Radiographic analysis of the dorsal hoof wall thickness in clinically normal draft horses

• Published in: American journal of veterinary research Vol. 85; no. 1
• Main Authors: Larsen, Casey D, Wilkinson, Thomas E, Roberts, Gregory D, Guess, Sarah C, Mattoon, John S, Sanz, Macarena G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-01-2024
• Subjects: Animals; Bone and Bones; Foot Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Foot Diseases - veterinary; Hoof and Claw - diagnostic imaging; Horse Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Horses; Lameness, Animal; Prospective Studies; Radiography; hoof wall; horse; draft horse; laminitis; sinking laminitis
• ISSN: 0002-9645; 1943-5681
• DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.23.06.0145

To evaluate the radiographic thickness of the dorsal hoof wall in normal draft horse feet.
33 adult draft horses with no history of laminitis, no clinically obvious lameness, and visibly unremarkable front feet were included.
This was a prospective, descriptive study of clinically normal draft horses' front feet. Lateromedial radiographs were acquired of the front feet. A ratio of the dorsal hoof wall thickness to the length of the distal phalanx (DHWP3 ratio) was calculated.
The dorsal hoof wall thickness to length of the distal phalanx was calculated as 0.33 ± 0.03 (range of 0.28 to 0.39) in this population of draft horses.
With very few exceptions, the heterogeneous population of draft horses evaluated in this study had a DHWP3 ratio greater than previously published values in lighter breeds (< 0.30).