Looking At Laminitis
About 20 veterinarians and four farriers turned
up on 11th July at the Mullacott Veterinary Hospital, Devon to
receive the accumulated wisdom of Robert Eustace and Andrew Poynton…. Andrew Poynton is a
farrier who has devoted the last four years researching and developing the
Imprint Foot Care Systems. Briefly, this is to get plastic shoes to stay on
very sore feet and give the patient comfort and the chance of recovery.
Four horses with laminitis
provided the focus for the afternoon. They ranged from a thoroughbred
Trakhener-cross to a very small and irritable Exmoor pony. They were
presented with their histories, radiographs and laboratory reports.
Robert discussed the
veterinary perspective and delegates had an opportunity to examine the feet,
offer suggestions as to treatment, and participate fully in the analysis.
After this the farrier moved in to trim the feet and apply the plastic
shoes.
Three of the afternoon’s
horses were obese. Obesity is regarded as normal by some show judges and
many people who keep under-exercised small ponies. Native ponies have
evolved to live in very harsh conditions and allowing them to eat a surfeit
of rich grass is passive cruelty, not kindness. Obesity leads to laminitis
– and laminitis kills. The ribs should be palpable and just visible….. Andrew Poynton gave an
inspiring demonstration of what can be done with plastic. The farrier
works from observation of the horse, its feet and the radiographs of the
feet…….
The farrier aims to reshape the hoof so that the anterior border of the hoof
wall is realigned to be parallel with the anterior border of the pedal
bone. The heels are lowered and any medio-lateral imbalance is corrected.
The plastic shoe gives support.
The Imprint Therapeutic
shoe is a thermoplastic heart bar shoe. It is malleable when warmed above
60°C in hot water. It is fitted so that it supports the frog and takes
weight off the sole. It stays on by being
“keyed in” by plastic button attachments. These fit into three or four
dremel holes made on each side of the hoof wall. The edges are sealed with
adhesive. The Imprint shoe allows
radical reshaping of the foot, including dorsal wall resection when
necessary. The outcome is improved patient comfort and much-improved
prognosis. Together Robert, Andrew
and the team of farriers demonstrated what can be done with vision,
dedication and co-operation between veterinarians and farriers.
