Diseases and Injuries of the Horses Foot.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 58, Issue 3, 20 March 1939, Page 259

Diseases and Injuries of the Horses Foot.

Corns. THIS is an injury to that part of the sole which lies in the angle between the wall of the hoof and the bars, and is brought about by bruising or some undue pressure. Common causes which may lead to injury of this part are badly fitting short shoes, rasping of the wall, and paring away the bars. Corns occur most frequently on the inside heel, and are recognized by the reddened appearance of the sole. The treatment consists in finding the cause of the bruising or pressure and removing it. Some alteration to the shoe may be necessary to remove pressure from the seat of the corn, but before this is undertaken a veterinary surgeon should be consulted. In maintaining a foot free from corns the importance of sound shoeing—i.e., well-fitting shoes —and the proper care

and treatment of wall, sole, and bars of the foot cannot be over-emphasized. The practice of rasping the wall and cutting away the bars is wrong. Thrush, The presence of this condition is readily detected by the rather characteristic and unpleasant smell of the discharge issuing from the cleft of the frog. The factors which lead to the occurrence of the condition may be summed up in the word "NEGLECT.” Lack of care and attention in keeping the feet clean, allowing dirt and moisture to remain in contact with the frog, particularly in the cleft, will lead to thrush. The common but altogether wrong practice of paring the frog predisposes to the condition, as does any other cause which prevents the frog from carrying on its natural function. As regards treatment, attention must therefore be directed to cleanliness, dry-

ness, and the restoration of the natural function of the frogthat is, in a word, " pressure.” The frog, particularly the cleft, must be cleaned thoroughly ; any antiseptic solution may be used for this initial cleansing. Once the part has been thoroughly cleaned it must be kept dry by means of a powder antiseptic dressing and the cleft of the frog packed tightly with tow or gauze, which can be kept in position by means of a leather sole or metal strip. The more exercise given to the animal at this stage the better the results obtained. Sandcrack, This is a term used to describe a crack or fissure in the horny wall of the hoof starting from the bottom and extending upwards. The crack may extend in depth to the sensitive structures under- ■ lying the wall and upwards to the coronet, in which cases lameness is usually severe.

This condition occurs most frequently in brittle feet, flat feet, and overgrown neglected feet. Some constitutional upset may alter the normal secretion of horn to such an extent * that a weak, brittle horn is grown which readily predisposes to sandcrack. In carrying out treatment it must be remembered that this horn tissue will not reunite ; therefore treatment must primarily be directed to the growth of new healthy horn from the coronet. This can be promoted by blistering the coronet with a mercury blister. If the crack has not reached the coronet it is advisable to make a transverse nick by means of a rasp or knife just above the upper extremity of the crack. This will tend to prevent the fissure, extending up farther. At the lower extremity of the crack — i.e., at the ground surface of the wall —a notch must be cut out extending about | in. on either side of the crack and upwards for about 1 in. This is necessary in order to relieve as much pressure as possible from the split part of the wall. Sandcracks are sometimes extremely -troublesome to deal with, and often recur. Where possible, it is always advisable to seek professional advice.