Torn Laminae

Question
QUESTION: I have a 6yo Thoroughbred/Paint who I bred and used to showjump on. He aquired an injury to his corronet band a few years ago which grew down with a nasty crack. Over time and as his work load got bigger, so did his lameness. First I had my farrier do some corrective shoeing with bars and clips but took no effect and as he had so much pressue on his hoof, the laminae tore right from the top of his hoof, to his toe. So I got another farrier to drill out his crack all the way to his laminae, till we saw blood, then wire stitched it, and a few days later, Equiloxed over the top. 9 weeks later we took it all off but was not healing as good as we had thought. He has now been lame for nearly 4 months, even being rested, on anti-inflamatories and on a hoof growth formula, and is not getting any better. Im asking if you could give me any ideas of what else I can do as the injury is slpiting right from his corronet band, right through his regrowth.

ANSWER: HELLO EMILY...THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTION...

First...I feel for you and your horse!! Without sounding arrogant, your problem had some
mistakes made in my opinion, and should have been fixed.

IF I am correct, Australia is in it's cooler season right now?!? I will explain. Putting "equilox" ONLY a few days later was a mistake sealing it. Waiting 9 weeks to work on it was #2. If there is blood,then there is "inflammation" and followed by "seeping" in the tissue. He then sealed it?!!

You need to find a farrier that is "comfortable" and experienced in wall cracks.

You need to "start over" and I would resect the anterior wall(say looking down 11 o'clock
to 1 o'clock) maybe a shade wider depending on the damage. Unload the injury from the bottom.
It should have been done in the beginning. If there is ANY pressure the laminae will NOT grow and heal properly. The weather question earlier was to add plenty of conditioner to the entire
coronary band say every other day. A dry hard hoof will not heal.
A bar shoe/straight, rocker/rolled toe will STABILIZE the hoof capsule and SHOULD be rest
every 4/5 weeks at the least!! Clips placed correctly, will also help. Continue to feed hoof supplements to max dosage to accelerate growth.

In my 39 yrs. I have saved hundreds of these horses. It has to be done "correctly" and patience
to heal it in the right way. There is no "quick fix". And it takes an experienced technician
to finish the job !!

Best to You !!
Joepaul Meyers,C.J.F.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Joepaul,
Thank you for your answer I just need to clear up a couple things. 'Start over'? Did you mean to drill out the whole crack again and stich it back up? Should he be boxed 24 hours per day as the ground is so wet over here?  He has a natural balance shoe on with silicon pads underneath, should I keep that style on him or try something else?
Thankyou for your time.
Emily

Answer
HEY EMILY...

YES...when you say drill...I mean a 'dremel tool" we use here in the States. Has a nice rotary
attachment, different kinds of tips to remove the hoof wall safely and correctly !!

I WOULDN'T lace/suture the crack. From the coronary band/ 1 mm below that area and "start over".
Remove wall 2/3 inches on both sides of the crack/damage to the bottom. A competent farrier
will know what to do. It's a resection that's done on many laminitic/foundered horses in extreme
cases when there is necrotic tissue, seromas, abscess' and such. Avoid blood or very little
blood. The idea is NOT to damage the laminae anymore than it is. You are basically removing
the bad tissue,wall to allow the hoof capsule to grow without any stress.

Similar to making a hole in a finger nail to release blood under the nail and take pressure
away. Allowing the nail to grow out properly!!
I'm NOT high on NBS shoes...but if that works for your farrier...so be it. I would use a straight
bar shoe for stability and clips properly placed. Because of the "stripping or window' down the front of the hoof, the bar shoe would be best in my opinion to work as a cast; holding things
together. And Safer!!

The horse does NOT need to be confined all the time. It would be terrible on his "psyche"
and a "good/happy mind" heals faster!! A small turn out would be fine. You DON'T want him
"flying" around until the wall grows down at least half-way.

I WOULD NOT use silicon it holds moisture and since it's wet your way...absolute NO.
A product by Vetec / Equi-pak can be used. Also comes in a soft formula if needed.
It will keep and maintain the sole and wetness.

Let me know if I can help again...it is really "routine" if the farrier knows what he/she
is doing...

Thank You...

Joepaul