sally2008
Well-Known Member
I've been given a copy of a very interesting paper written about a study into the shoeing of laminitic horses done by David Nicholls, a farrier who specialises in such cases. I apologise for the length of the following extract but I thought it might be interesting to any peeps out there with sufferers in helping them make informed decisions, particularly the point he makes about the use of heart-bar shoes leading to dependant pathology. If anyone would like a copy of the whole report then please do PM me your e-mail addy and I'll send you the pdf file.
<u>Extract from Optimising Laminitis Treatment by Understanding the Morphology of the Affected Hoof by David J Nicholls RSS AWCF RJF CNBF CLS</u>
When treating laminitis and founder value for money is important and with so many treatments on offer it is difficult to discern which treatment is not only the most successful but also represents good value for money.
This study was taken from a selection of 17 similar cases of laminitis. All 17 cases received uniform veterinary treatment from the onset of laminitis. 5 cases were treated using steel heart bar shoes. These 5 horses were kept in box confinement with deep bedding prior to and following shoeing. 5 cases were treated using plastic heart bar shoes (Eustace shoes) or Poynton shoes. These horses were kept in box confinement in deep bedding prior to and following shoeing. 5 cases were treated using Styrofoam Equisoft Stable Support systems and when appropriate shod using the Equine Digital Support System. These horses all had access to limited free movement prior to and following shoeing. 2 cases treated using the Stable Support System both had access to limited free movement and when appropriate shod using the EDSS / Dr Steward Clogs.
All 17 horses recovered and returned to their pre-disease work programs but there was a clearly defined financial cost relevant to the treatments given. The costs of each case included the vets and farriers fees and any long term veterinary care, medication or specialist farriery. At this point I came to a crossroads regarding treatment. To my surprise, despite the initial start up cost, the Equine Digit Support System and EDSS Dr Steward Clogs were the cheapest option and the most successful treatment to return horses back to pre-disease soundness and in some cases actually elevated them to a higher level of soundness not previously experienced.
Financial Considerations:-
The start up costs for steel heart bar shoes was the lowest, followed by EDSS/Dr Steward Clogs. EDSS was in the mid price range and the plastic adjustable heart bars had the highest start up cost. The shoeing periods for both types of heart bars was 3-4 weeks. The shoeing period for EDSS or Clogs was 6-8 weeks. Each time the horse was presented for shoeing x-rays were taken to assist in shoe placement and monitor progress. The horses wearing steel heart bars wore these for the lifetime of this project and beyond (until out of touch).
The horses shod in plastic heart bars wore these until they were changed to steel heart bars. It was expected that these horses would normally wear steel heart bar shoes for life. The horses wearing the heart bar shoes were maintained under veterinary care for a minimum of one year.
The horses in the part of the project shod using EDSS and Clogs were shod for an average of three times, then maintained in Natural Balance shoes and returned to the owners regular farrier. These horses were maintained in Natural Balance shoes charged at regular shoeing fees.
Conclusions:- Treating horses with bar shoes creates some dependant pathology thus making these horses dependant on their continued use, to remain sound.
Both types of heart bar shoes required long term veterinary and farriery input. The plastic heart bars have a high start up cost thus making their use very expensive. Although steel heart bars have a relatively inexpensive start up, the veterinary fees, the additional cost of lifetime maintenance of bar shoes and the side effects of their use, makes this an ineffective and expensive option.
The Equine Digit Support System and the Dr Steward Clogs followed by continued maintenance in Natural Balance shoes yielded the best results at the lowest costs. EDSS adjustable shoeing system stands out as the premier choice for equine laminitis.
<u>Extract from Optimising Laminitis Treatment by Understanding the Morphology of the Affected Hoof by David J Nicholls RSS AWCF RJF CNBF CLS</u>
When treating laminitis and founder value for money is important and with so many treatments on offer it is difficult to discern which treatment is not only the most successful but also represents good value for money.
This study was taken from a selection of 17 similar cases of laminitis. All 17 cases received uniform veterinary treatment from the onset of laminitis. 5 cases were treated using steel heart bar shoes. These 5 horses were kept in box confinement with deep bedding prior to and following shoeing. 5 cases were treated using plastic heart bar shoes (Eustace shoes) or Poynton shoes. These horses were kept in box confinement in deep bedding prior to and following shoeing. 5 cases were treated using Styrofoam Equisoft Stable Support systems and when appropriate shod using the Equine Digital Support System. These horses all had access to limited free movement prior to and following shoeing. 2 cases treated using the Stable Support System both had access to limited free movement and when appropriate shod using the EDSS / Dr Steward Clogs.
All 17 horses recovered and returned to their pre-disease work programs but there was a clearly defined financial cost relevant to the treatments given. The costs of each case included the vets and farriers fees and any long term veterinary care, medication or specialist farriery. At this point I came to a crossroads regarding treatment. To my surprise, despite the initial start up cost, the Equine Digit Support System and EDSS Dr Steward Clogs were the cheapest option and the most successful treatment to return horses back to pre-disease soundness and in some cases actually elevated them to a higher level of soundness not previously experienced.
Financial Considerations:-
The start up costs for steel heart bar shoes was the lowest, followed by EDSS/Dr Steward Clogs. EDSS was in the mid price range and the plastic adjustable heart bars had the highest start up cost. The shoeing periods for both types of heart bars was 3-4 weeks. The shoeing period for EDSS or Clogs was 6-8 weeks. Each time the horse was presented for shoeing x-rays were taken to assist in shoe placement and monitor progress. The horses wearing steel heart bars wore these for the lifetime of this project and beyond (until out of touch).
The horses shod in plastic heart bars wore these until they were changed to steel heart bars. It was expected that these horses would normally wear steel heart bar shoes for life. The horses wearing the heart bar shoes were maintained under veterinary care for a minimum of one year.
The horses in the part of the project shod using EDSS and Clogs were shod for an average of three times, then maintained in Natural Balance shoes and returned to the owners regular farrier. These horses were maintained in Natural Balance shoes charged at regular shoeing fees.
Conclusions:- Treating horses with bar shoes creates some dependant pathology thus making these horses dependant on their continued use, to remain sound.
Both types of heart bar shoes required long term veterinary and farriery input. The plastic heart bars have a high start up cost thus making their use very expensive. Although steel heart bars have a relatively inexpensive start up, the veterinary fees, the additional cost of lifetime maintenance of bar shoes and the side effects of their use, makes this an ineffective and expensive option.
The Equine Digit Support System and the Dr Steward Clogs followed by continued maintenance in Natural Balance shoes yielded the best results at the lowest costs. EDSS adjustable shoeing system stands out as the premier choice for equine laminitis.
