I have posted my horse's hoof photos in his Album.  Chama is IR, has lost a lot of weight in the last year and is doing better but still has bouts of lameness.  My farrier is hesitant to bring his toes back much more but I (and my vet) believe it is important.  Based on first-time x-rays (uploaded), my vet says his soles are only 9 mm thick.  

The next farrier visit is scheduled for March 19.  Regular visits are generally every four weeks.  If this is not enough notice, or if you need revised photos, I can reschedule.  I don't want to have any more trimming done without mark-ups and relevant  advice.  Moving forward, a new farrier may come in and the mark-ups will provide a better basis for consistency.

Thanks very much!
--
Cheri
May 2020 New Mexico
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Cheri%20and%20Chama
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=261805

Hi Cheri,

Thanks for adding the rads and photos for Chama.

Yes, the toe length needs to come back more. You really can't measure the sole depth on those radiographs as they aren't true laterals - they were shot from below the foot, partially aiming up thru the soles - but the sole depth is definitely too thin.

If you could get a lateral of each foot, with Chama standing squarely on the leg and include the cannon bone as well as the foot, it would be helpful.

I can get you mark-ups in time for the March 19th appointment.

Thanks.

--
Lavinia, George Too, Calvin (PPID) and Dinky (PPID/IR)
Nappi, George and Dante Over the Bridge
Jan 05, RI
Moderator ECIR

Hi Cheri,

Would it be possible for you to ask your vet to send you copies of those radiographs? It would make them a lot easier to see.

Thanks.

--
Lavinia, George Too, Calvin (PPID) and Dinky (PPID/IR)
Nappi, George and Dante Over the Bridge
Jan 05, RI
Moderator ECIR

Thanks very much, Lavinia.  I have uploaded hew photos that include Chama's cannon bones.  If the angles don't give you enough, let me know and I can take them again - he wasn't quite square.  (A new thing for me to work on :)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

--
Cheri
May 2020 New Mexico
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Cheri%20and%20Chama
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=261805

Thanks, Cheri. Good job.

--
Lavinia, George Too, Calvin (PPID) and Dinky (PPID/IR)
Nappi, George and Dante Over the Bridge
Jan 05, RI
Moderator ECIR

Hi, Lavinia -

My vet had only texted me the radiographs.  Would an email attachment from her be more clear?  Or do you mean actual hard copies (to then be scanned or mailed)?  I may not understand what you are asking.  But I do want to give you what you need in order to help!

I think she would also come to do more x-rays and I'm fine with that.  I'm not sure when she would be able to schedule it .. possibly within two weeks.

--
Cheri
May 2020 New Mexico
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Cheri%20and%20Chama
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=261805

Hi Cheri,

It looks like the views were photos taken of digital rads. Digital views should be able to be sent straight from the software or the vet should be able to provide a link to the images themselves. If possible, ask your vet if s/he could provide that instead.

If the only images available are photos taken of the rads, attaching them to an email won't improve the clarity.

Thanks.

--
Lavinia, George Too, Calvin (PPID) and Dinky (PPID/IR)
Nappi, George and Dante Over the Bridge
Jan 05, RI
Moderator ECIR

Ah - I understand now.  Thanks for taking the time to explain.  I'll see if she can get those to me!
--
Cheri
May 2020 New Mexico
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Cheri%20and%20Chama
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=261805

Hi Lavinia,

Just a note to say my vet will get the actual x-ray files to me within the next few days. I will send as soon as I have them. 

If that presses you for time (depending on when we get them), I can reschedule the farrier visit if needed.  Chama has been doing ok but ... we do better for him with your mark-ups and a protocol to follow going forward.

Thanks much!
--
Cheri
May 2020 New Mexico
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Cheri%20and%20Chama
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=261805

Hi, Lavinia -

I received the x-rays from my vet and have uploaded them to my album.  We only have his front feet but hopefully, this helps you.  Please let me know if you need anything else.

