Sure Foot Farrier service in Dandaragan, Western Australia, Australia | Pet service

Sure Foot Farrier service

Locality: Dandaragan, Western Australia, Australia

Phone: +61 427 811 191

Address: 312 Koodjee rd 6507 Dandaragan, WA, Australia

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22.01.2022 Treatment plans are based on the underlying cause and stage of the disease. Regardless of the cause of laminitis, first-aid usually includes : . Cryotherapy ...- standing horses in buckets of ice water to reduce inflammation in the feet (you vet will advice you if this a suitable option for your horse and the exact protocol). . Systemic anti-inflammatory medication tailored to the needs of your horse. . Padding of the feet with high density foam cut to specific requirements to ensure pressure distribution is ideal. . Restriction of high NSC feeds and implementation of low sugar diet. This is NO turnout on lush, rapidly growing pasture (ie. spring). . Confinement and/or box rest in deep sand bedding. . Corrective trimming/shoeing every 2-4 weeks. . 90% of laminitis cases are caused by an underlying endocrine condition such as PPID and/or EMS. These two conditions can be diagnosed by a simple blood test. . If laminitis is suspected contact us on 0427 072 095 to assess the horse immediately. See more

19.01.2022 I may have shared this before but very interesting

18.01.2022 Another great day

18.01.2022 Caudal Foot Pain Brian S. Burks, DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board Certified in Equine Practice Caudal foot and/or navicular pain and disease is closely/directly related to...: Internal hoof balance Underrun heels and contracted heels Lack of frog function Break-over point too far in front of the coffin bone These issues can cause chronic shoe loss because the foot is not moving out of the way of the hind feet efficiently. A toe first landing, which directly affects the impar ligament, the coffin joint, and the navicular bone, is an incorrect foot movement; it should be heel first. These factors should be addressed in a therapeutic shoeing plan; the addition of a flat pad without correction of the hoof capsule will not help in the long run. Toe clips are unlikely to help caudal heel pain, or stop shoe removal if the foot does not move or land correctly. Clips can add to internal hoof stresses by preventing the break-over point from being placed under the foot, relative the end of the coffin bone. Lameness from caudal heel pain or navicular syndrome originates as soft tissue inflammation, which can result in bone loss. Thus restoring lost bone will not help if the reason for the inflammation is not corrected. The horse needs to have a properly applied shoe specific to the individual horse’s problem, along with anti-inflammatory medication. Once bone loss is sufficient to allow adherence of the deep digital flexor tendon to the navicular bone, this cannot be directly corrected within the hoof capsule. Now surgery may be required, in some cases. Some horses do not develop proper internal hoof structure which allows them to maintain bone position on their own. Some horses will need external help to maintain frog support, and removal of wedges can take the horse back to its original misaligned state, even if barefoot and trimmed correctly. A barefoot horse is preferable to the incorrect type of shoeing and trimming. Even barefoot horses, however, can have caudal foot pain due to misaligned coffin bones. They just never developed the internal hoof structure needed. Shoeing, in and of itself, will do nothing to correct any of the above named problems of internal hoof balance; crushed, underrun, and contracted heels; and a break-over point that is not directly in front of the coffin bone. The latter will create leverage issues, making work harder for the horse. To address hoof problems properly, one of our veterinarians will need to perform a lameness and conformation examination, take radiographs of the foot, and involve a farrier who is knowledgeable in corrective trimming and shoeing. There is no ‘one size fits all’ prescription for horse shoeing. Simply having an egg bar or any other shoe will not help without correcting the hoof capsule. Fox Run Equine Center www.foxrunequine.com (724) 727-3481 Experienced. Dedicated. Focused on the Horse.

17.01.2022 What a great day. thanks to Kim and Taina for organising the day and mark and Michael for sharing your knowledge

