Stocker Equine Veterinary Services

UNDERSTANDING HOOF ABSCESSES

The scenario is all too familiar for many horse owners: yesterday your horse was sound, but today you find him three-legged lame, with no apparent injury. What could have happened? Well, you say, my horse is likely working on a foot abscess.
But what does that actually mean?

Although most commonly seen during the wet winter and spring months, hoof abscesses can plague horses year-round and usually occur when debris and bacteria enter the foot through hoof cracks and wounds, even horseshoeing holes. The bacteria then get trapped between the sensitive laminae (the tissue layer that bonds the hoof capsule to the coffin bone) and the hoof wall or sole and create pus; the pus builds up over the course of time and puts pressure behind the hoof wall or sole, until it causes the sudden onset of acute lameness when the pain finally becomes too great.
The diagram below shows a simplified view of the equine hoof to help you visualize the structures involved in this process.

Hoof abscesses can mimic other more serious diseases or injuries, so involving your veterinarian early on in the diagnosis and prompt treatment of this condition is always a good idea. Some abscesses will be uncomplicated and rupture on their own like a large pimple at the coronary band or heel bulbs; other abscesses, however, could require radiographs and will need to be surgically drained.

Read more about hoof abscesses on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/hoof-abscesses

WHY DO HORSES GET ULCERS?

Equine gastric ulcers can affect any horse at any age. Up to 90% of racehorses and 60% of show horses, as well as non-performance horses and even foals are affected by equine gastric ulcers, which are the result of the erosion of the lining of the stomach due to a prolonged exposure to the normal acid in the stomach.

Unlike ulcers in humans, bacteria do not appear to cause equine gastric ulcers. This condition is often a man-made disease. Stall confinement alone can lead to the development of ulcers. A horse’s feeding schedule also can be a factor, and high-grain diets can also contribute to the development of ulcers. Stress, both environmental and physical, can increase the likelihood of ulcers, as can hauling, training and mixing groups of horses. Strenuous exercise can decrease the emptying of the stomach and the blood flow to the stomach, thus contributing to the problem.

The treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers is directed at removing these predisposing factors, thus decreasing acid production within the horse’s stomach. Prevention of ulcers is the key in helping your horse, as neutralizing the production of stomach acid is nature’s best antacid.

Please note that the only way to definitively diagnose ulcers is through gastroscopy, and that a qualified equine veterinarian should be consulted in any case of suspected gastric ulcers to determine the best course of action and treatment for the individual horse.

Contact your veterinarian for more information, or read more on equine gastric ulcers on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/equine-gastric-ulcers-special-care-and-nutrition

Happy ! Our planet is blessed with the millions of species that we know and love, but let’s not forget that some do not mix successfully. While a 1,000-pound horse has to consume significantly higher quantities of a toxic plant than a smaller animal to be affected clinically, some plants are cause for concern and all poisonous plants are worth recognizing so they can be removed from your horse-keeping areas.

If you suspect your horse has ingested a poisonous plant:�
• Remove the horse from the source.�
• Contact your veterinarian immediately.�
• Attempt to determine how much of the toxic plant was eaten and when it was eaten (small amounts of some toxins can be fatal in a short period of time while other require large amounts to be eaten over several weeks or months).

Please note that another commonly overlooked reason a horse may become poisoned is allowing horses to graze a pasture after it has been sprayed with herbicide, but before the weeds have died and disappeared. As always, contact your veterinarian for more information and guidance!