Difference between revisions of "Corns"

Revision as of 13:04, 29 July 2011

Introduction

A ‘corn’ is bruising of the sole in the ‘seat of corn’ (the angle between the medial hoof wall and the bar of the hoof). The most common location for this bruising is the medial side of the fore feet.

Signalment

'Corns' can affect any age, breed or sex of horse as they are usually caused by badly fitting shoes. This can occur if a shoe is left on too long; as the hoof grows the shoe begins to sit over the ‘seat of corn’, resulting in bruising of the area. Alternatively, shoes may be too small from the outset and again cause bruising to develop by lying over the 'seat of corn'. Horses with thin soles or poor foot conformation may be more prone to developing 'corns'.

Clinical Signs

The bruising may be visible on the sole after paring down the hoof. It normally occurs on the medial side of the fore feet. The horse will normally test positive to hoof testers over this region. The horse will normally present with a low-grade lameness. Lameness will be more severe when loading of the bruised area is greatest and, in the case of the medial side, this will be when the affected limb is on the outside of the circle.

Treatment

The shoe should be removed and the sole of the hoof pared out to reveal the bruising.
If infection has developed then paring should continue to allow draining of the purulent material.
The shoe should be left off for several days to allow the bruising to heal.
The shoes can be re-applied when the horse is sound.

To avoid the recurrence of the corn, pressure should be avoided over the region. For example, the caudal end of the medial branch of the shoe can be seated out, in addition the heel can be widened so it covers and protects the affected area.

Prevention

Good hoof care and regularly changed, well-fitting shoes.

References

May, SA & McIlwraith, CW (1998) Equine Orthopaedics and Rheumatology Self-Assessment Colour Review Manson Publishing Ltd

Captain M. Horace Hays FRCVS Veterinary Notes for Horse Owners (Revised Edition), Stanley Paul

Merck & Co (2009) The Merck Veterinary Manual (Ninth Edition), Merial

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ==Introduction==
-A ‘corn’ is '''bruising''' of the sole in the angle between the medial hoof wall and the bar (the ‘'''seat of corn'''’). The bruising is usually present on the '''medial''' side of the '''fore feet'''.
+A ‘corn’ is '''bruising''' of the sole in the ‘'''seat of corn'''’ (the angle between the medial hoof wall and the bar of the hoof). The most common location for this bruising is the '''medial''' side of the '''fore feet'''.
 ==Signalment==
-'Corns' can affect any age, breed or sex of horse as they are usually caused by '''badly fitting shoes'''. This can occur if shoes are too small, when the branches will lie over the ‘seat of corn’ and will result in bruising of this region. Alternatively, correctly fitting shoes which are left in place for long periods will move to cover this sensitive area as the foot grows. Horses with thin soles or poor foot conformation may be more prone to developing 'corns'.
+'Corns' can affect any age, breed or sex of horse as they are usually caused by '''badly fitting shoes'''. This can occur if a shoe is left on too long; as the hoof grows the shoe begins to sit over the ‘seat of corn’, resulting in bruising of the area. Alternatively, shoes may be too small from the outset and again cause bruising to develop by lying over the 'seat of corn'. Horses with '''thin soles''' or '''poor foot conformation''' may be more prone to developing 'corns'.
 ==Clinical Signs==
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 ==Treatment==
-#The badly fitting shoe should be removed, and the affected area pared out.
+#The '''shoe''' should be '''removed''' and the sole of the hoof '''pared out''' to reveal the bruising.
-#Paring should be halted once the bruised area is identified.
+#If infection has developed then paring should continue to allow '''draining''' of the purulent material.
-#If the ‘corn’ has become infected, paring should be continued to establish drainage (as for a solar abscess).
+#The '''shoe''' should be left '''off''' for several days to allow the bruising to heal.
-#The foot can be left for a few days for the bruising to heal and the horse to become sound.
+#The shoes can be '''re-applied''' when the horse is '''sound'''.
-#When shoes are re-applied, care must be taken to avoid pressure in this region – shoes can have the caudal end of the medial branch seated out, and in some cases the heel widened so that it covers and protects the affected area while still being supported by the wall.
+To avoid the recurrence of the corn, pressure should be avoided over the region. For example, the caudal end of the medial branch of the shoe can be seated out, in addition the heel can be widened so it covers and protects the affected area.
 ==Prevention==
-Good hoof care and regularly changed, well-fitting shoes.
+'''Good hoof care''' and '''regularly changed''', '''well-fitting shoes'''.
 ==References==