What is the white line in a horses hoof?

The white line of the foot can be seen by looking at the sole of your horse’s hoof. The area (that looks whitish) between the outside hoof wall and where it meets the sole is the white line. When this becomes damaged, it allows fungus and/or bacteria to invade and separate the layers of the hoof wall.

Is white line disease fatal?

The reality is that deeply rooted infections like white line disease and chronic thrush are nearly impossible to kill with one application of a strong topical agent. Bacteria and fungi are very adept at hiding among healthy hoof tissue due to millions of years of evolution.

Does my horse have white line disease?

White line disease may be diagnosed during a routine trimming when a farrier notices a small area of crumbly or powdery black or gray tissue at the white line. Paring away the damaged horn reveals separation of the hoof layers leading upward from the toe toward the coronary band.

How long does it take to cure white line disease?

In general, resolution takes as long as the hoof wall takes to grow down and fill in the void. If you consider a full hoof wall at the toe requires nine to 10 months to grow, then resection halfway up the hoof means it’ll take four to five months to recover.

Can a horse recover from white line disease?

White line disease can be cured. Here’s how a farrier does it. First off, abnormalities in the hoof need to be addressed. The mainstay of white line disease treatment is hoof-wall resection, where a skilled farrier cuts away all three layers of the hoof wall to remove the infected material.

How does white line disease start?

“White line disease starts at the bottom of the foot and goes up,” Fraley added. “It originates from hoof wall that was grown six months to a year ago and is now low in the foot, it slowly digests its way up. Again, it doesn’t affect sensitive tissue, just the hard keratin portion of the hoof.”

What does white line disease look like?

White line disease can initially appear as a small spot where the sole of the foot meets the white line. For more developed cases, it can be several inches long going from one side of the hoof to the other. It has a white, powdery look to it. Scraping it with a nail produces a chalky residue.

Is white line disease contagious?

The most common signs of white line disease are hoof wall separation noticed by a farrier during routine trimming/shoeing and slow, poor hoof wall growth. Is it contagious?: White line disease is not contagious.

How do you treat white lightning hoofs?

Insert hoof in Disposable Soak Bag (sold separately) or heavy plastic bag to contain the chlorine dioxide gas and secure top to prevent leakage. For best results, keep hoof contained for 40-45 minutes. Repeat 2-3 times per week for 4-6 weeks, then 1-2 times weekly until hoof has grown out completely.

What causes white line separation in horses?

Degeneration of the horn at the white line leads to separation of the hoof wall from the underlying structures and weakening of the hoof wall. A combination of infectious, mechanical, nutritional and environmental factors have been implicated in causing the problem.

How do you treat white line disease in donkeys?

Resection. Your farrier or vet will remove all the damaged horn. This procedure should not be painful but it may be necessary to remove a lot of hoof wall if the disease has progressed.

Does Thrush Buster work on white line disease?

The Thrush Buster killed White Line disease where it was applied and continued to spread and kill more fungus over time. The Formaldehyde/Iodine killed White Line Disease only where it was applied directly.

How do I know if my horse has laminitis?

What are the clinical signs of equine laminitis?

1. Lameness* affecting most commonly at least two limbs.
2. The horse leans back onto its heels to take the weight off the painful toe area.
3. The lameness is worse when the horse walks on hard ground or turns.
4. Shifting weight between feet when resting.
5. Increased digital pulses.

What is seedy toe in a horse?

Seedy toe is a separation of the horse’s hoof wall from the underlying sensitive laminae at the white line, resulting in a cavity that fills with crumbling dirt, horn and debris and is prone to associated infection.

What is hoof thrush?

Thrush is an infection of the central and lateral sulcus of the frog of the horse’s foot, most often involving bacterial infection, occasionally fungal infection.