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Founder in Horses
Two months ago, I went to the pasture to bring my Racking horse gelding in to do some trailing training and a quick wash. He was not with my two mares and I could see him far back in the pasture, walking towards the barn very slowly with his head down. I knew immediately something was wrong because he is ususally such an energetic boy and he loves to run and show off. Once he got to the barn, I haltered him and tried to lead him. He did not want to move at all. We checked him over and found that he was a little sore on his front feet and they were warm. I knew immediately, since I had worked at an equine hospital, that he was foundered. Founder happens to horses when you let them get to fat in the spring and/or give them too much feed that is too rich with proteins, like alfalpha and grain. The overdose of the rich foods causes a reduced blood flow to the horses feet. This in turn causes the laminae that holds the coffin bone to the hoof to die and disenagrate, thus the bone begins to drop down through the hoof. I put him in his stall for the night and gave him a dose of bute(horse painkiller. The next day he seemed better and I turned him back out for a little while in the round pen. By Sunday morning, he would not walk at all. I called the vet and she confirmed the founder. We placed his front feet in special boots called "Ultima" for 30 days. It places the foot in a different angle to help relieve the stress on the foot. He also had to remain in his stall for 30 days. I was able to hand graze him for a few minutes a day. It has now been about 8 weeks. The farrier came and trimmed his hoofs down very small. I call them tea cup feet. This too will help lessen the stress on his damaged feet. He is still quite stiff and seemingly sore. I give him some bute when he really seems uncomfortable. I have let him go back out on limited pasture and dry lot (no grass, just dirt). I have gotten his weight down and he is looking great until he begins to walk. He has a very noticable limp on his right front leg. I don't know how long it will be before he walks normally again...if ever. I could have him x-rayed to see how much damage was done. Some horses must be put down due to the severe damage. Since he has gone through 3 springs on the same pasture, I thought he was safe from founder. This spring, I let him get too fat and disaster struck. Founder is not a cheap illness with horses. So take heed, keep the weight down on your horses and limit the amount of spring grass they are eating. Don't let your favorite horse suffer through this hard to heal infliction. |
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May, 2012
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