Foundered foot
(chronic laminitis),
before dressing.
Fig. 195.
Foundered foot, dressed and shod.
The dotted lines indicate its form
before being dressed,—i.e.,
as shown in Fig. 194.
The inflammation of the pododerm may under certain conditions and by skilful veterinary treatment be removed, so that the characteristic changes of form and quality of the hoof will not occur. But if this is not accomplished, as is often the case, the disease will be obstinate, and permanent morbid changes of the horn capsule take place.
Fig. 196.
A hoof altered by chronic laminitis; shod with an open flat shoe: a, wall at the toe does not bear on the shoe; b, clip at the end of the branch to oppose the tendency of the shoe to slip forward when half worn out.
A horse in such a condition can be used, but the gait will be short and stiff. The hoofs are shuffled forward and set heels first to the ground, a manner of travelling that rapidly wears away the branches of the shoe.