What is it
Pedal Osteitis is inflammation or bruising of the pedal
bone. If left untreated the inflammation
can cause demineralisation of the bone. It
is usually the forelimbs which are affected because they carry most of a horse’s
weight.
Signs
These signs are similar to those seen in Navicular and
Laminitis amongst other problems so it is important to consult your vet.
- Intermittent lameness often in both legs
- As it progresses lameness will become more obvious
- Pain
- Inflammation
Causes
- Conformation faults
- Concussion from working on hard ground
- Poor hoof care or shoeing can cause corns – leading to inflammation of the pedal bone
- Abscesses or puncture wounds can also lead to pedal osteitis
Diagnosis
This can be difficult to diagnose. Nerve blocks can help in
addition to x-ray’s. X-ray’s will show
that the edge of the pedal bone is rough. However, in some horses the edge of
the pedal bones do appear rough – and
they do not show any signs of lameness, suggesting this is ‘normal’ for them.
Some horses will be able to resume normal work and some
won’t. Often horses with pedal osteitis
are sound when the going is soft but work on hard ground will cause a reoccurrence.
Treatment
This will vary depending on the cause of the
inflammation.
- Rest
- Corrective shoeing and trimming to improve balance of the foot. Bar shoes may help by giving more support to the foot.
- Pads can also be used to support and protect the foot.
- Anti –inflammatory drugs
Prevention
- Avoid repetitive or excessive work on hard ground
- Regular trimming and shoeing to maintain correct foot balance
- Consider the horse’s conformation and how this may affect his ability to ‘do the job’
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