Q. My horse has been diagnosed with pedal ostitis. Could you please tell me what causes this condition, what is the treatment and prognosis?
A. Pedal ostitis is an inflammation of the bone inside the hoof, called the pedal bone or the distal phalanx. It is the very end bone of the digit and in the horse it is well developed and conforms in shape to the inside of the hoof to which it is firmly attached. Generally the pedal bone becomes inflamed due to concussion and so the disease is more common in horses with flat feet and on hard ground. The front feet are usually the ones to be affected. It used to be frequently diagnosed twenty years ago but there are more fashionable ailments about at the moment such as foot imbalance. However pedal ostitis definitely does occur and X rays will confirm it by showing a reduced density of the bone and an irregular outline. What we are observing are the effects of demineralisation.
The treatment is rest. Depending on the severity of the condition and the degree of lameness it might be necessary to turn the horse out for a year or it might just mean that you have to do less work on the roads and keep to softer ground. The prognosis again depends on the severity of the condition but is usually quite good and the pedal bone can usually recover back to normal with no permanent damage remaining.
Of course if a horse has very flat feet it will always be prone to bruising and may develop pedal ostitis again. Pedal ostitis can also occur secondarily to other diseases such as infections and laminitis in which case the prognosis may not be so favourable.
Shoeing for pedal ostitis is aimed at reducing concussion and protecting the sole. Pads perform both of these functions and are very useful. A pad is a sheet of leather or plastic between the shoe and the hoof. This will make a good cushion, both reducing pressure on the sole which would be transmitted to the pedal bone, and absorbing some of the shock which occurs every time a horse puts its foot to the ground. Sometimes a wide webbed shoe or a seated out shoe is asked for but the need for these modifications depends on the individual conformation of the hoof and is something for your farrier to advise on.
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