17.01.2022 Equine Lameness Brian S. Burks, DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board Certified in Equine Practice The equine foot is a unique structure that takes a tremendous amount of force... and stress when moving. It is the foundation of the horse. There is an old adage No Foot, No Horse as the horse is not stable without its foundation. Forelimb lameness is more common due to 65% of the horse’s weight being carried in front. The foot is the most common part of the forelimb to be affected because of the stress is takes; 80% of forelimb lameness originates from the foot. It is necessary to have knowledge of the foot, clinical conditions associated with the foot and ways to avoid and treat the more common foot problems. There are three bones that comprise the foot: the third phalanx or coffin bone, the second phalanx or short pastern bone and the distal sesamoid or navicular bone. The short pastern and coffin bones support weight while the navicular bone serves as a fulcrum for the deep digital flexor tendon. The joint between the first and second phalanges is the proximal interphalangeal or pastern joint, and the joint between the second and third phalanges is the distal interphalangeal or coffin joint. There are numerous soft tissue structures within the foot. The deep digital flexor tendon runs down the back of the leg to curve around the navicular bursa and bone. The navicular bursa is a fluid-filled pouch that sits between the navicular bone and the deep digital flexor tendon and helps cushion and protect the bone and tendon. The navicular bone also has three ligaments attaching it to the second and third phalanges. There are two large collateral ligaments attaching the second and third phalanges. External structures of the foot include the coronet, where skin intersects with the hoof wall, and is the area from which the hoof grows at about 0.25 inches each month. The ground surface of the foot includes the sole, frog, white line and bars. Foot conformation is important to maintenance of hoof health and soundness of the horse. The front foot should be large and round; the hind hoof is more elongated, though similar in size. The sole should be concave, not flat, to allow for expansion and absorption of force when the foot contacts the ground. The foot should land heel first, and the heel bulbs should expand. Pressure moves to the walls and frog, absorbing the concussive force and pumping blood through the foot. Although the hoof-pastern axis is ideally considered to be ideal when the hoof and pastern all line up perfectly, some horses do not have this angle, being more upright or sloping. These angles may not need to be changed, and doing so may cause more harm than good. Proper foot care ensures that the foundation can maintain soundness. A good farrier is a must. The foot should be trimmed to the widest part of the frog, have a good angle, and be balanced inside and outside. Shoes should be made to fit the foot, not the foot to the shoe. It should be wider than the hoof at the heels, and nails should be set forward. This allows for improved hoof expansion and absorption of force. Horse lameness is a condition that occurs when a horse is unable to move normally. While the majority of horse lameness is related to the foot, this condition may be caused by problems in a horse’s bones, muscles, nerves, tendons or ligaments. Repetitive injuries, infection, poor nutrition, laminitis are the primary causes for horse lameness. It may occur gradually over time or suddenly with little warning. In few cases, lameness may resolve itself; however, veterinary intervention is often required to proactively treat this condition and prevent additional health problems. Lameness is the most common cause of poor performance in sport horses. Diseases or injuries to the musculoskeletal system are a major cause for poor athletic performance. The age, breed and gender of a horse are also important. Certain causes for lameness are more likely to affect certain breeds and ages of horses. Past medical history is also important in a lameness evaluation. An equine veterinarian is trained to diagnose and evaluate lameness in a horse. The more severely lame a horse is, the more noticeable this lameness will be in the horse’s walk. A horse will be evaluated at a trot (jog), which is the optimal gait for detecting lameness. A horse will be observed from both the front and the back while the horse is moving to detect lameness. A veterinarian will evaluate the following: Amount of weight bearing Length of stride Flight and landing of feet Carriage of the head and neck The American Association of Equine Practitioners rates horses on the following scale for lameness: 0: Not detectable under any circumstances 1: Difficult to observe and not consistently apparent 2: Difficult to observe at a walk or when trotting in a straight line, but noticeable under certain circumstances (e.g., circling, inclines, weight carrying) 3: Consistently observable at a trot under all circumstances. 4. Lameness is obvious at a walk. 5. Lameness produces minimal weight bearing in motion and/or at rest or a complete inability to move The lameness is localized via the use of local anesthesia around nerves or within joints. The horse does not have muscle below the carpus or tarsus (knee and hock, but the use of knee is incorrect, as the homologous joint to humans is the stifle) so that the nerves do not control function and are only sensory. Many different diagnostic modalities are use. These include nuclear scintigraphy, CT and MRI, but the most common imaging modalities are radiography and ultrasonography. It is critical that good, detailed, comprehensive radiographic studies be performed. When radiographing the foot, a minimum of five views should be taken to allow for a complete evaluation of all of the bony structures within the foot. Once a horse’s lameness has been localized, the most effective treatment options can be chosen to directly target the underlying cause for lameness. In general, this means reducing exercise and the weight of the horse. Checking the horse’s conformation and correcting faults, where possible, is paramount. Farriery can be used to treat many problems of the equine foot, when lameness is detected and diagnosed early. Medications for horse lameness are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications that fight pain and improve joint mobility. Some injectable medications are also available to protect joint cartilage and support normal joint fluid. Hoof supplements that contain biotin, zinc, copper, complete proteins, and Omega 3 fatty acids may also be beneficial, depending on the cause for lameness. Extra Corporeal Shock Wave Therapy is useful for some fractures of the coffin bone, and for many soft tissue injuries of the lower limb. Sometimes surgery may be necessary to remove a bone chip or repair a fracture, or to help restore tendon function. Fox Run Equine Center www.foxrunequine.com (724) 727-3481 Experienced. Dedicated. Focused on the Horse.

