Sole bruising and corns
Cards (8)
- The sole is made up of two tissues, the epidermis and dermis. The epidermis is vascular, highly keratinised, very firm and is insensitive. The fermis however, is highly vascular and sensitive. The sole is usually slightly curved (concave) and shouldn’t come in contact with the ground. Its purpose is to help absorb the concussive forces as the shape of the sole helps the hoof to expand when weight-bearing and contracts when lifted.
- Sole bruises start with a trauma e.g., Blunt trauma to the solar surface of the hoof during locomotion which leads to haemorrhage into the sensitive tissues of the foot. This causes inflammation so vascularity increases leading to an increase in tissue fluid. This causes an increase in pressure as the hoof is a sealed, non-compliant structure. Presenting signs can be extremely variable.
- Examination findings are increased digital pulses to affected hooves, increased hoof temperature and sensitivity to hoof testers.
- Solar bruising is called a corn when the bruising is present at the “seatof corn”
- Hoof testers will localise the focus of pain
Can be dry or suppurative as tissue fluid leaks through the epidermal tissues - If there is significant haemorrhage then these can progress to become subsolar abscesses as blood is an excellent culture medium!
- Risk factors for solar bruising are…
- Uneven or highly concussive surfaces
- Barefoot horses
- Long shoeing interval (particularly corns)
- Horses used for hacking
- Those who undergo repetitive concussive forces
- Horses with flat foot and low heel conformation
- prevention strategies…
- Maintain shoeing intervals at 6 weeks (individual variation)
- Shoes fitted to horses that are barefoot
- Pads fitted between the shoe and the hoof
- Packing material injected between the pad and the sole
- Horses with poor hoof conformation should be actively corrected…
- Sparing the heel when trimming
- Avoid working on firm or uneven ground
- Management depends on presentation…A) NSAIDs