Horse Toe Jam?

 

Do horses get toe jam? Well sort of…

The frog is most commonly known to be the part of the shock absorbing system of the hoof.  A lesser known fact about the frog is that it’s actually a scent gland!  The frog contains small oil glands which help it remain spongy and moist, but the excretions also produce a smell. Some people believe that this helps horses track members of their herd and explains why horses put their noses to the ground and smell.

Occasionally these oil glands can get plugged and can be mistaken for an abscess.  When these glands get plugged there is no lameness associated with it like there is with a true abscess, but a milky-white, pasty fluid can be seen when cleaning out the frog.

Find out more about the scent gland on the frog through the American Farriers Journal (and see what they look like when they are plugged!) by clicking here.