Causes of sole bruises include constant low-grade trauma to the sole, acute trauma to the sole such as a bruise, constant pressure in a specific area or founder. Predispositions include thin soled flat-footed horses such as Thoroughbreds and draft horses, as well as working on hard or irregular surfaces. Bruising is more common in the fore feet. Signs & Symptoms include mild intermittent shifting lameness (chronic) or severe immediate lameness (acute) and physical bruising of the sole.
Diagnosis is + hoof test response. Foot abscess and P3 fractures need to be ruled out by x-ray.
Treatment is rest, NSAIDs, foot bath, poultice and opening the bruise to relieve pressure, especially if a hematoma had formed.
Prevention is the use of
if the horses is predisposed to sole bruising.
Corns
Corns are sole bruises specifically located at the angle of hoof wall (bar & heel) caused by pressure from a . This is most common when a shoe is overdue for a reset or improper shoeing as a shoe should never come into contact with the sole. It can also occur if a stone /debris gets caught between the shoe and sole. Predispositions include a shoe that is too small or too short, pads attached to shoes with rivets and horses with weak, collapsing or underrun heels. It is more common in the fore feet and on the aspect of the foot.
Signs and symptoms include mild to moderate lameness and possible discolouration of the sole.
Diagnosis is examining the position of the shoe and a + response to a hoof tester. Treatment is to trim the hoof and correctly re-shoe the horse with correct support for the heels. Rest and NSAIDs if necessary.
Prognosis is excellent.
Thrush
Thrush is a bacterial/fungal infection of the frog. The bacteria love a environment such as the clefts of the frog. Horses with contacted or narrow heels are more predisposed as this creates a ‘deeper’ cleft of the frog. Horses in wet, muddy or footing are more predisposed to developing thrush. The feet have a smelly odour, with possible black discharge or bleeding. The frog maybe tender and in severe cases may cause lameness. It is usually discovered when the horses feet.
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