What is the buttress line on a hoof?

The buttress line of a horse hoof is the furthest weight bearing point (Pick up the hoof, draw an imaginary line across the hoof from side to side, where the hoof wall ends, and that is the buttress line).

What is pyramidal disease?

Definition: A disorder characterized by dysfunction of the corticospinal ( pyramidal ) tracts of the spinal cord. Symptoms include an increase in the muscle tone in the lower extremities, hyperreflexia, positive Babinski and a decrease in fine motor coordination.

What is canker in horses hooves?

What is canker? Canker is now rarely seen but is a serious infection of the horn of the foot, that results in the formation of a soft, moist, disintegrating growth of horn. It most commonly affects the hind feet and is most often seen in horses kept in wet tropical climates, or in large draught type horses.

How do you treat a bruised horse’s hoof?

In addition to rest, icing the hoof can help to relieve the pain and inflammation. “An acute bruise can be helped more with cold than with soaking, and we recommend putting the foot in ice,” says Bullock. “I also advocate anti-inflammatory medication in the beginning of treatment.

How do you measure a hoof?

How to Properly Measure Your Horse’s Hoof

1. After a fresh trim, measure the width of the hoof across the bottom at the widest point.
2. Measure the length of the hoof from the toe to the buttress line of the heel.
3. Compare your measurement with the appropriate size chart.

What is an extension of the hoof wall and runs along the side of the frog?

The bar is an extension of the hoof wall which runs along the side of the frog, terminating approximately half way along the frog. Its primary purpose is to control the movement of the back of the hoof, adding strength to the heel area and protecting it from excess distortion.

How do horses get pyramidal disease?

Pyramidal disease can be caused by damage within the joint (articular), or from damage to the structures that surround and support the joint (periarticular), such as the joint capsule or ligaments. Horses with poor conformation and/or hoof alignment issues are predisposed to developing pyramidal disease later in life.

How is pyramidal disease treated in horses?

Fractures can be removed either via arthroscopy or arthrotomy; arthroscopic removal of small fragments carries a good prognosis. With large, untreated fractures, an enlargement of the toe region just above the coronary band is usually present, which results in the “buttress foot” or pyramidal appearance to the foot.

What is the difference between pyramidal and extrapyramidal tracts?

The pyramidal system, controlling voluntary movements, includes precise anatomic pathways from the cortex to muscle. By contrast, extrapyramidal motor activities result in automatic movement and static, postural movement activities that are not noticeable (see Table 1 below).

Why is my horses frog peeling off?

You notice that your horse’s frog seems to be peeling or hanging off. The organisms that cause thrush dissect under the external layer of frog and cause it to peel off. Hanging or loose tissue on the ground surface of the hoof is extraneous, and likely to trap matter and moisture.

What does canker look like in horses?

Canker is an unusual condition of the horse’s foot that affects the frog, bars, and sole. Commonly, an affected horse will have white or gray matter that is moist and spongy appearing in the sulci region (grooves on either side and in the center of the frog) of the hoof.

What does thrush look like in horses hooves?

How is thrush diagnosed? Thrush produces a foul smelling black discharge in the affected sulcus of the frog. There is pain on applying pressure to the area. The hind feet are more often affected than the front feet and, occasionally, infection may result in a general swelling of the distal (lower) limb.

How long does a bruised horse hoof take to heal?

Hoof bruises also run the gamut from totally mild and not lame, to horribly painful and very lame. Some bruises take a few days to heal, others take weeks.

How do you tell if a horse has a stone bruise?

Stone bruises are a risk when horses are traveling in rocks or on gravel roads. If the sole is pared a little with a hoof knife in the tender spot, a reddish or bluish discoloration may appear. There may be spots or streaks of blood in the bruised area.