Thanks very much; I appreciate it.
--
Cheri
May 2020 New Mexico
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Cheri%20and%20Chama
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=261805

Hi Cheri,

I've added mark-ups to Chama's album:

https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=261805

The radiographs show that the general bony column alignment is good, the toes are too long horizontally, there appears to be a bit of medio-lateral imbalance, soles are a bit thin and there appears to be some sinking. Unfortunately, the angles the rads were shot from were not true, so it makes it very difficult to determine the actual sole depth and amount of sinking. The walls are being left too long beyond the soles, plus there is flaring. These are combining to create the cracks that are present and are exacerbating the sole thinning. There little-to-no actual concavity to the soles, so nothing can come off the soles themselves. Trims need to remove the excess wall height, flaring and cracks,back up the toes, then finish by beveling the walls at ground level. Here are some links to more info on all of the issues that need to be addressed:

https://www.hoofrehab.com/Breakover.html

https://www.hoofrehab.com/HeelHeight.html

https://www.hoofrehab.com/HorsesSole.html

https://www.hoofrehab.com/Balance.html

https://www.hoofrehab.com/DistalDescent.htm

https://www.hoofrehab.com/Coronet.html

https://www.hoofrehab.com/FrogTrim.html

LF dorsal: Green lines follow the angle of the healthier, better attached growth down to the ground. Blue areas are the flared wall material that needs to be removed.

LF lateral: Green line shows where the dorsal wall should align over time. This is NOT a trim line, just a visual marker. Orange line shows where the heels should end up over time. Blue area is where the toe needs to be brought back to move the breakover to where the bony column needs it to be.

LF dorsal sole plane: The blue solid line is where the outer perimeter of the hoof should be. Blue hashed areas are all the flared walls and stretched lamina that need to be removed. Notice that the crack falls in the area of flared wall. The cracks are natures way of removing what shouldn't be there - it just isn't a precise method. Because the walls are all being left too long, they are flaring, then starting to crack and crumble. Walls are not meant to be the sole weight-bearing structures - the sole, bars, frog, digital cushion are the main structures, while the walls are only designed to carry 10% of the load. The yellow hashes along the leading edges of the bars indicate the need to clean up those areas of all the bar that is crumbling away. Don't take more than is already letting go as the bars are also working to help compensate for the walls being too long. Pink hashes are on a frog tag that can be removed. Do not excessively trim the frogs, just those areas that are already loose or ragged. Allow the frog to callous over to protect it.

RF dorsal: Same idea as the LF, with the blue areas being the flared walls and excess toe length that need to be removed.

RF lateral: Same as the LF, except there is more excess toe length that needs to be backed up.

RF sole: Again, bring the entire foot inward, clean up the crumbling bars. Finish with a good bevel all around to help protect the weakened walls and connections as they grow out.

LH dorsal: Blue area is the flaring that needs to be removed.

LH lateral: Same general idea as the fronts but it also appears that the coffin bone is likely sitting ground parallel. This means the vertical height in the front half of the foot is taller than in the back half of the foot. Need to maintain ll the current vertical height in the back half of the foot relative to the front half, while backing the toe up.

LH sole: The lateral wall flare and crack are quite visible. Need to pull that flare in so it lines up with the adjacent wall. Solid blue line is again where the outer perimeter of the hoof should be. Blue hashed areas are all the flared walls, stretched laminar material and excess wall height that needs to be removed. Yellow hashes run along the leading edges of the bars, where they are crumbling away and need to be cleaned up, but don't over trim them. Finish by beveling the walls all around.

RH dorsal: Green line shows the lateral flare, with the blue area what needs to be removed.

RH lateral: Blue are is where to back up the toe.

RH sole: Same discussion as the other three feet.

Use padded boots if CHama isn't comfortably landing heel-first when moving any faster than an ambling walk. Any boots should have aggressive bevel added to the treads at both the toes and heels to get the breakover into better alignment with where the bony column needs it to be.

--
Lavinia, George Too, Calvin (PPID) and Dinky (PPID/IR)
Nappi, George and Dante Over the Bridge
Jan 05, RI
Moderator ECIR

We'll get to it ... thank you, Lavinia!
--
Cheri
May 2020 New Mexico
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Cheri%20and%20Chama
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=261805