Diagnosis and Treatment of Pedal Osteitis

DIAGNOSIS:

Well, the results of the radiographs were not good. Mocha was diagnosed with pedal osteitis. According to the vet, her right front hoof is much worse than her left. This is opposite of what I would have thought, because lameness presents more often on her left front than her right front. However, there was a void on her front left (at the time the vet thought it may be an abscess), which could have made this hoof more sore at this point in time.

This diagnosis is very disheartening for several reasons.

First, this means that Mocha has been in pain for a very long time. According to my understanding of the diagnosis, pedal osteitis is a deterioration of the coffin bone. This is can be a result of thin soles being susceptible to chronic sole bruising, which in turn results in chronic inflammation of the tissue surrounding the coffin bone. This chronic inflammation causes a deterioration of the coffin bone. She must have been suffering from chronic sole bruising for quite some time for the coffin bone to begin deteriorating.

Second, this condition can not be reversed, the coffin bone can never regenerate. At this point, it is only a matter of management and preventing any further deterioration of the bone. She is only 5 years old. This also means that Mochs is not going to be able to jump. She would likely be sound enough to be a trail horse. This isn't great because I've only been on 3 or 4 trail rides in my life, the barn where I board her does not have trails and I don't know anyone who trail rides consistently. I am thinking that she may be sound enough for some low level dressage.

I am not planning on riding her anytime in the near future. regardless.

The radiographs used in the diagnosis:

Front Right:

I was told that Mocha has a bone spur on this hoof, which is supposed to be common in cases of pedal osteitis.






Front Left:

Notice the void, which turned out to be white line disease.





DIAGNOSIS:

The vet recommended the following:

1. Monthly injections of Adequan I.M.
2. Supplements: Hoof and Joint
3. Pour pads in front

Implementation:

On May 31, 2011 the following Mocha had her front shoes back on and Equipak pour pads put on and the first adequan injection. During the shoeing, it was discovered that the void, evident on the radiograph, was white line disease, which was also present on her rear left. She continued to be lame on her front right for 11 days, with intermittent lameness still continuing at the time of this post.

Here are current photos of Mocha's hooves, including the pour pads and white line disease removal:

Front Right:







Front Left:






Front Left White Line Extraction:




Back Right White Line Extraction:




Mocha's current body condition:






I am apprehensive about the current path Mocha and I are on, but more on that later.