Hoof Unevenness in Juvenile Quarter Horses During First 6 Months of Training.

The role of hoof morphology is increasingly recognized as a factor associated with lameness incidence in performance horses. The primary objective was to evaluate effect of training initiation on hoof unevenness in Quarter Horses (n = 42; 29 2-year-olds, 13 3-year-olds) over 6-months (m) in training (m0, m2, m4, and m6). Horses were objectively assessed for lameness (inertial sensor system) and photographs and radiographs of feet were taken. Hoof measurements were taken (palmar/plantar angles, frog base width/length, toe length/angle, heel length/angle, heel/foot width, wall height/angle), and analyzed with regards to laterality. Front and hindfoot pairs were determined even if toe angles were within 1.5°. Statistical analyses were performed (Fisher's exact test, mixed-model linear regression, P < .05). There were no differences in distal phalanx palmar/plantar angle between lame/nonlame forelimbs (P = .54) or hindlimbs (P = .20). Unevenness between front feet was seen in toe angle m6 (P < .001), heel length m6 (P = .01) and heel angle over time (P = .006). Unevenness between hind feet was seen at m6 in toe angle (P < .001), heel length (P = .009) and heel angle (P = .02). Lameness incidence did not differ between even and uneven footed horses in forelimbs (P = .64) or hindlimbs (P = .09). In uneven feet, there was no difference in lameness between high versus low foot in forelimbs (P = .34) or hindlimbs (P = .29). Limitations include lack of control group not entering training, lack of consistency in timing data collection to previous trimming, and small sample size. In summary, differences in foot measurements and laterality were noted over time following training initiation in juvenile Western performance horses.

Mechanical nociceptive assessment of the equine hoof after navicular bursa anesthetic infiltration validated by bursography.

The analgesic specificity of navicular bursa (NB) anesthetic infiltration is still questionable. The study aimed to determine the mechanical nociceptive threshold of non-specific analgesia in the dorsal lamellar stratum, as well as in the sole, coronary band, and heel bulbs of the hoof, after navicular bursa anesthetic infiltration. Six healthy horses with no clinical or radiographic changes of the digits and no communication between the NB and the distal interphalangeal joint, were used. After random selection, the NB of one of the forelimbs was infiltrated with 2% lidocaine and the contralateral one with lactated ringer's solution. Contrast was added to confirm radiographic infiltration. The mechanical nociceptive threshold was determined using a portable pressure dynamometer, before and at various times after the infiltration, in 10 points of the hoof. The effects of time and treatment were verified by ANOVA (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the values of the mechanical nociceptive threshold (P>0.05) in all regions evaluated. However, in one of the six hooves that receives lidocaine, complete absence of response to the painful stimulus (maximum force of 6 Kg over an area of 38.46 mm2, for a maximum of 4 seconds) was observed in the dorsal lamellae between 30 and 60 min after infiltration. In conclusion, lidocaine infiltration of NB did not promote significant increases in the nociceptive threshold of the sole, coronary band, bulbs of the heel and dorsal lamellae clinically healthy horses. However, the occurrence of analgesia in one of the six hooves subjected to NB anesthesia indicates that the technique may not be fully specific in few horses.

Abordagens históricas sobre a saúde dos cascos em vacas de leite / Approaches historical about the hoof health in milk cows

