Novel dry cryotherapy system for cooling the equine digit

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Equine Health
• Therapeutic Technologies

Background:

• Digital cryotherapy is crucial for laminitis prophylaxis and treatment in horses.
• Current methods often involve wet applications or compression, highlighting a need for practical, dry alternatives.
• Effective cooling of the equine digit is essential for managing laminitis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the hoof wall surface temperatures (HWSTs) achieved with a novel dry cryotherapy technology.
• To determine the efficacy of a new dry cryotherapy method for cooling equine digits.
• To assess the potential of a practical, affordable dry cryotherapy solution.

Main Methods:

• A repeated-measures in vivo experimental study was conducted on six systemically healthy horses.
• A commercially available dry cryotherapy boot with reusable cold packs was applied to the distal limb for eight hours.
• Hoof wall surface temperatures (HWSTs) and pastern surface temperatures were recorded every five minutes.

Main Results:

• Dry cryotherapy significantly reduced HWSTs in the treated limb compared to the control limb (P≤0.001).
• The median HWST in the cryotherapy-treated limb was 11.1°C, significantly lower than the control limb's 29.7°C.
• Minimum HWSTs reached a median of 6.75°C, falling below the therapeutic target of 10°C within 68 minutes.

Conclusions:

• The novel dry cryotherapy technology effectively reduced equine hoof wall surface temperatures.
• This method achieved temperatures below the therapeutic target of 10°C, demonstrating its potential efficacy.
• Dry cryotherapy presents a practical and effective alternative for digital cooling in horses, aiding in laminitis management.