16.01.2022 So this is Darcy Anderson . He is currently in the process of completing his RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning )Certificate 4 in Farriery . ACM40818.He is sign...ed up with QBVET in Queensland and travels 3 hours every fortnight to attend Goodlands Farrier School for his training . Darcy’s main focus over the past 4 years has primarily been further education. He has partially completed his CF exam with the FITS program and plans to continue his education within the farrier trade . Anyone wanting information please call Tania 0417916934 or Kim 0477733070 See more

14.01.2022 I am happy to be working with Cristelle at Autism horses Australia and her team of horses at her amazing facility. https://www.instagram.com/p/CFgESm3ht2D/

14.01.2022 This extraordinary video shows the changes in shape, size and pigmentation, that occur to the hoof during the first year of a horse’s life. Full video and expla...nation on my Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtMqkirB6kk Hoof of the Horse, which explains foal hoof development and much more, can be ordered here: bit.ly/HoofoftheHorse Follow my page Simon J Curtis for more posts like this.

14.01.2022 We don't typically see increases in the number of laminitis cases in late November.... however, the recent rains coupled with warm weather has led to conditions... where the fructans (sugars) in pasture are high. . Hyperinsulinaemia is likely to be the major factor in predisposing horses with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) to laminitis. . Recent studies have demonstrated that laminitis can develop when insulin is maintained at levels of around 200ìU/ml for 48 hours. On pasture with a high fructan content, ingestion large amounts of soluble sugar is realistic over a 24-hour period and would push insulin concentrations even higher than what was shown in the study. . What to do about it ? - Restrict grazing for high risk horses, ponies and donkeys (if you haven't previously tested your animal for Equine Metabolic Syndrome or PPID, please get in contact with us) - If grazing must occur, the sugar in the pasture is lowest between the hours of 5am-10am (except after frost). - Insulin sensitivity can be improved by diet and exercise. - Track systems are a relatively recent development in managing access to grazing. These involve creating a track around the perimeter of a paddock, with food and water placed at opposite ends. . Weight Loss - Owners have a skewed perception of the body condition of their horse. A recent survey in the UK showed that over 50% of the horse population was obese, yet only 20% of owners will recognise their horse needs to lose weight. Even fewer owners will actually act on the knowledge their horse needs to lose weight. . Don't wait for your horse to suffer a debilitating episode of laminitis before you think about doing something. Laminitis is preventable through dietary management, weight loss, exercise, appropriate farriery and treatment of management of metabolic issues. . Contact us on 0427 072 095 for advice regarding weight loss plans for your laminitis-prone horse or pony. See more

12.01.2022 Hi everyone Fly season is upon us well and truly so can everyone please stock up on fly repellent. Even the most quiet of horse can get irritated from flys and it can get dangerous when they start kicking out at the flys. Some horse are very sensitive to flys so having a good repellent on hand is necessary for me to be able to the best job I can do while your horse is standing. If your horse can not take fly spray please let me know when booking. This may mean we have to do ...your horse early in the morning or late afternoon or try using a fly cream instead. If I get to your horse and he can not stand still because of the flys I might not be able to do your horse at that time. I don’t make these decisions easily but it comes down to OHS, not just for myself but also for the horse and the horse handler. Please be respectful if I say I can’t do your horse at that time I will always try and work out a better solution to do the job. I hope everyone can respect this request Regards Darcy See more

11.01.2022 You have questions, we have answers! A few common HOOF CARE MYTHS and some truths with evidence as currently known. UC Davis Center for Equine Health along with... UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital farrier Shane Westman published a list of some of the common myths within the equine community regarding hoof health as published in last year's fall hoof care issue of the "Horse Report." (The included posted unedited images are from the Horse Report.) Find the full higher quality digital issue here including new science and information in hoof health: https://ceh.vetmed.ucdavis.edu//Horse_Report_Fall_2019_web #vetsandfarriers #horsehealthteam #vetfarrierrelations

