White line disease in a 19-year-old appendix mare

Area of Science:

• Equine Podiatry
• Veterinary Orthopedics

Background:

• A 19-year-old appendix mare presented with acute, severe right forelimb lameness.
• The mare had a history of progressive dorsal hoof wall defect and toe separation, initially managed by a farrier.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the diagnosis and treatment of a severe hoof wall defect with associated laminar failure in an equine patient.

Main Methods:

• Clinical examination revealed significant hoof wall defect and lameness.
• Radiographs demonstrated hoof wall separation, palmar rotation, and coffin bone displacement, indicating laminar failure.
• Treatment involved phenylbutazone, radiographic-guided therapeutic farriery (derotation with a wedge shoe), and paddock restriction.

Main Results:

• Initial farriery with bar shoes was ineffective in stabilizing the hoof.
• Therapeutic farriery and conservative management were implemented to address the laminar failure and bone displacement.

Conclusions:

• Failure of laminar structures can lead to severe hoof instability and lameness in horses.
• A multimodal approach including therapeutic farriery guided by radiography is crucial for managing complex hoof pathologies.