Got hoof rads - what do you think?

[clarity]

We were doing other x-rays covered by insurance so I said what the hell, let’s do the feet.

I’ll see if I can answer any questions before they come up …

• 5yo TB mare, has been barefoot for 6 months but previously wore shoes since racing (off track for 2 years now)
• She has been unsound for reasons besides her feet, though some people have suggested it is all related to her front feet
• Turned out ~8 hours/day, stalled at night
• Intended use is hunter/jumper but aforementioned lameness issues have made training more or less intermittent
• Feed has been Sentinel LS and alfalfa pellets for over 1 year, however in the past month she has switched to alfalfa pellets and beet pulp with Purina Outlast gastric care (had surgery, needed bute and antibiotics for 3 weeks) which is about to be phased out, and Nutrena Empower Boost, also gets Smartpak Smartstride Ultra, vitamin E, and Remission (Animed), hay is timothy (I think?)
• She is overdue for a trim due to aforementioned issues + surgery, farrier is coming next week

Photos of the rads (they haven’t sent me the actual files yet)
https://imgur.com/NRzUas1
https://imgur.com/pf82VC7
https://imgur.com/ZEES7MA
https://imgur.com/7GK2rPh

[eruss]

There’s not a ton of foot there. Is she sensitive to hoof testers?

[clarity]

@eruss

There’s not a ton of foot there. Is she sensitive to hoof testers?

Nope. She did race a couple years ago and growing hoof has been a challenge. Lots of abscessing last year.

I didn’t have any real concerns about the feet, figured we’d just get them for a baseline and to inform trims going forward, but I don’t really know what I’m looking at

Here’s a picture of the actual feet… (yes she has an old LF bow)
https://imgur.com/Lw7l4nY

[eruss]

How come people thought it was something with the feet?

From a Farrier perspective, I’m looking at the distance between the bottom of the bone (at the toe) to the ground. Looking at the wall compared to bone (at the toe) to see if there’s dishing or tearing of the laminae. And seeing if the joint is broken forward/backward and open/closed side to side.

[merrygoround]

I would have a question about the side bone in the LF. and why not a similar view RF.

[JB]

The RF looks to have P3 approaching 0*, with a slight bullnosing starting to appear, very slight. The HPA looks broken back as a result, though I can’t quite decide of the cannon was vertical, or if she was leaning over it very slightly.

Does the LF toe-out? That would explain the differences in the halves of the foot

[danacat]

Right front P3 has a ski tip – some remodeling going on for some reason. Could be from an old fracture. I would get a solar margin radiograph in order to see what’s going on.

Might not be anything significant enough to cause lameness, but a ski tip isn’t normal.

[clarity]

@merrygoround

I would have a question about the side bone in the LF. and why not a similar view RF.

Because I posted the same picture twice by accident

[clarity]

@eruss

How come people thought it was something with the feet?

From a Farrier perspective, I’m looking at the distance between the bottom of the bone (at the toe) to the ground. Looking at the wall compared to bone (at the toe) to see if there’s dishing or tearing of the laminae. And seeing if the joint is broken forward/backward and open/closed side to side.

Because everything is related to the feet, I guess. Thinking heel soreness is the root of all evil. I am naive about hoof things beyond thrush and abscesses so that’s why I’m looking for all perspectives

[clarity]

@JB

The RF looks to have P3 approaching 0*, with a slight bullnosing starting to appear, very slight. The HPA looks broken back as a result, though I can’t quite decide of the cannon was vertical, or if she was leaning over it very slightly.

Does the LF toe-out? That would explain the differences in the halves of the foot

I’m going to need some translation here! Dumb down for me if you wouldn’t mind!

If anything she is slightly pigeon toed.

[clarity]

@danacat

Right front P3 has a ski tip – some remodeling going on for some reason. Could be from an old fracture. I would get a solar margin radiograph in order to see what’s going on.

Might not be anything significant enough to cause lameness, but a ski tip isn’t normal.

It was suggested that this could be the result of diet?

[JB]

@clarity

I’m going to need some translation here! Dumb down for me if you wouldn’t mind!

P3/coffin bone should be 2-3* above horizontal. When it approaches 0*, or worse, goes negative, it is putting excessive constant stress on the whole hind end, which will, sooner or later, result in soreness into outright lameness, back to front. It WILL negatively affect the whole body at some point

If anything she is slightly pigeon toed.

Hmmm. Generally, toeing out results in a higher lateral side, and toeing in results in a higher medial side.

@clarity

It was suggested that this could be the result of diet?

Much more likely because of unbalanced trimming, than diet. P3 is already not where it belongs, and the longer that is out of place, the more remodeling goes on.

[clarity]

@JB

P3/coffin bone should be 2-3* above horizontal. When it approaches 0*, or worse, goes negative, it is putting excessive constant stress on the whole hind end, which will, sooner or later, result in soreness into outright lameness, back to front. It WILL negatively affect the whole body at some point

Ooooooh * is degrees. Got it. That was throwing me off. Thank you!

[JB]

Ahhh sorry about that!