Diseases of the Horse's Foot

by H. Caulton Reeks

Simple or superficial when penetrating no structure of great importance. For instance, a prick that penetrates to the sensitive sole and is not driven with sufficient force to seriously injure the os pedis we may regard as simple. In the same manner a prick to the frog that, although deep, is mainly concerned with penetrating the plantar cushion may also be classed as simple.

Deep or penetrating when driven with sufficient force or in such a direction as to injure structures whose penetration is calculated to give rise either to serious constitutional disturbance or to permanent lameness. In this category we may place injuries to the terminal portion of the perforans, puncture of the navicular bursa, fracture of the navicular bone and penetration of the pedal articulation, and splintering of the os pedis.

Symptoms and Diagnosis.—While discussing the symptoms and diagnosis, we will still continue to consider our subject under the two headings of (1) accidental 'gathering' of some foreign body, and (2) pricks inflicted in the forge.

In a few cases belonging to the former class the veterinary surgeon is fortunate in obtaining a direct history of the injury. The driver has seen the animal go suddenly lame, and has examined the foot for the cause. Either the nail has been found embedded in the horn, or the puncture it has made detected, and the matter has been reported. The foot is then explored and the full extent of the injury ascertained.

In many cases, however, it so happens that no evidence of the infliction of the injury is forthcoming. The momentary lameness occurring at the time of the prick is unreported at the time by the attendant, and the horse for a time goes sound. It is not until the changes set up by the subsequent inflammatory phenomena make their appearance, and lameness results, that attention is called to the foot. When this happens there has, as a rule, been time for pus to form around the seat of puncture—a matter of about forty-eight hours.

The horse is now brought out for the veterinary surgeon's examination, going distinctly lame. If the case is well marked there may then be noted by the man of experience many little signs pointing to the foot as the seat of the lameness. These, though well enough known to the practitioner, are nevertheless difficult to describe. It is, in fact, hard to say exactly in what they really consist, appearing to be as much a matter of intuition as of actual observation.

There is a peculiar 'feeling' characteristic in the gait. The affected foot is put forward fearlessly enough, but is not nearly so rapidly put to the ground. When at rest the foot is almost immediately pointed, and the pain at intervals manifested by pawing movements. It is this extreme liberty of the rest of the limb, as evinced during the pawing movements, that really strikes one. Shoulder, elbow, knee, and fetlock are all easily and painlessly flexed and extended. There is nothing wrong with them; it must be the foot. The short manipulation necessary to test the lameness—viz., the walk and slow trot—is sufficient to raise the animal's pulse and quicken the breathing.

All this is enough, and more than enough, to lead the veterinary surgeon to examine the foot. It is hot to the touch, and at the coronet tender to pressure, possibly in a neglected case fluctuating at the heel. Pain is evinced by the animal withdrawing his foot when percussion takes place over the affected spot. In a bad case one gentle tap is all that is needed. The animal at once snatches away his foot, holds it high from the ground, and makes pawing movements in the air. At that moment, too, his countenance is highly expressive of the pain he is suffering. Again the foot is explored, the injury found, and the pus liberated.

Regarding the manner of exploration of the foot we will take first that case in which the veterinary surgeon is called in early, and in which pus has not yet had time to form. Sometimes the merest cleaning up of the inferior surface of the foot then reveals a distinct stab either in the sole or the frog.

If the accident be recent only a little blood will be found, either liquid, or coagulated about the wound. Later there exudes from the stab a flow of yellow, serous fluid. The opening thus found should be carefully probed, and its depth and situation noted.