10.01.2022 Over 90% of reported bouts of laminitis are caused by an underlying endocrine condition such as PPID or EMS and both can be diagnosed by a blood test. . Althoug...h controllable through medication the development of PPID cannot be prevented. However, EMS can be managed by avoiding obesity through diet and exercise. . If your horse is predisposed to developing laminitis and/or prone to gaining weight such as a native pony or a ‘good doer’ then it is ever more important to control their weight to avoid obesity and therefore decrease the risk of laminitis. . Do not let your horses graze 24/7 on rapidly growing pasture. This is especially important after the first rains of the season in autumn when the pasture begins to grow rapidly. This rapid growth also occurs in spring, and it's no coincidence that this is when we see many cases of laminitis. Anytime that the pasture is in a rapid growth phase, it is storing the most amount of sugars. Restrict turnout time during these months. . Use a grazing muzzle to reduce intake, especially for those horses who are unable to be confined. . Monitor the weight of your horse weekly by condition scoring and with the use of a weight tape. . Soak hay for (no longer than) 30-60mins to reduce the sugar content by approx 50-60%. . Make sure feed is securely stored away from the horse. A horse that ingests a large amount of grain from 'breaking into' the feed shed will be at a high risk for developing laminitis. . Feed an appropriate diet to help prevent laminitis (call us on 0427 072 095 to discuss a ration plan for your horse). . Ensure regular farrier care to prevent over-grown hooves. . Do not work a horse repeatedly on a hard surface. The continuous concussive force on the hoof can lead to an onset of laminitis. . At risk horses should be tested for Equine Metabolic Syndrome (via dynamic testing of insulin sensitivity) and/or PPID. Please contact us to schedule a test - 0427 072 095. . Contact us on 0427 072 095 if you have any questions or concerns. See more

06.01.2022 Suspensory Desmitis in Horses Brian S. Burks, DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board Certified in Equine Practice After you have been out riding and jumping, and now your horse ...feels off. Once cooled off at the barn, he is clearly lame. There is not a lot of swelling in his leg. There are many possibilities for this scenario, but one of them is an injured suspensory ligament, which has the potential to end a career. The suspensory ligament, aka interosseous ligament, arises at the back of the carpus or tarsus (hock), and continues down the back of the canon bone, between the splint bones. About 2/3 of the way down, it divides into medial and lateral branches. There are also dorsal branches to the front of the pastern. Its job is to stretch and let the fetlock sink toward the ground. When the ligament is overloaded, it can be injured, varying from a strain/sprain injury to a full tear of the ligament. Most performance horses are at risk of injury, especially racing horses and upper level dressage horses. It may be an acute injury or a more chronic one with repetitive small injuries. With acute injury, there is usually some swelling, heat, and heat, though it may not be immediate, ensuing over the next couple of days. Chronic injuries have thickness of the ligament, along with pain to palpation. When lunged, most horses are lame when the affected limb is to the outside, and, especially with hind limb injuries, may be worse when ridden. Proximal tears occur near the origin of the ligament at the top of the canon bone. Sometimes a part of the bone may be torn away, called an avulsion. There may also be a stress, or hairline, fracture in the back cortex of the bone. Body tears occur anywhere in the ligament, above the branch point. The splint bones may be affected or may be the primary cause, as when the distal portion of the splint bone is pushed into the ligament when a fracture occurs. Branch tears can occur in one or both branches. A piece of sesamoid bone may be avulsed. Sometimes the sesamoid bone will have a complete fracture from top to bottom, severely affecting the ligament. Horses working at speed or jumping have an increased risk of injury. The more weight, the more stress is upon the ligament. Dressage horses are more prone to proximal injuries, while jumpers are more likely to injure the branches. Diagnosis involves a complete lameness exam, along with nerve blocks, to localize the area of lameness. Once the area is identified, radiographs are used to rule out bone injury, such as avulsion or stress fractures. Ultrasonography will be used to image the entire ligament, looking for subtle strain injury, large tears or focal ‘core’ lesions. In cases without obvious radiographic or ultrasonographic injury, nuclear scintigraphy may be used to identify both soft tissue and bone abnormalities. There is often focal uptake of the radiopharmaceutical at the top of the canon bone. Sometimes, there may be uptake along the back of the bone, in the area of the suspensory ligament. There are, of course, many other structures involved, especially around the fetlock and pastern, making diagnosis more difficult. These include the deep and superficial flexor tendons, distal sesamoidean ligaments, annular ligament, etc. Ultrasound can help identify injury to any of the soft tissue structures. There may be bruising of these structures or infections of tendon sheaths that can present with similar clinical signs. Treatment can be prolonged, and should involve monthly ultrasound in order to follow the course of the injury and decide on the level of activity. The primary treatment used is rest with controlled exercise. At first, the horse may require stall confinement, followed by hand walking, and gradual return to exercise. Local and systemic anti-inflammatory medication may be used, along with cold hydrotherapy or cold compression. One unit that provides continuous cold and intermittent compression is made by Game Ready, used extensively in both human and animal therapy. Other therapies may be used as required, including: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, focused Photobiomodulation- laser therapy Desmoplasty- ligament splitting Intralesional injection of stem cells or IRAP Physical therapy Although the lameness may diminish quickly, do not be fooled by this. There is pathology in the ligament, and effective cures can take 6-18 months or longer. The prognosis varies with the portion of the ligament affected, and the severity of the lesion. The prognosis is better for forelimb vs hindlimb injury. With inadequate rest and frequent ultrasound guidance, recurrence of injury is high. Early detection and treatment can help limit some injuries. Others may be acute, severe, and life-threatening, certainly career ending. Take care of the horse’s limbs by adequate warm up and cool down. Gradual exercise programs are always a must to allow the tissues, soft tissue and bone, to adapt to the stresses required. No horse should be expected to jump three feet without putting the time in to prepare the ligaments and tendons. Fox Run Equine Center www.foxrunequine.com (724) 727-3481 Your horse's health is always our top priority.

