6/22/2023 0 Comments Clean trax horse hoof treatment![]() ![]() My doc uses a hoof nipper or Dremel to remove the outer layer of hoof wall from over the cavity. So my doc takes the roof from over their head by performing a hoof wall resection! Those critters don’t stand a chance once their hiding place is exposed to light and air. The most important part is to remember what those organisms love – a nice dark, moist space that can’t easily be cleaned out. Next, my doc has to stop that bacteria and fungus in their tracks. All the other treatment will not really be effective if the primary cause isn’t fixed. She’ll need to correct any abnormal forces on the foot (such as an overgrown toe) that are causing the separation. My doc may need to take a radiograph to see how extensive the damage is within the foot. Larger areas of separation will require additional treatment. A very minor WLD may be able to be trimmed out by your farrier during a routine visit. Unfortunately, just picking the cavity out and applying medications is unlikely to stop the progression. If your horse does develop white line disease, my doc and your farrier should work together to develop a treatment plan. You can see the new healthy hoof growing down from the coronary band. Admittedly, the drying part can be tricky during some times of the year.Ī hoof wall resection. On top of that, pick your horse’s feet regularly and give them a chance to dry out. A well-trimmed foot is much less likely to develop this problem. One of the best things you can do to prevent WLD is just to have your horse trimmed frequently (about every 5 weeks, depending on the horse) and to make sure the toes don’t become too long. If your horse wears shoes, it’s a little trickier to observe this area, so your farrier should take a good look when she removes the shoe to trim the foot. If you think there are any areas of separation, pockets of dirt, and crumbly hoof near the white line, talk to my doc and your farrier. You’ll want to pay close attention to your horse’s feet when you’re picking them out. How do we treat and prevent White Line Disease?įirst, we have to recognize the WLD. While it can occur in any climate, it’s more common in humid conditions (ahem, Florida anyone?) since wet footing can soften the hoof and allow the organisms easier entry into the tissues. Just another of the 10,000 reasons it’s important to stay on top of your horse’s hoof care and get him a quality trim at a regular interval.Īny age, sex, or breed of horse can be affected. Most commonly, a long toe or overgrown foot can distort the hoof and cause mechanical stress that leads to the hoof wall separating near the white line. A horse with chronic laminitis can also be at greater risk due to the loss of integrity of the hoof. Why does that separation occur in the first place? Poor trimming or sometimes a conformational issue such as club foot can be the cause. It comes down to a separation that occurs in the hoof that gives the organisms a chance to invade – the bacteria and fungi are just there to take advantage of it. Like I said, bacteria and fungi are involved in WLD, but it’s not so simple as that, because the bacteria and fungi are always there in the environment, and not every hoof gets WLD. Severe WLD has caused this coffin bone to rotate What causes it? ![]() You may be able to stick a hoof pick up in there and pick out some crumbly material that is the degraded hoof plus dirt, bacteria, and fungi. If you look at a foot with WLD, you’ll see a cavity between the outer hoof wall and the sole. It’s a vicious cycle – once they access even further up inside the hoof and have a lovely dark, protected area, it gets much more difficult to clean them out. As the bacteria and fungi work their way into the hoof wall, they eat away at the tissue that should be keeping the hoof connected to the deeper structures. What they love is a dark, moist place, and a little space inside the hoof wall is their real estate dream. It doesn’t take any special evil organisms to cause this problem, it’s just the normal bacteria and fungi in your horse’s environment that are just waiting for the opportunity to find a nice place to set up shop. The infection takes place in the tissue between the outer hoof wall and the sensitive inner tissues of the hoof. White line disease is basically an infection in your horse’s foot caused by bacteria and fungi getting into a gap in the hoof wall. Let’s go into what white line disease is, what causes it, and what you can do about it. That can be how WLD starts, and at this early stage it can be pretty manageable, but it can get out of control before you know it. You notice a small gap between the outer hoof wall and the sole, and some dirt is packed in there. Maybe you’ve gone a little too long between trims and your horse’s hooves have gotten a bit too long. Also called seedy toe, white line disease can start with just a little separation at the hoof wall. ![]()
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