Horse Foot Diseases

Horses don't have feet like many other animals. Rather than ending in a paw, their leg ends in a hard, solid hoof. Hooves look sturdy, but they are actually prone to a variety of diseases that can cause anything from temporary lameness to permanent disability and even death. Horse owners should pay attention to their horse's feet to catch signs of disease early so the animal can be treated.

A horse's foot is actually a hoof, a solid, weight-bearing anatomical feature at the end of each of its legs. The hoof is a complex structure made up of several parts. It is topped off with a coronet, or coronary band, at its very top where it meets the horse's leg. The hoof walls grow down from the coronet in a tapered shape. Hooves are longest in the front and shorter on the backside, just above the animal's heel. On the bottom of the foot you will find the frog. It is V-shaped, and unlike the hard hoof wall, it's rubbery and flexible to the touch. On each side of the "V" there is a groove that can be rather deep on some horses. Bulbs are found just over the heel on either side of the foot.

The main function of a horse's foot is the same as any other animal's feet. It bears the horse's weight as it stands, walks, trots and canters. Horses typically weigh between 1000 and 2000 pounds, so its hooves are bearing a great deal of weight on a daily basis. This ongoing stress, along with the horse's lifestyle and environment, can lead to a variety of hoof diseases that will impair the function of the hoof or even destroy it.

There are three common diseases that can cause problems with a horse's feet. All three are treatable if noticed and diagnosed early. Thrush is a bacterial infection that can affect a horse's foot when the animal is kept in wet surroundings like a boggy pasture. It can also start of the horse is made to stand frequently in a damp, dirty stall or pen. The bacteria will attack the horse's foot and eat away at it. When you are cleaning its feet, you will notice an unpleasant, rotting odor and see a black oozing substance. Treat it at the first sign with a commercial thrush medication, which you can purchase at tack shops or feed stores. If you catch it early, thrush can almost always be eliminated without causing long-term damage to the horse's feet. Prevent a return by cleaning the animal's stall frequently and making sure it is dry by using extra sawdust, shavings, or another stall liner. White Line Disease can happen to horses in any area, but it is most commonly found in horses that are regularly exposed to heat and humidity. This disease makes the sole separate itself from the hoof wall, creating a gap in the foot. The gap gives bacteria and fungus a convenient space in which they can grow and cause foot problems. The horse will feel tenderness and soon become lame. There are medications to treat White Line Disease, and your farrier can recommend special shoes that will help protect your horse's feet and support the healing process. Laminitis, which is commonly known as founder, is one of the most serious conditions that can strike a horse's feet. It has a variety of causes, but the most common is overfeeding the animal on grain or turning it out into a pasture that is too lush. Founder can also affect a horse's feet after a bad case of colic because of toxins that have been released into the animal's blood during the traumatic illness. Cushing's Disease and bad blood circulation to the feet can also lead to founder. Veterinarians treat it through pain management, and an affected horse will need special trimming and shoes on a regular basis. Full recovery from founder is possible, but it is a slow process and the horse can suffer a great deal of pain in the meantime. In severe cases, founder can cripple a horse for life or be fatal.

Foot problems in horses can be prevented through proper management of the animal. A hoof pick should be used to clean out the foot every day, and the horse should be able to stand in a clean, dry area rather than mud or a dirty stall. During the daily cleaning, the owner should be alert to any changes in looks, feel, or smell of the foot and report any abnormalities to a veterinarian for advice. A horse's feet also need regular trimming by a farrier. Depending on the growth rate, this is usually needed every six to eight weeks. Some horses need the extra protection of shoes, which are reset on the same schedule as the trim. Farriers are trained professionals who may notice problems early. They can give treatment recommendations and may also be able to aid treatment through special trimming or corrective shoeing. Many feed stores and tack shops sell dietary supplements and topical liquids that can help protect a horse's feet and make them more resistant to common diseases.

A horse's feet are delicate. Once they are permanently damaged by an untreated disease, the horse may be lame and unrideable for the rest of its life. Even easily treatable conditions like thrush can have a long term effect if treatment is withheld. Whenever you notice changes or have any reason to suspect that your horse may have a foot problem, call your veterinarian. The longer you wait for diagnosis and treatment, the more damage the disease can cause and the harder it will be to restore the foot to a healthy condition.