06.01.2022 DO YOU HAVE AN OLDER HORSE? Read on! . The good news is that, with each passing year, horses are living longer lives and many survive easily to 25 years of age ...or older. This means, however, that horse owners need to be aware of changes occurring with age, so they can preserve the health and quality of life of their equine friends throughout middle age and the geriatric years. . Equine Cushing’s disease is one of the most common diseases of horses greater than 15 years of age. This syndrome is better defined as Equine Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) because it reflects the location within the brain that is abnormal, and the clinical signs are associated with abnormally elevated hormone concentrations in the blood. . Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is another endocrine disorder that can affect mature horses and shares some of the same clinical signs as PPID. Although the two disorders feature some striking clinical similarities most notably a predisposition to development of chronic laminitis the underlying disease biology is quite different in each case and successful management requires proper diagnosis by a competent veterinarian first. Our understanding of both conditions, especially EMS, is incomplete and subject to continuous evolution, but sufficient information is currently available to highlight some important similarities and differences for the interested horse owner. Read two full articles about PPID & EMS on our website at : . https://avonridgeequine.com.au/equine-ppid/ . https://avonridgeequine.com.au/equine-metabolic-syndrome/ . Contact us for more information on 0427 072 095 #equinevets #horsedoctors #veterinarymedicine #equestrianlife #endocrinology #cushingsdisease #equinemetabolicdisease #olderage

05.01.2022 Je voudrais partager quelque chose de différent, que la plupart des gens qui aiment les chevaux ne connaissent pas à moins de les avoir étudiés ou d'être éleveu...r. L' Eponychium, également appelée doigts de fée ou pantoufles dorées, est la capsule molle qui protège l’utérus et le col de la mère contre les bords tranchants des sabots du poulain pendant la grossesse et la naissance. Les prédateurs étant attirés par l'odeur du placenta, Il est donc nécessaire que le poulain et sa mère puissent s'éloigner le plus rapidement possible du lieu de naissance. Le poulain doit donc avoir complètement durci ses sabots à la naissance. Lors de la première aventure du poulain au-dessus du sol, les capsules de sabots mous sont usées pour atteindre la plante de la sole, révélant ainsi les sabots que nous sommes habitués à voir. Vous devez être rapide pour prendre une photo d'eux car ils commencent à se dessécher et tombent à la minute où ils entrent en contact avec l'air. Dans les 24 heures qui suivent la naissance, il en reste à peine une trace. Si vous aimez ce genre d'articles n'hésitez pas à nous suivre, il y en a pleins d'autres en préparation ;-) Texte écrit par - & Gregory June Spinoit

05.01.2022 Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all my clients and friends. Thank you for your support through this wacky year and hope to see you and your horses in the new year. Have a safe and enjoyable time.

05.01.2022 Want to know more about our Program? Watch https://vimeo.com/458044389

05.01.2022 The presence of irregular growth rings which typically diverge towards the heel is extremely common in ponies and likely indicates prior episodes of lamini...tis, which may have been associated with pain even if this was not noted by the owner. In normal horses, growth rings may also be present but these are always concentric (ie. they don't diverge) and may be seen in horses with healthy hooves. The comparison of growth rates between normal and laminitic hooves revealed a statistically significant pattern of accelerated growth at the heel quarters in the laminitic hooves during the periods of maximum growth. The accelerated pattern of growth seen in laminitic hooves explains why growth rings are observed to be divergent at the quarters when compared to normal hooves. Laminitis and equine metabolic syndrome often go unrecognised by owners in breeds that are susceptible to obesity. Episodes of mild or subclinical laminitis are likely to render the affected animal more susceptible to more severe laminitis in the future. Digital radiographs should be proactively performed on cases where current or previous episodes of laminitis are suspected. To enquire about EMS testing or our mobile x-ray service please contact us on 0427 072 095. References - Karikoski NP et al (2015). Pathology of natural cases of equine endocrinopathic laminitis associated with hyperinsulinemia, Vet Pathol 52(5): 945-956.

