The temperatures dropped and you suddenly realized that your horse has hoof pain. What is it? How can you help your horse? Prudent management strategies depend on the type of hoof pain. This newsletter explores the types of hoof pain and strategies to manage it.
◆︎ Hormone driven (endocrinopathic):
Hormones can compromise blood flow to the hooves. Some of the most talked-about hormones include insulin, the hormones involved with Cushing’s Disease, and estradiol in mares. Laboratory testing is helpful to determine the inciting factors.
High insulin: Strategies for controlling high insulin include exercise, diet, and/or medication. However, if the horse is foot-sore, exercise is NOT recommended. A low sugar/starch diet is helpful to reduce the insulin spike that occurs after a meal. If the insulin numbers are not reduced with exercise and diet, drugs such as metformin or SGLT2 inhibitors may be warranted.
Supplements that can increase insulin sensitivity, such as acetyl L-carnitine or spirulina, may be helpful. Other supplements that may be helpful include resveratrol or quercetin. More research is needed to determine the actual efficacy of supplementation.
◆︎ Hormone driven: (continued)
Cushing’s Disease: This is characterized as having high ACTH levels. ACTH is easy to measure through a single blood draw, which is sent to the lab. ACTH is secreted by the pituitary gland, as are other regulatory hormones. High ACTH can occur in concert with other elevated pituitary hormones.
The gold standard for control of equine Cushing’s Disease is pergolide. Some people have used chastetree berry to help with the symptoms of Cushing’s Disease, but studies have shown that it does not lower ACTH levels.
Estrogen issues in mare: Some mares are helped with the drug estradiol to help with their estrogen dysregulation. More research is needed to determine the most effective methods for helping the mares.
Understanding these differences is important because the most prudent support for the horse is different in each case.
◆︎ Cold-induced hoof pain:
While some cold-induced hoof pain can be caused by hormones, there may be another mechanism at play, in which the blood is shunted from the arteries to the veins, bypassing the capillary bed of the hooves. This phenomena occurs in people, usually in the hands or the feet, when the extremities get very cold. It’s a way to preserve heat for the body core.
Some veterinarians have indicated that this can occur when the temperatures are below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but I’ve found that when the temperature is below about 54 degrees, my mare has more hoof pain.
Leg wraps, and boots with socks can help conserve the heat. Shipping boots can be used, as they are durable and cover much of the leg. Many times, it’s necessary to improvise using socks inside a boot for additional warmth. Supplements, such as jiaogulan and AAKG may be helpful.
◆︎ Mechanical insults can occur from a variety of reasons:
Hoof balance: If the hoof is not in balance, particularly with a long toe, there can be abnormal stresses on the internal structures of the foot. A balanced trim can improve hoof comfort in this instance.
Hoof sole bruising: Frozen, uneven ground or ground with protruding rocks can cause sole bruising. Hoof protection is one way to address this problem.
Road founder: Although this is not as common anymore, this can occur when horses run on asphalt. The hardness of the road can cause damage to the internal structures of the hoof.
Supporting limb laminitis: When a limb is repeatedly overloaded, laminitis in the overloaded limb may occur.
◆︎ Inflammation:
Hoof pain can occur as a result of inflammatory conditions in the horse. This can be from a systemic disease, such as pneumonia, extreme diarrhea, or retained placenta. An inflammatory laminitis can also occur when there’s been a feed-room break-in and the horse has consumed enough grain to spill into the hindgut. Anti-inflammatories, along with cold-water hosing can be helpful to the horse. This is in direct contrast to cold-induced pain, in which you would NOT want to cold-water hose.
◆︎ Chronic nerve damage:
It’s been shown that horses that have had long-standing cases of laminitis, or repeated cases may have nerve changes consistent with a neuropathy. Support for these horses includes supplements that support the nerve tissue, and the mitochondria within the nerves. Acetyl L-carnitine may be helpful support.
◆︎ Abscesses:
Abscesses are not unusual after hoof damage. They are usually characterized by intense pain, frequently with non-weightbearing on that foot. Abscesses can be scary to see, but after they resolve (sometimes even through the top of the coronary band), the horse’s comfort level improves drastically. A trimmer or vet with hoof testers can be helpful to isolate and resolve this issue.
We do the best we can for our horses. When it comes to hoof pain, it’s important to understand what’s driving it to determine what’s the best course of action.
Disclaimer: Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.
©Joan Kulifay 2024