Hooves

Laminitis History Book

Abstract

Subclinical acidosis and laminitis are among the most frustrating syndromes to investigate. Subclinical acidosis results in a number of vague clinical signs such as erratic appetite, weight loss, intermittent diarrhea and lameness.^11,12 The multifactorial etiology and lag between the initial metabolic insult and appearance of recognizable clinical signs often make identification of a discrete cause challenging. Milk production records, milk fat and protein relationships, and hoof appearance are often used as indirect indicators of this disease. One indirect indicator is termed the "hardship groove,"6 which refers to a depression in the hoof wall running parallel to the coronary band of the hoof. Hardship grooves are considered to be evidence of production stress, nutritional mismanagement, or disease and are suggested as a means to pinpoint chronological development of the lesions.^6,7

The objective of this paper is to review characteristics of hoof growth and to discuss the use of hoof appearance in disease investigation.