05.01.2022 Got some awesome caps made up. Thanks you hold your horses promotional embroidery. ( some clients didn’t like them )

04.01.2022 Distal Tarsitis Brian S. Burks, DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board Certified in Equine Practice Osteoarthritis is the most disorder of the hock (tarsus). There are several... forms: Distal arthritis (bone spavin), the talocalcaneal joint (high spavin) and bog spavin when there is distention of the tibiotarsal joint. The term comes from old high German meaning sparrow, as affected horses may lift the limb similar to that of a sparrow or sparrow hawk. Distal tarsitis, often referred to as "bone spavin", is the most common cause of clinical lameness associated with the tarsus (or hock) in horses. Distal tarsitis is an osteoarthritis and periostitis of the distal intertarsal, tarsometatarsal, and occasionally the proximal intertarsal joints. The tarsus is homologous to the human heel. The tarsus consists of 5 joints: the tibiotarsal joint, the proximal intertarsal joint, the distal intertarsal joint, and the tarsometatarsal joint. There is also a talocalcaneal joint contained within the tibiotarsal joint. During movement, the tibiotarsal joint performs approximately 98% of the motion of the tarsus. The proximal intertarsal joint, just below the tibiotarsal joint, performs approximately 2% of the motion. The lowest two joints, the distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints, move very little. In fact, if the horse did not have these joints- if there was solid bone across the distal tarsus- no unsoundness or alteration in gait could be detected. Several types of bone spavin have been described: Jack Spavin is a term used to describe the presence of unusually large osseous lesion(s). High Spavin denotes osseous pathology higher (more proximal) in the joint than is typical. Occult Spavin does not produce any significant bony projections (exostoses) associated with the distal tarsal joints. This term, therefore, is used to define clinical evidence of arthritis/ pain rather than the presence of visible bony abnormalities. Juvenile Spavin is used to describe the occurrence of bone spavin in young horses (less than 3 years of age). This form of bone spavin occurs before the animal has done much work. While osteochondrosis (developmental orthopedic disease) is the most common cause of juvenile spavin, cuboidal bone distortion in premature or dysmature foals has also been implicated in some cases. Like other forms of spavin, juvenile spavin may occur in the presence or absence of clinical pain and/or lameness. Dressage horses, western horses, pulling horses, Standardbreds, and Thoroughbreds are all prone to spavin, which is associated with the type of athletic activity. Icelandic horses may develop distal tarsitis, related to a mismatch of rider and the horse at the gaits in which these horses are used. The rack is a fast four-beat gait during which the hind limbs are placed very far forward, and this extreme gait is associated with the development of arthritis. Poor conformation is also a factor: bowlegged and sickle-hock conformation results in abnormal loading of the cuboidal bones and leads to OA. Although the distal tarsal joints are not essential to normal locomotion of the horse, they are prone to instability. Chronic joint instability results in the development of joint inflammation (i.e. synovitis). Repeated compression and rotation of the tarsal bones and excessive tension on the attachment of the major dorsal ligaments have been implicated as causes of distal tarsitis. Factors which can affect the development of distal tarsitis include the horse's age, weight, breed, job description, frequency of work, intensity of work, and conformation. Distal tarsitis may be caused from chronic compression of joint cartilage from the tarsal bones. This causes cartilage erosion, exposing the subchondral bone, which proliferates and crosses the joint spaces. Eventually this leads to bone on bone, which is quite painful. Uneven loading may lead to distal tarsitis. Like most joints, the distal tarsal joints are designed to bear weight uniformly from one side to the other. Medial (inside) - to - lateral (outside) imbalance causes uneven loading across the articular surface(s). Excessive compression (of cartilage) is experienced along one side of the joint and excessive tension of the joint capsule and collateral ligaments is experienced along the other side. This inherently causes instability, which in turn triggers excessive bone production and proliferation along the margins of the joint; unstable joints tend to grow extra bone along their edges to try and stabilize themselves. Conformational abnormalities which may increase the horse's chances of developing distal tarsitis include: Straight pelvic limbs Sickle hocks Cow hocks Poor trimming or shoeing can also contribute to bone spavin, especially if distal limb balance is affected. Certain activities may also contribute to abnormal, uneven, repeated and/or excessive loading of the lower hock joints, and therefore bone spavin. Such disciplines can impose excessive forces on the distal hock joints in the form of flexion (dressage), shearing stress (jumping), sudden stopping (reining), rotation (western events) or concussion (Standardbred racing). Horses with distal tarsitis usually exhibit a gradual onset of pelvic limb lameness, most apparent during the trot and may be characterized by a hypermetric "stabby" pelvic limb flight pattern. Horses will commonly pull the pelvic limbs underneath their body and "stab" them to the outside as the foot strikes the