HANDS ON: Treating limb problems in foals 04 September 2015 Premium

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04 September 2015

on 04 Sep 2015

HANDS ON: Treating limb problems in foals

Liz O'Flynn discusses some conservative treatments used for limb deviations in foals

4 September 2015

Where there is a deviation inwards of a foot (toe in or varus), trimming the medial wall and heel and raising the outside (if needed) will help to re-align the foot placement and straighten the leg.

Applying lateral extension to the outer walls of foals that toe in can help prevent the outer hoof from wearing too fast. By artificially extending the hoof wall on the side that the axis needs to be moved, this spread the load the foot is supporting towards the extension, forcing the limb in that direction to achieve an ideal conformation. The growth plate is effectively compressed on the same side that the extension is placed, slowing the growth on that side. Hoof extensions on the inside of

Casting is only used as a last resort as casts tend to have disadvantages in the possibility of causing pressure sores. It is most beneficial in cases of knee bone collapse or collateral ligament laxity

Part 3: Some conservative

treatments used for limb

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