they walk with very short steps
- In serious cases they lie down on the floor and do not want to get up
- Deformation of the affected hooves, furrows appear on their walls and they are longer than normal, since rapid and abnormal growth occurs
- Appearance of cysts and abscesses in the area near the hoof
Treatment of laminitis in horses
As soon as we are aware that the he alth of our horse is not well, we should go to the vet to have it checked, since this way the treatment can be started as soon as possible. The chances of a good recovery after treating laminitis will depend entirely on whether the treatment is done properly and whether it has been started early or at a very advanced stage.
The fouling treatment focuses on trimming excess hoof and treating the root cause of the disease, so in In each case, tests will have to be carried out to find out the origin of the problem and treat it.
In addition, there are certain things that can be done to support the treatment to improve the horse's condition as soon as possible and facilitate recovery:
- Allow the horse to lie down on soft ground with sand or shavings, helping him if necessary
- Balance the diet according to the veterinarian's guidelines
- Cool the affected extremities, since the temperature of the hooves increased considerably
- Veterinary nutritional supplements to strengthen the hoof
- Keeping the hooves very clean and trimmed during treatment is one of the best ways to cure laminitis in horses
- If necessary, therapeutic hardware can be placed that will allow greater relief and rest for the horse
Once the specialized veterinarian has the diagnosis and can indicate the appropriate treatment for each case, it is vital that we stick to this much in the form of administration, the doses and the time necessary for it to act properly and that, at the same time, we facilitate the recovery of our horse with the previous indications. Thus, the prognosis of overcoming the disease will be very positive and if, in addition, we correct our way of feeding and handling the animal, we will help prevent recurrence of this disease in the long term.
Prevention of lameness in horses
To prevent laminitis in horses we must observe their behavior and maintain good he alth. Some tips for the prevention of this disease are:
- Limit the dose of cereals, starch and sugar in each meal
- Properly maintain basic horse care and, above all, proper hoof hygiene
- Properly carry out the treatments against infections that the horse may suffer to prevent them from spreading
- Allow necessary daily exercise to prevent overweight and muscle numbness
- Avoid running the animal on very hard surfaces to reduce the impact on the hooves