ground surface. There is also a snapping quality to the tarsus when moving. Although lameness is frequently bilateral, horses will favor the more affected limb during exercise. A "hip hike" (pelvic excursion) is sometimes apparent, particularly when the horse is trotting with the affected limb to the inside of a circle. Lameness may worsen following a period of rest. Affected horses usually exhibit stiffness when first starting to exercise but can often warm up and improve their gait. In chronic cases, firm enlargement on the inside of the hock may become visible; the swelling represents excessive proliferation of bone associated with the distal tarsal joints. Horses with moderate to severe tarsitis will usually exhibit a positive Churchill's Hock Test, a procedure which is performed during the passive lameness evaluation. A positive response to this test is manifested by pelvic limb abduction. Pelvic limb flexion ("spavin testing") during active lameness evaluation is an accurate and widely used detector of distal tarsitis. Pelvic limb flexion prior to trotting may exacerbate the lameness. It is very common for horses to exhibit secondary symptoms as a consequence of favoring one or both pelvic limbs over an extended period of time. Common compensatory problems include: Thoracolumbar epaxial (back) soreness due to an asymmetric pelvic limb gait Proximolateral thoracic limb suspensory desmitis as a result of chronic overloading of the thoracic limbs Greater trochanteric bursitis ("whirl bone") as a result of the abnormal pelvic limb gait Increased wear on the outside of the pelvic foot or shoe in an attempt to relieve hock pain Since these abnormalities are often secondary to distal tarsitis, successful treatment of the tarsitis alone frequently results in resolution of these problems. Horses that exhibit one or more of the above mentioned clinical signs should be evaluated for the presence of distal tarsitis as a potential primary cause. Distal tarsitis is a clinical diagnosis; demonstration of pain in distal tarsal joints is diagnostic. Pain is demonstrated upon clinical examination, lameness characteristics, response to Churchill's Hock Test and hock flexion, and response to intra-articular anesthesia. There is little appreciable effusion/distention of the lower hock joints, as this is prevented by the flexor retinaculum. Radiographs are frequently used to assess the presence and severity of distal tarsitis. It is important to note, however, that joint inflammation (synovitis) is invisible on a radiograph, which provides only structural information. Since the tarsus is a low-motion area, radiographic changes and the presence of distal tarsitis do not always correlate. Nuclear scintigraphy (bone scan) is a more accurate assessor of the presence of distal tarsal inflammation since it provides physiologic information. This diagnostic modality has proved to be very useful in the identification of distal tarsitis. There are several ways to treat distal tarsitis. The first involves the reduction and possibly the elimination of inflammation within the distal tarsal joints. This is achieved by the use of systemic and/or intra-articular anti-inflammatory therapy. Reduction of inflammation (arthritis/synovitis) results in improved comfort. Intra-articular therapy usually involves the use of steroids, which are extremely effective at reducing local inflammation and pain. This approach also involves an attempt to maintain normal synovial integrity within the distal tarsal joints. Systemic medications such as Adequan, Legend, Cosequin, etc. are designed to improve synovial function and general joint comfort in the horse. Clinicians at Fox Run Equine Center also use intra-articular hyaluronan therapy, in combination with steroids to enhance the effect of the treatment locally. Another form of distal tarsal therapy involves fusion of the distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints. This can be accomplished surgically or by the use of a chemical agent which is infused into the distal tarsal joints. Since these joints have almost no motion, their fusion results in minimal alteration in the horse's gait. By eliminating the joint instability, inflammation and pain are also eliminated. This approach is generally reserved for those horses that have proved to be refractory to anti-inflammatory treatment and have advanced osseous changes associated with the distal tarsal joints. Other methods of treatment include extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ECSWT) and bisphosphonate therapy. The former is a sound wave directed at the bone to stimulate bone healing by osteoblastic activity. These cells make new bone, which then leads to a more stable joint. The latter therapy is with medications such as Tildren or OsPhos. These drugs target osteoclasts which break down bone during normal bone remodeling. By preventing bone from being resorbed, the joint damage is considerably slowed and other methods of treatment used concurrently may work better than without a bisphosphonate drug. A final method of treating arthritis is by using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. These include phenylbutazone, Banamine, and Equioxx. This type of medication will decrease inflammation, and therefore destruction, of the joint. It is important to recognize that despite the several treatment modalities mentioned here, there is no ‘cure’ for arthritis in most cases. Complete fusion of the distal tarsal joints of the horse may result in a clinical ‘cure’. Fox Run Equine Center www.foxrunequine.com (724) 727-3481 Experienced. Dedicated. Focused on the horse.

