Club foot???? I know what club foot is in horses, i just wanted to find a bit more information about it, ive got that its when the hoof is growing downwards instead of out and that it is mostly inherited but what injuries could cause a horse to get club foot? and how is the structure of the hoof different after it has developed this problem? |
Yes, since club foot is a deformity of the foot itself, or including the pastern, it is a congenital defect. A horse cannot develop club foot, they are born with it. Club foot is caused by congenital overtightening of the deep digital flexor tendon, a tendon that runs from the knee to the navicular bone.
If the tendon is too tight, the foot is literally pulled backwards while it is developing, which doesn't allow the foot to take a normal shape, so the horse will have what looks like a peg leg - a straight leg & foot. The foal can have surgery to get the tendon cut a little to slacken it up, which can help or cure the problem, depending on how severe it is.
Club foot can affect any leg, but is usually seen on one limb in the front.
Couldn't find a great picture of a really bad club foot, but in this one, you can see the difference in the good leg and the bad one.
www.horseshoes.com/forums/attachm…
The opposite of this condition is what's commonly called "dropped pasterns". This is where the DDFT is too lax and doesn't hold the leg in the proper position, so the horse looks like it's walking on it's ankles. They can outgrow this, and medical intervention can help cure this. They are born with this, however, injuries can cause similar problems.
Dropped pasterns, or "down in the pasterns" can affect any leg, and usually happens in pairs, but not always.
Here's an image of a horse that is down in the pastern, you can see how close the pastern is to the ground, and how far out the foot is. This is an adult horse, and there's no description as to wether this was an injury or a birth defect.
www.equipodiatry.com/patten1.JPG |
Club foot? I knew at one point what that was, I knew a horse with one and found out that way, but as things tend to do with me it went in one ear and out the other and I can't for the life of me remember what exactly that means. I would greatly appreciate an explanation as to what exactly a horse having a 'club foot' means. |
Club foot, which may involve one or more of an affected horse's feet, is a flexion deformity caused by fixed contracture of one or several flexor tendons in the leg. The deep digital flexor tendon is usually involved; the superficial digital flexor tendon and suspensory ligaments may also participate in the deforming forces of club foot. When the foot and leg are in upright conformation, the foot axis, which normally averages about 45 degrees, will exceed 60 degrees.
If the club foot is diagnosed in a young horse, it is likely either congenital or the result of diet-related problems that affect limb growth. Older horses with club foot probably develop it in response to an injury or other painful condition. The affected horse avoids weight bearing on the painful limb. Disuse of the limb results in contracture of the flexor tendons, which produces the deformity.
A veterinarian should evaluate affected horses and make recommendations based on a physical exam and a lameness exam. A radiographic study is an important diagnostic tool; it is used to evaluate the bony deformity within the hoof wall. Horse owners should not attempt to diagnose or treat the condition without professional guidance.
Club foot may be acute or chronic. Acute cases are usually seen in younger horses. Horses with acute onset will present a heel that will not touch the ground although the hoof has a normal shape. Lameness usually results. Treatment for acute club foot includes short-term use of phenylbutazone and similar medications to relieve pain and inflammation sufficiently to permit weight bearing on the affected limb. When such conservative therapy fails, surgery to release tension in the inferior check ligament may be required.
Chronic club foot presents as an obvious contracture of the heel; the heel will also be excessively long and the front of the hoof will have a "dished in" appearance. Chronic cases are usually seen in older horses. The horse may or may not have walking difficulty or lameness. If the horse is not lame, efforts to maintain the natural shape and balance of the hoof should be taken. The hoof should not be trimmed to change the hoof angle as lameness may occur. If these measures fail to prevent lameness, or if lameness is already present, the inferior check ligament may need to be surgically released. In this case, follow-up care may involve substantial hoof trimming. Additionally or alternatively, toe extension shoes may be applied during the healing process to maintain the proper angular alignment of the hoof wall.
In severe cases, both acute and chronic, surgery in addition to inferior check ligament release may be necessary. The veterinary surgeon may perform a tenotomy, or surgical release, of one or more of the other tendons associated with the club foot.
