Originally published on TheHorse.com Managing horses goes hand
in hand with managing ailments. While some horse health problems
are relatively quick and simple to treat, others are more
difficult and tedious. Often, foot problems fall into the latter
category. At the 2012 Western Veterinary Conference, held Feb.
19-23 in Las Vegas, Nev., one veterinarian gave some helpful
tips on how to best treat difficult foot problems in horses.
"Disorders of the distal phalanx (coffin bone) and adjacent
tissues can be difficult to treat because they are confined by
and suspended in the hoof," explained Robert L. Linford, DVM,
PhD, Dipl. ACVS, a professor in the Department of Clinical
Sciences at the Mississippi State University College of
Veterinary Medicine. "Successful treatment requires maintaining
or reestablishing the capacity of the hoof to suspend the distal
phalanx." The first step, of course, is to attain an accurate
diagnosis. Once your veterinarian reaches a diagnosis, he or she
can begin treatment and manageme