White Line Disease in Horses

By Rakhi Sinha

The hooves are the most used parts of a horse's body. They are ever vulnerable to the wear, tear, and various other fatal infections. One such fungal infection is the White Line disease. It is also known as Hollow Foot, Seedy Toe, and Wall Thrush. Medically, the White Line disease is termed as Onychomycosis (Latin: onyx means nail, myke means fungus, and osis means condition).

Description of the Disease

The hoof wall has 3 layers - external, middle, & internal. External wall forms the outer covering. The middle layer consists of the horn tubules providing speed and elasticity to the hoof. The internal layer consists of 600 tissue extensions, interlocked with the sensitive lamina called stratum lamellatum. This lamina protects the coffin bone, sensitive cartilages, and the other sensitive parts of the hoof. White Line or Zona Lamellatum is the junction between the hoof wall and the sole. The bacteria or fungi attack the horn tubules, which are distant from the blood vessels. This sets in the infection. Consequently, the hoof wall is separated from the sensitive lamina resulting in:

The reduction of weight support between the hoof & the hoof wall

The other hoof complications, like bulging, swelling, etc.

Causes

The bacterial or fungal infection attacks through a crack or a fissure in the hoof. The hot and humid environment allows the fungi to survive for long, causing more damage, like:

Tear in the medium layer from Laminitis

Acute trauma from forward extended toes, which causes lamina tissues to extend and become unhealthy

Sole or toe bruising adjacent to the white line, causing blood clots

Loss of shoe

Improper trimming

Poor nutrition

Symptoms

Separation between the hoof and the sole

Partial removal of the hoof

Tenderness or flattening in the sole

A hollow sound of the hoof

Diagnosis

The disease is diagnosed with the help of X-ray examination.

Treatment

The affected external layer or the outer hoof wall is removed to expose the wound fully to light & air

Damaged tissues are removed fortnightly until a solid junction forms between the lamina & the hoof wall

Medicines like Betadine, fungi dye, merthiolate, etc., can be applied to the wound.

Metallic shoes are used to bandage or protect the affected hooves. The shoes are screwed to the outer hoof wall.

Precautions

Timely hoof care

Employing the soaks of Clorox, copper sulfate, etc.

Ensuring enough sunlight & cleanliness in the stable or ranches

Disinfection of the trimming instruments

Proper nutrition of the horse

http://ezinearticles.com/?White-Line-Disease-in-Horses&id=7528711

The Truth About Horse Joint Supplements

By Rob Domarkas

In this article I would like to spill the beans and share with you what every single horse owner should know about equine joint supplements. I have been working in the equine industry for little over two years now and I have learned quite a bit about what happens behind the curtains in the equine supplements industry.

In this article I would like to share with you some really important information about joint supplements. More specifically I would like to share with you a list of three ingredients that you should look for in an equine joint supplement if you want to make sure that your horse's joints get all of the essential materials that will strengthen and support your horse's joints.

Glucosamine HCL

Glucosamine HCL is proven and tested by time and it is probably the single most important agent when it comes to supporting healthy joints. Research has shown that Glucosamine HCL plays a particularly important role in the renewal of connective tissue in and around the joints.

Organic MSM

Glucosamine HCL works in perfect synergy with organic MSM, methyl-sulphonyl-methane. While Glucosamine HCL aids in the renewal of connective tissue in and around the joint, MSM provides the building materials, proteins, which are vital for tendon and ligament repair.

Hyaluronic acid

It is really important to make sure that your horse's joints contain healthy amounts of synovial fluid which is horse's natural joint lubricant. HLA is a major component of synovial fluid and is necessary to maintain the viscosity of it. You want to make sure that there is plenty of synovial fluid around your horse's joints to make sure that the bones don't grind against each other.

Now, when it comes to joint supplements it is also important to point out that there is very little concrete scientific evidence to support the claims made by companies making joint supplements for horses, but this does not mean that such products are useless.

The fact is that such products have been around for decades and millions of horse owners worldwide have used them with great success to strengthen and support their horse's joints.

If you want to minimise the risk of joint disease, if you want to make sure that your horse does not suffer from mobility problems, if you want to make sure that your horse stays healthy and active then you should start supplementing your horse's diet with products that contain active ingredients that I have just shared with you.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Truth-About-Horse-Joint-Supplements&id=7583065

Equine Laminitis - The Condition the Symptoms and the Treatment

Laminitis is a highly traumatic and painful condition, that can affect ponies and horses, and requires immediate first aid treatment provided by your veterinary surgeon and farrier. This condition is ideally treated using the Imprint® Equine Foot Care System together with other medication and advice as prescribed by your veterinary surgeon.

It is important that laminitis treatment begins swiftly and advice followed carefully to increase the likelihood of a full recovery for your horse.


What is Laminitis?