A claudicação é considerada uma das três ocorrências mais comuns na bovinocultura de leite, juntamente com a mastite e os problemas reprodutivos. A claudicação é um sinal de dor, o que indica prejuízo ao bem- -estar animal, além de redução na produção de leite, aumento da chance de descarte precoce e piora do desempenho reprodutivo. De acordo com Silva et al. (2006), as afecções relacionadas ao sistema locomotor são a segunda maior causa de descarte de um rebanho bovino (18,5%), ficando atrás apenas dos problemas reprodutivos (27,7%). Apesar dos avanços no conhecimento das práticas de controle e tratamento da claudicação, sua frequência não diminuiu ao longo do tempo e, embora improvável, aparentemente está aumentando e hoje atinge prevalência inaceitável. No Brasil, a situação não é diferente e a incidência de claudicação é preocupante. Ferreira (2003) avaliou uma propriedade de sistema free-stall em um período de um ano e descreveu que a incidência de animais claudicantes foi de 122%, ou seja, alguns animais tiveram mais de um caso de claudicação durante o período. Já Costa et al. (2018), ao avaliarem a prevalência de claudicação em rebanhos alojados em sistema de free- -stall, compost barn e sistema de free-stall + compost barn, localizados no estado do Paraná, relatou que, de forma geral, a prevalência de claudicação foi de 42,5%. Estudos em rebanhos de bovinos de leite a pasto em Minas Gerais e no Paraná mostram prevalência não menos preocupantes, variando de 5 a 76% nos rebanhos estudados. Essas dificuldades enfrentadas evidenciam a necessidade de que, para conseguir melhorar a saúde do casco, também são necessárias pesquisas que trabalhem fatores socioeconômicos, entendendo a realidade e as dificuldades que os produtores enfrentam para controlar as doenças podais. Para que se possa realizar qualquer mudança no intuito de diminuir as afecções podais, é preciso uma motivação de todos os envolvidos nesse sentido e o conhecimento dos entraves que podem impedir a progressão do problema.(AU)

Determination of Positional Parameters of the Distal Phalanx Within the Hoof Capsule in Sound Colombian Paso Horses.

The economic relevance, populational importance and expansion of the Colombian Paso Horse to other latitudes calls for a growth in studies based on this type of horse. Lack of written reports about the relationship of the distal phalanx (DP) within the hoof in this gaited horse makes it important to establish a baseline to determine hoof health and possible alterations. The purpose of this study was to report, for the first time, the positional parameters of the distal phalanx, and its relationship within the hoof in sound Colombian Paso Horses. A latero-medial radiographic image of each digit was taken in 45 horses between 3 and 5 years old, distributed into groups according to the gaits determined by FEDEQUINAS. Three angles and three distances were measured. The dorsal wall thickness (W-T) was measured proximally and distally, and the sole depth (P-S) was measured dorsally and palmarly/plantarly. As expected, these distances showed moderate to strong positive correlations in front (W-Tp/W-Td r = 0.53; P-Sd/P-Sp r = 0.72) and hind feet (W-Tp/W-Td r = 0.61; P-Sd/P-Sp r = 0.71). The palmar/plantar angle of the distal phalanx (PA) and sole depth (P-S) showed that the distal phalanx of the hind feet is flatter compared to the front. The results of this study show differences in the positional parameters of distal phalanx compared to other breeds of horses and provides information for veterinarians and farriers working with Colombian Paso Horses.

Radiographic assessment of cattle hoofs (ungulae) of the Nellore breed: Reference standards.

The purpose of this work was to determine a radiographic standard of normality for lateral and medial ungulae in 3-year-old bovine females of the Nellore breed. Twenty-six cows underwent radiographic exposure of the medial and lateral ungulae of the hindlimbs and forelimbs; abaxioaxial projections were used. The images were analyzed; distances were measured between the dorsal surface of the distal phalanx and the surface of the hoof capsule. The two angles formed, i.e., an angle between the dorsal surface of the distal phalanx and a line parallel to the sole (inner), and an angle between the dorsal surface of the hoof and a line parallel to the sole (outer), were also recorded. The results suggested a standard of normality for the proximal, middle and distal distances of the ungulae of the forelimbs: 0.96 ± 0.12 cm. For the measurement of hindlimbs, except for the distal distances of the side ungulae, the suggested value was 1.02 ± 0.14 cm; for the distal measurement of the lateral ungulae of the hindlimbs, the value was 1.09 ± 0.12 cm. For inner and outer angles, the values were 36.45° ± 4.4° for the medial ungulae of the forelimbs and 42.50° ± 3.8° for other ungulae of the forelimbs and hindlimbs (standard deviations of the values suggested for the angles should be used as variations between different animals, limbs and ungulae; they should not be used between angles of the same ungula).