Bruised heels

[jib1987]

Does anyone know anything about the symptons or conformational problems associated with bruised heels? Or what treatment was used to cure/ prevent them in the future? Also if it went misdiagnosed about 4 months ago could it still be causing problems now? This in reference to a thoroughbred with long pasterns and toes, shod at 6 week intervals with low heels. Her feet are flat but have a good shape. Intermittantly lame, put down to corns but I believe this to be a side effect of bruised heels? Any info gratefully received!

 

[angiebaby]

My pony is lame at the moment (3 months) and diagnosed with navicular symptoms ( painfull heels) I have the farrier come every four weeks to trim, the toe is cut short and rolled and egg bar shoes on. Although still a little lame, he is more comfortable. He's only had the shoes on 3 weeks.

 

[Dottie]

I think digital support pads will help. My horse has flat feet and very thin soles so she has to have shoes on during the summer so the hard ground doesn't bruise her feet. (she is a TB!)

 

[MillionDollar]

My farrier put leather pads under my mares shoes when she had bruised heels, and hey presto she came sound. She still wears them now.

 

[jaimep]

A bruised heel is simply that.. a bruise (encapsulated blood) caused by an insult (eg. stepping on a sharp stone) in the heel area... it should recover just as you would if you bruised yourself.

If your horse is regularly suffering from them it may be because the horn at the heel is too thin. You need to find out why and if you can do anything about it (like thicken it up by conditioning).

Leather pads or 'digital support pads' may well prevent further bruising but they will gradually exacerbate the problem (by reducing the stimulus for horn production) rather than solving it.

If your hourse is regularly suffering from caudal heel pain (pain in the back part of the foot) it could be for a variety of reasons...you need to find out why.

'Naviclar symptoms' ... ? it that a general term for pain in the rear of the foot?

Navicular is the degeneration of the navicular bone (it is very rare).

'Navicular syndrome' is a 'catch all' expression used by vets and farriers for 'pain in the caudal (rear) part of the foot...i.e. they know roughly where the pain is (because the horse reacts when pinched with hoof testers, tapped with a hoof pick etc) but they do not know what is causeing it. It could be a multitude of things...