04.01.2022 This is great advice

03.01.2022 Follow up on Case of the Year 6 year old Race horse with a history of right hind foot lameness. Sound at the walk, but showed obvious lameness at the trot. ...No history of abscess or infection. Blocked sound to abaxial sesamoid block. Radiographs show a clearly demarcated lucency in the parietal surface of the coffin bone. The radiograph indicates a space occupying lesion or mass. A submural spherical keratoma is the diagnosis. Keratomas can be classified as spherical or cylindrical. Keratomas can originate from any germinal tissue of the hoof capsule such as sole, coronary or lamellar corium. Sole and lamellar corium produce spherical keratomas which are circular or lobular masses. Coronary corium produces the more common cylindrical (carrot shaped) keratoma. Spherical keratomas are not attached to the surrounding tissue and are easily removed. They basically pop right out with little effort. The cylindrical keratomas are attached to the hoof wall, therefore a strip of wall needs to be removed with it. For that reason cylindrical keratomas require wall stabilization with a metal brace and a longer recovery recovery time. Follow up pictures and videos will be posted as the case progresses. See more

03.01.2022 ATTENTION : Narrogin/Williams Horse Owners Our mobile practice is travelling to the area on Weds 2nd September and are available for equine consults includi...ng : Mobile Gastroscopy Mobile X-ray (musculoskeletal - hooves, limbs, spine etc., abdominal - check for sand) Mobile Ultrasound We’ve contacted the local vets (Narrogin Veterinary Services & Dr Josie - South West Vets) and they are happy for us to provide these services in the area. All gastroscopy reports, images and X-rays can be emailed to you and your regular veterinarian for their records. Limited Appointments Available. Please call 0427 072 095 or PM us to book your place.

02.01.2022 Here is a short video looking at the different layers of the hoof wall. The skeleton of the horse, in particular that of the pedal bone, does not sit flat on th...e ground similar to ourselves, it is in fact suspended off the ground through a complex junction between the hoof capsule and the pedal bone via the laminal junction. The laminal junction is made up of both a 'sensitive' or dermis tissue and an 'insensitive' or epidermis tissue mirroring that of one another. In this video we disected a section of hoof wall and took a closer look at the layers that make up the epidermis. See more

01.01.2022 Metacarpophalangeal (Fetlock) Joint Brian S. Burks DVM, Dipl. ABVP Board-Certified in Equine Practice The fetlock joint is the articulation between the condyles... and mid-sagittal ridge of third metacarpal (cannon bone), the proximal phalanx and the proximal sesamoid bones on the palmar/plantar surface. The mid-sagittal ridge of the third metacarpal bone fits into a groove in the proximal joint surface of the first phalanx. Movement is restricted to flexion and extension. The joint has both dorsal and palmar pouches; the dorsal pouch extends between third metacarpal and the common digital extensor tendon, while the palmar pouch lies between third metacarpal and the suspensory ligament. There is sometimes a bursa under the common digital extensor tendon on the front of the fetlock. There is a pair of (proximal) sesamoid bones on the palmar/plantar surface. Between the sesamoids, in a groove, lies articular cartilage which articulates with the sagittal ridge of third metacarpal. The joint capsule runs between all bones in the joint and attaches to the articular cartilage of the sesamoids. Ligamentous support: Collateral ligaments bind the metacarpal bone to the proximal phalanx, with a deep branch attaching to the sesamoid bone. The inter-sesamoidean ligament is a mass of fibrocartilage between the proximal sesamoid bones. The palmar/plantar aspect of it forms a groove for the deep flexor tendon, allowing frictionless movement. Collateral sesamoid ligaments connect the outer aspect of the sesamoids to the proximal phalanx and there is a distinct branch that attaches to the third metacarpal bone. Distal sesamoid ligaments are a collection of ligaments that connect the distal surface of the sesamoids to the palmar aspect of the phalanx. These ligaments include the short ligaments, cruciate ligaments, oblique ligament, straight ligament and the palmar annular ligament. The short ligaments connect the axial base of the sesamoids to the lateral/medial aspect on the palmar margin of the proximal phalanx. These are the deepest of the ligaments. The cruciate ligaments are paired ligaments from the base of the sesamoids that diagonally cross to attach to the proximal phalanx. They lie superficial to the short ligaments. The oblique ligament is a triangular shaped ligament, the base of which attaches to the sesamoids and their interconnecting ligament and the point attaches to the rough palmar aspect of the proximal phalanx. It is superficial to the cruciate ligaments. The straight ligament proximally attaches like the oblique but attaches as a flat band to the edge of the complementary fibrocartilage of the proximal end of the middle phalanx. The palmar annular ligament wraps around the sesamoids, flexor tendons and their associated sheaths. Fox Run Equine Center www.foxrunequine.com (724) 727-3481 Experienced. Dedicated. Focused on the horse.