Changes

Animals which present with thin, sensitive soles and general discomfort in the foot (usually reflected in increased amounts of time lying down, slow tentative steps and weight shifting) may benefit from having plastic shoes fitted. As mentioned in Chapter 10, these stick-on shoes have been seen to significantly increase many affected animals’ quality of life although it should be noted that improvement is usually short term (mean 18 months). These shoes are contraindicated in animals prone to recurrent bouts of laminitis as they are almost impossible to remove when newly fitted should the feet require padding and support during a laminitic attack.

Animals which present with thin, sensitive soles and general discomfort in the foot (usually reflected in increased amounts of time lying down, slow tentative steps and weight shifting) may benefit from having plastic shoes fitted. As mentioned in Chapter 10, these stick-on shoes have been seen to significantly increase many affected animals’ quality of life although it should be noted that improvement is usually short term (mean 18 months). These shoes are contraindicated in animals prone to recurrent bouts of laminitis as they are almost impossible to remove when newly fitted should the feet require padding and support during a laminitic attack.