Laminitis is a major vascular crisis that results in inflammation and weakening of the laminal structures and bonds within the horses hoof. The damage to the hoof tissue could be severe and may cause rotation and sinking of the pedal bone. 
The following symptoms may indicate the presence of laminitis: 
  •  Difficulty in walking and turning
  •  Standing awkwardly with more weight on hind legs, whilst shifting weight from one
      foot to another.
  •  Hooves may feel warm to touch with increased digital artery pulse rate.
  •  Depression at coronary band

Laminitis - The Inside Story

 •  The blood supply to the hoof has been disturbed through a laminitic trigger factor that affects the horse’s metabolism. Possible trigger factors include diet, toxaemia, stress, hoof concussion or another
condition e.g. Equine Cushing’s Disease.
  •  As a result of metabolic disturbance, blood vessels have become constricted, thereby  reducing oxygen and other nutrients to the hoof and laminal tissues.
  •  The laminae become damaged and weakened and pull away from the hoof wall.
  •  The pedal bone is no longer supported by laminal structure and begins to rotate and
      descend towards the sole.
  •  The tissue in the sole of the foot becomes compressed, more blood vessels collapse
      leading to further crushing and subsequent infection.

Laminitis - The Treatment

1. Recommended Imprint Emergency Treatment for Laminitis
2. Stable your horse on a clean, deep, shavings bed
3. Administer medication as prescribed by your vet
4. Review your horse’s diet with your vet
5. Your vet will organise radiographs (X-rays) of the affected hooves
6. Your farrier or referral farrier will trim & re-balance hooves using radiographs
7. Your farrier or referral farrier will apply Imprint First shoes




Laminitis - On-going Care  

1. Continue with box rest for at least 30 days or until advised by your vet.

2. Provide a deep, supportive bed of clean, dry wood shavings or another material that moulds to the underside of the foot.

3. Review the horse’s diet with your vet.

4. Pick out and thoroughly disinfect hooves twice a day to avoid build up of foreign matter.

5. Re-application of Imprint shoes as directed by your farrier approximately every 5 weeks to ensure ‘ideal’ pedal bone/ hoof capsule alignment. Further radiographs may be required or requested by your farrier.

6.   During the next stage of recovery, when the horse is being given gentle exercise, 

7.  Imprint Plus shoes should now be applied. With their improved polymer formulation, Imprint Plus shoes provide all the support and flexibility together with increased wear and grip qualities on most surfaces.

http://www.imprintshoes.co.uk/laminitis/laminitis_the_condition_and_treatment.htm

Equine Back Problems: Sacroiliac Pain in the Horse

By Carole McClelland

When owners and riders think about the horses back, the sacroiliac region is an area that is often overlooked or not considered significant. However injury in this area can cause the horse to be in a lot of pain or discomfort and can cause problems without there being any visible abnormality.

A study by the University of Minnesota reported that over half of the 124 horses presented to the clinic with suspected back pain had a sacroiliac problem. This suggests that the sacroiliac should be given some serious consideration when looking at back problems.

The sacroiliac junction connects the horses spine at the sacrum and the ilium of the pelvis. The joint is capable of very little movement and contains little or no joint fluid. It is supported by the ventral sacroiliac ligaments. In the area are also dorsal sacroiliac ligaments although these do not have anything to do with the joint structure.

Causes of pain in the sacroiliac region include:

Ligament injuries of the ventral sacroiliac ligaments or the dorsal ligaments running from the tubersacrale to the sacrum.The significance of this injury depends on the severity ie, if the ligament it torn or just strained.

Misalignments of the tubersacrale can cause discomfort in this area as joints may not be functioning within their normal range of movement (ROM). A McTimoney practitioner will often treat this area to support optimal joint function.

Fractures, predominantly stress fractures of the iliac wing have been found in racehorses. These are often too small to be seen on x-rays and are so found post mortem, this means they may well be present in horses of other disciplines but due to the lower incidence of post mortem examination they may not be picked up.

In certain equestrian disciplines the SI region can be put under extreme strain. Extremes of engagement, hind limb action or speed can over stress the joint. This means showjumpers, racehorses, eventers and dressage horses are at risk. Conformation of the horse is a consideration and whether the horse has conformation which is suitable for the job they are doing.

Sacroiliac injury can also be a result of falling, slipping and rearing particularly those that have gone over backwards.

Signs which may suggest that your horse has SI pain include: 

• Lacking topline and in consistent muscle development across the back and hind quarters
• Lack of impulsion, reluctance to engage the hindlinmbs when ridden and reluctance to go forward
• Bucking or kicking out whilst ridden
• Hind limb lameness where other conditions have been ruled out

Definitive diagnosis is difficult unless there is an obvious injury as the joint is deep and therefore cannot be examined by usual methods such as x-ray. The vet may suspect SI injury when the pain cannot be localised by nerve blocks right up to the stifle. Sacroiliac pain may be suspected by the McTimoney practitioner if the horse is sensitive to palpation over the tubersacrale.

Prognosis is generally good although this depends on the nature and severity of the injury. Ample time off work must be given to allow for ligament repair, it is thought that when recovery has been poor it can be due to not allowing enough time off work. Treatment options address the symptoms rather than the cause of the problem and can include: acupuncture, manipulation and corticosteroids.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Equine-Back-Problems:-Sacroiliac-Pain-in-the-Horse&id=7569941