Services

There is no structure on the horse that is as susceptible to injury, disease or “wear and tear” than the equine foot. Proper, timely hoof care can often make the difference between a sound performance horse and one with chronic lameness. Some of the problems we encounter and treat are listed below:

Hoof Diseases

Laminitis
Laminitis unfortunately continues to occur on a frequent basis. It is often a life threatening disease. Initial treatment is directed at stabilizing the foot. Once the foot is stabilized, various advanced methods and types of shoes, depending on the individual case and amount of damage, can be applied using radiographic guidance to promote healing and provide biomechanical efficiency.

Limited facilities are available to house horses that are not in the immediate area and those horses that would benefit from being closely monitored by Dr. O’Grady so frequent observation and treatment can be provided.

Severe Infections
Chronic abscesses, punctures, canker and keratomas

Advanced White Line Disease
Non-responsive white line disease, white line disease causing lameness or white line disease where the separation has advanced to the stage where the bone within the hoof capsule has displaced and become unstable.

Therapeutic Horseshoeing

The latest advances in farriery and technology are used to treat hoof capsule distortions such as long toe-under run heels, club feet and sheared heels.

Chronic lameness localized to the foot diagnostic anesthesia and imaging is often treated successfully and maintained using therapeutic shoeing. Treatment utilizes the combination of radiographs, trimming, mechanics applied to the shoe and glue-on technology.

Hoof Wall Defects

• Quarter cracks
• Toe cracks
• Hoof wall avulsions

Juvenile Orthopedics

Evaluation and treatment of angular, flexural and rotational limb deformities in foals and weanlings.

Please note that Dr. O’Grady doesn’t provide routine hoof care as this is the domain of your farrier.