Hoof Bruising
The hoof and sole can bruise, causing pain and lameness
What is Hoof Bruising?
On a healthy foot the sole will be slightly concave, elevated off the ground. If the sole bears pressure it will often bruise, causing lameness, and may develop into an abscess.
A bruise is a pocket of blood (hematoma) that forms when blood vessels rupture from trauma to the corium. This can trigger an inflammatory reaction and pain, depending on where the bruise occurs and how severe it is.
One can spot a bruise from underneath the horses hoof in the form of a darker usually reddish discolourization. Sometimes the bruise will not show till the farrier pairs the sole with his knife.
What is the cause? Temporary Vs Chronic Hoof Bruising
There are many different ways a horse may get a hoof bruise.
For temporary hoof bruising, it could be caused by the accidental hoof bruise that can happen when a horse mis-steps or kicks out at a hard surface. Hoof bruises such as these are seldom a long-term concern and will be cut out by the farrier as the hoof grows.
Chronic Hoof Bruising is more serious and require more longer term attention and treatment, it that will come up lame on a seemingly consta
nt basis. In these situation, supplements, living conditions and horseshoes with pads must be considered.
What to do?
- Being turned out is fine, but riding should be restricted. Hoof's circulation is not as effective at moving dead cells and products of inflammation from the tissues. The exercise of being turned out can assist in improving circulation to speed this process up, but riding is not the same and risks causing further damage.
- The dead tissue that the blood becomes after it leaks and forms a bruise becomes food for bacteria, and can form a secondary abscess. ** Watch out ** Might consider using surgardine or poultice.
- Living Conditions: Make sure the area the horse is living in is not littered with an assortment of sharp obstacles.
- Poor hoof quality will allow chipping, splitting and bruising and a poor conformation will be more prone to bruising.
These products will be able to help your horse:
Sore No More Cooling Clay Poultice
Four Hoofs - Equine Health Supplement