Go to these links as they have pics of horses with club foot.
barefoothoofcare.files.wordpress.…
barefoothoofcare.files.wordpress.…
Hope this helps! =) |
How easy is it to get disability with club foot? I have applied for disability, and I really dont want to have to apply again. So I was wondering if any of you guys who have club foot have applied for disability, and how long did it take to get it. Personally, my (left) club foot is severe enough to make standing or walking cause me to be in pain after standing up and walking for like 5 minutes. Any advice about what I should say to disability as well? |
| Your chances of getting disability for club foot are slim to none. There are rare circumstances that this could be enough to allow you (for example, if you were over 55, less than a high school education, and no work in the past 15 years). Otherwise they will say there are light or sedentary jobs that you are able to perform. |
How to get the correct lead on a horser with a club foot? Yesterday, I was in a horseshow, I rode a horse with a club foot. He does not get in right canter lead correct, he like to swich to his left lead. How do I ask his to pick his right canter lead correctly? |
| It's probably uncomfortable for him to go on the right lead because of his deformity. Sometimes you really need to just consider what is best for the horse. Why not just take the mark down and not put the horse through unnecessary discomfort? Or switch to a sound horse if possible. Sorry, I just don't think a ribbon is worth putting a horse through pain or discomfort. |
How come faith can move mountains but it can't fix my club foot? I pray and pray for God to fix my club foot and make me normal, but he never does it, I even kneel on broken glass when I pray. And I do everything the bible says. |
| Satan. |
What is the best brand of shoe for someone with a club foot? I was born with club feet. I'm 46, so this was before surgery was common for correcting this deformity. Casting was used and my left foot appears normal. My right foot is fairly straight, but I tends to wear out the right shoe quickly. What is the best brand as far as comfort AND durability for someone with a slightly crooked foot, big ankle, and a foot that just isn't normal?
Thanks! |
| RedWing has a large selection of sizes .They will mix sizes if needed. I have had a near club foot . |
Club foot: Can anyone giv me a good workout to increase the muscle or strength in my left leg? I was born with a club foot on my left leg and now im 16 years old and my left legs calf is smaller than the right and i want to try to get it as close to the same as possible. If anyone has a good workout or strategies for me then please post them |
| play football with your other foor instead? |
What do you do about club foot in a yearling? I bought this paint about a month ago and he is club footed on his front right ,I asked a farrier ,and he said to let it grow out ,that was three weeks ago and it looks like its getting worse .What would be recommended .I put hoof flex on and it looks to be getting worse. |
| A yearling is a little old to have much success, but it might still be correctable. You should contact a college in your state that has animal husbandry courses and see if you can get a referral to a specialist who works with this problem. Also, some colleges accept outside animals as patients, but others don't. You just have to ask. |
Do you have any shoes for teen whit club foot? I'm looking for someone the sales a nice shoes for teen girl sizes 3 or 4. She has a club foot problem. |
| well I'm a designer and I know if you look on the internet you can find a shoe designer. They are able to design any kind of shoe for you. I would check in LA, Los Angeles perhaps, MElRose. Dont give up. Also, check at the California Mart in Los Angeles, on Olympic street they have a entire floor on shoes. Oh, what about UCLA they have a team that works with special needs. DR. Kawamoto he is the founder of the team with tons of info. Here is the Phone number is 310-8290391 |
Why do the RAF bar people with past history of club foot from any military service? The British Armed Forces, more specifically in my case the Royal Air Force currently bar all applicants with and degree of club foot including past corrective surgery from entering military service with them. I had minor club foot whihc was corrected 9 months after i was born, never had any troubles with it, didn't realise what it was until 5 minutes before my medical debrief, and then got told I couldnt have anything to do with them. I have heard reports that it is relational to military issue footware, which fits quite nicely, knowing from 5 years ATC experience. Any answers would be appreciated. Thanks. |
| Not sure but is it possible that there could be medical complications arising at some point later in time due to excessive marching or anything? Sounds really ignorant on my part but can your bones break easily or anything? Medical is the only thing I can think of....Military anywhere is not big on spending money for something that was done/happened prior to enlistment if something were to happen medically. |