The Use of Confined Housing in Sand Bedding and Trimming to Manage Phalangeal Rotation and Hoof Malconformation Over a 20-Week Period in Two Laminitic Stallions

Abstract

Chronic laminitis is a late stage of laminitis in horses characterised by distal phalangeal rotation and foot pain. Various trimming and shoeing methods have been implemented; however, they sometimes aggravate lameness, particularly in laminitic horses with poor hoof quality. Sand bedding confinement has alternatively been employed to relieve foot pain in laminitic horses; however, the impact of long-term confined sand bed accommodation on hoof conditions is unknown. Moreover, the time course of sand bedding housing for managing chronic laminitis has yet to be described. We report the outcome of long-term housing in sand bedding confinement on hoof architectures and the time required for appropriate management of hoof malconformation. Two stallions, diagnosed with bilateral chronic laminitis and showing severe lameness following therapeutic shoeing, were assigned barefoot to confined sand bedding accommodations. Sole depth increased starting at 8 weeks; however, heel depth did not change throughout the housing period. A decrease in hoof angles was detected at 20 weeks of housing. An increase in sole depth/heel depth ratios was strongly correlated with the reduction in hoof angles. Therefore, long-term housing in sand bedding confinement for at least 20 weeks corrected phalangeal rotation and improved hoof conformation in two stallions with bilateral chronic laminitis. Further validation with a larger sample size is needed to determine whether this strategic housing management provides an alternative approach to treating hoof problems in laminitic horses that respond poorly to shoeing management.