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.

 

Check out our new portable, hydraulic tip table custom made by High-Hog! Now adding cattle hoof trimming to our podiatry portfolio.

Get the most out of this breeding season by booking your herd with the professionals at Alloy Equine Ltd. today for a tune-up prior to spring turn-out.

 

 

 

Cold winter across the prairies makes everything a little tougher including managing proper hoof care for your horse.

Its not uncommon this time of year for snow to steadily build up on the bottom of hooves particularly when they have shoes on. With the majority of weight being borne by the front feet, it is easy to see that this snow build-up can cause discomfort and even lead to sole or frog bruising. Not only can this be uncomfortable, but snow compaction also can increase your horse’s risk of falling because they are put off balance.

Its -30 C and the last thing you feel like doing after scrapping the snow and ice off your windshield is picking out rock hard snow from your horses feet just to have that snow build-up again. There are a few different options to address snow build-up. One way is through the use of a snowball pad that is placed between the horses hoof and shoe. The dome in the center of the pad prevents snow from building-up.

With snow looking like its here to stay, its the time of year to discuss with Dr. Lukianchuk about snowball pads for your horse or other winter hoof management solutions.

Dr. Lukianchuk and the crew at Russell & District Veterinary Clinic at a client education session hosted by Tail Winds Stable.

Horse Enthusiasts Learn From Farrier

Dr. Lukianchuk in the local paper describes her road to becoming a veterinarian-farrier

Russell veterinarian also a practising farrier