Laminitis! Moli’s Background #4
Mark did the first cast on August 17, 2009, making sure to setup the 6 degree angle that the vet had suggested to support her tendon injury. I didn't get pictures, I was so enthralled with the process I forgot all about it! She did great afterword, moving comfortably, even in circles – right and left. I figured the cast would wear off quickly, but it lasted almost four weeks. I removed the cast and trimmed on September 12, 2009. She was moving comfortably after I trimmed, even across the large gravel in my back yard (it's the gravel that works its way to the top of road base). Previously, she had been ultra sensitive on this gravel – when Mark removed the first set of rocker shoes (first part of August), she took one step and it was bad enough for us to decide she would need boots just to get back to the corral.
As Mark had done when removing the shoes, I decided to let her wait until the next day before putting the casting back on; it would give some air time to the frog, which had been covered for almost 4 weeks. I put her in confinement for the night so she wouldn't move around on the hard ground. (I knew it would make her miserable – but there is pea gravel in her small pen, so it is comfy on her feet) By feeding time in the morning, there was no doubt about her unhappiness at being trapped all night. Moli is very expressive, not shy to make noise and she was spinning around and flipping her head so hard she was knocking herself off balance! She really dislikes being locked up. Although she was still sound walking in a straight line and in a circle to the left, right circles caused obvious pain. The tendon issue makes me wonder; how long this had been going on? Mixed with the lack of sole depth, no wonder she had been so lame!
So on September 13th, I took a deep breath and tried my hand at hoof casting. As seen in the trim pictures, you can easily see the damage done with the rotation, especially on the left front. The hoof wall was better than it had been when we first pulled the rocker shoe, but was still not growing as fast as the sole. Now, we see if we can grow out a new, well connected hoof. I was pretty happy with my first try at casting. I only wasted one mixing tip – and one application of Equithane – not bad! I had not been able to get the dental impression material in time, so I filled the back of her foot and most of the sole with Equithane, I also filled the crevasses between the sole and the hoof wall to try to provide more support for her sole as she moved. I was encouraged by the fact that we were still growing sole, and there had been some improvement in the hoof wall. I didn't get pictures this time either - I thought I did, but now I can't find them. :0(
The first time I casted, it lasted three weeks. I had to put off redoing the cast (my second round) for a week longer than I should have because I was ill and was not strong enough to get the work done. After a good dose of antibiotic for myself, I was good as new and ready to try again. On October 10th I did the trim, and on the 11th, I did the cast. This system seems to really work out well, it gives me time to think about the trim and make adjustments, before doing the cast – and I'm able to start the cast fresh, which makes it much easier to stay organized. You have to work fast to get the casting right, but thanks to Mark I have a good system that helps things flow well. It is a technique that is difficult to do alone though, so if you're going to try it, track down a good friend to help. (Thanks Peggy!) Moli is pretty happy with my new "foot work" techniques, because she gets to eat while things are going on. I have found there is less chance of her moving around at just the wrong time if she has her nose buried in a bucket of hay. :0)
Her hoof wall is looking much better. At least 80% of the wall is now at the same length as the sole, and these areas appear to have a good connection as well – no more deep crevasses between the sole and the wall. (although, the front right at least at the toe is obviously still separated) This being the third time, I brought the angle down to 3 degrees (that is what the vet had suggested). It has now been a week since that casting and Moli is moving well, but I can see that she is very careful about turning to the right. We went for a walk yesterday and she had a slight limp when ever turning to the right except on the really soft area at Peggy's place that had recently been plowed. So…now I need to find out how I'm going to deal with the tendon pain for the next time around.
Things are certainly looking better for Moli, let's hope the trend continues.
As Mark had done when removing the shoes, I decided to let her wait until the next day before putting the casting back on; it would give some air time to the frog, which had been covered for almost 4 weeks. I put her in confinement for the night so she wouldn't move around on the hard ground. (I knew it would make her miserable – but there is pea gravel in her small pen, so it is comfy on her feet) By feeding time in the morning, there was no doubt about her unhappiness at being trapped all night. Moli is very expressive, not shy to make noise and she was spinning around and flipping her head so hard she was knocking herself off balance! She really dislikes being locked up. Although she was still sound walking in a straight line and in a circle to the left, right circles caused obvious pain. The tendon issue makes me wonder; how long this had been going on? Mixed with the lack of sole depth, no wonder she had been so lame!
So on September 13th, I took a deep breath and tried my hand at hoof casting. As seen in the trim pictures, you can easily see the damage done with the rotation, especially on the left front. The hoof wall was better than it had been when we first pulled the rocker shoe, but was still not growing as fast as the sole. Now, we see if we can grow out a new, well connected hoof. I was pretty happy with my first try at casting. I only wasted one mixing tip – and one application of Equithane – not bad! I had not been able to get the dental impression material in time, so I filled the back of her foot and most of the sole with Equithane, I also filled the crevasses between the sole and the hoof wall to try to provide more support for her sole as she moved. I was encouraged by the fact that we were still growing sole, and there had been some improvement in the hoof wall. I didn't get pictures this time either - I thought I did, but now I can't find them. :0(
The first time I casted, it lasted three weeks. I had to put off redoing the cast (my second round) for a week longer than I should have because I was ill and was not strong enough to get the work done. After a good dose of antibiotic for myself, I was good as new and ready to try again. On October 10th I did the trim, and on the 11th, I did the cast. This system seems to really work out well, it gives me time to think about the trim and make adjustments, before doing the cast – and I'm able to start the cast fresh, which makes it much easier to stay organized. You have to work fast to get the casting right, but thanks to Mark I have a good system that helps things flow well. It is a technique that is difficult to do alone though, so if you're going to try it, track down a good friend to help. (Thanks Peggy!) Moli is pretty happy with my new "foot work" techniques, because she gets to eat while things are going on. I have found there is less chance of her moving around at just the wrong time if she has her nose buried in a bucket of hay. :0)
Her hoof wall is looking much better. At least 80% of the wall is now at the same length as the sole, and these areas appear to have a good connection as well – no more deep crevasses between the sole and the wall. (although, the front right at least at the toe is obviously still separated) This being the third time, I brought the angle down to 3 degrees (that is what the vet had suggested). It has now been a week since that casting and Moli is moving well, but I can see that she is very careful about turning to the right. We went for a walk yesterday and she had a slight limp when ever turning to the right except on the really soft area at Peggy's place that had recently been plowed. So…now I need to find out how I'm going to deal with the tendon pain for the next time around.
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