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| Cyrano |
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Complications from a hoof abscess led to surgery for Cyrano de Bergerac. During surgery, this 17-year-old thoroughbred's left front hoof was resected and the affected portion of the coffin bone removed. Cyrano is being been treated for white line disease possibly caused by the abscess and subsequent surgery -- approximately six years ago. He basically has a bad hoof that refuses to heal. For ten minutes, two times a week, for the past four years, Cyrano has stood in a blue soak of copper sulfate mixed with water. His white line disease has not worsened in four years - it just never goes away -- especially in wet weather, his worst enemy. Currently, Cyrano soaks in a CleanTrax® solution for 60 minutes every six weeks when he is re-shod. The shoe is replaced after the soaking and the necessary trimming or debridement. We are hoping for a miracle.
Let's Ask An Expert: What is the treatment for white line disease?
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| Cyrano's foot after shoeing. |
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| Cyrano, happily soaking his foot. |
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Cyrano also has Equine Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (EPSM) - a degenerative muscle disease. Horses with this disease tend to lift their hind legs awkwardly and irregularly as though they are having muscle spasms. To combat the progression of EPSM, Cyrano is being fed a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet (mostly rice bran and corn oil) coupled with 24/7 turnout. Exercise and turnout are extremely important to keep his muscles from cramping and atrophying. He doesn't seem to be in any pain just rather annoyed at the chicken dance of his hind legs. Now that Cyrano is retired, he's also lazy. He has been ditching exercise class to tell tall tales and play cards with his friends under the shade of an old oak tree.
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All horses are treated on an individual basis. What works for our horses may not work for yours. Please contact your veterinarian before administering any medications or treatments for your geriatric horse.
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