Radkin Equine Podiatry

Radkin Equine Podiatry I'm an experienced vet & farrier focused on creating & maintaining a better hoof for your horse.
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Visit my website horsehoofvet.com for more information on services and what you can expect from an appointment with me.

06/10/2024

"The farrier (and veterinarian) who develop an eye for radiographic information and learn to recognize the value of using it to assist strategic mechanical decisions greatly enhances the collaborative effects as well as its success." Bras R., Redden R. Understanding the Basic Principles of Podiatry. Vet Clin Equine 2018;34:391-407.

Quarter horse mare sustained a wire fence injury in August 2023. She was immediately taken to an emergency vet who asses...
06/03/2024

Quarter horse mare sustained a wire fence injury in August 2023. She was immediately taken to an emergency vet who assessed & determined there was no joint involvement. Under general anesthesia the area was cleaned and sutured. Good news was the horse was weight bearing, sound & comfortable. The bad news: her regular use of the limb plus the lack of a cast or something to immobilize the area resulted in dehiscence of the sutures within one week. I began seeing her at that time & had to remove all detached tissue. Using special shoeing, casting, Phovia & EquiScope the horse has made a full recovery to soundness. Within 4 months all wounds were healed. Normal horn (hoof wall) growth originates from the coronary band. This mare lost her medial coronary band so the growth is disorganized keratin on that half of the hoof. But she is happy and comfortable.

05/01/2024
05/01/2024
04/17/2024

A work in progress. This thoroughbred has made tremendous progress in 5 months
02/13/2024

A work in progress. This thoroughbred has made tremendous progress in 5 months

02/07/2024

Your farrier finishes shoeing your horse and hands you a bill for the work. You look at the bill, muster a smile, and grab your checkbook even though you may be

01/28/2024
01/27/2024

How important is the trim!?

We know that hoof growth during an average shoeing cycle reduces the palmar/plantar angle by 3-4 degrees. As such, this hoof growth can have detrimental effects on the biomechanical workings of a hoof. The trim should therefore do the opposite!

In cases this hoof growth or failure to correct with trim plane, can create or lead too a grade 1 negative palmer/plantar angle (see pics), remedial work in these cases isn't about major interventions; often, a change in the trim plane and a shorter shoeing cycle suffice.

Sometimes, in more advanced cases a bit of bravery is required, and X-rays can be invaluable in determining the extent of required and achievable changes. The trim aims to create better proportions, realign the hoof pastern axis, and arrest the downward spiral of worsening balance, which is then complimented by any shoeing package.

As discussed by Floyd (2010), the trim becomes fundamental for maintaining alignment in shod feet. It's not just about aesthetics; it's about preventing and treating issues arising from negative angles.

Join us February 21st for the Understanding Podiatry Radiography Webinar where Dr. Martina Neidhart and I explain x-ray views relevant to trimming and farriery, going into what makes a good radiograph, what measurements are helpful, and pathology recognition.

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/podiatry-radiography
In the meantime you can read more on the topic of The Importance of Trim Plane Here:

https://www.theequinedocumentalist.com/post/the-importance-of-trim-plane

Patience pays off
01/25/2024

Patience pays off

If you want your horse's angles assessed, schedule an appointment with me 🙂
01/23/2024

If you want your horse's angles assessed, schedule an appointment with me 🙂

Palmar Angles Fact vs. Fiction! Palmar angles are a popular topic in equine hoof care, sparking debates about the ideal angle for the pedal bone. While some advocate for a 0-degree palmar angle, the widely accepted norm falls between 2-7 degrees. But what does this mean for your horse's hoof health?

The palmar angle (PA) is a critical measurement that reflects the relationship between the pedal bone and the ground. Visualized in first portion of the image below this angle is not a standalone metric but is intricately connected with other angles within the digit.

Heel angle and heel to toe height ratio and the health of the digital cushion, bars and caudal third of the hoof, directly influences PA, and in turn, PA influences phalangeal alignment and overall hoof angle. Think of it as a dynamic dance where each angle influences the other. The real question is, what factors contribute to these angles, and how do we determine what's ideal for our unique equine companions?

Of course as we explore palmar angles, it's crucial to acknowledge the inherent diversity among horses. The second image below illustrates the variation in bone and palmar angles, with some falling within the accepted range and others venturing outside. This diversity stems from the natural variation in pedal bone angles among different horses. Different bone angles will require different palmer angles to achieve the same hoof angle.

While studies suggest a range of normal palmar angles, the emphasis shifts to phalangeal alignment as an ideal. Studies, including one by Parkes (2003), indicate a correlation between lower palmar angles and challenges in achieving straight bone column alignment.

Studies by Dorner et al. (2017) reveal a negative correlation between lower palmar angles and radiographic changes in the navicular bone, echoing findings from various studies, emphasizing the importance of alignment over an absolute palmar angle.

Holroyd et al. (2013) suggests a larger palmar angle is associated with a smaller probability of presenting with navicular bone or deep digital flexor tendon lesions. This highlights the interconnected relationship between palmar angle, DDFT strain, and navicular changes.

Intrigued? Dive deeper into the complexities of palmar angles and their implications for your horse's hoof health on our website

https://www.theequinedocumentalist.com/post/palmar-angles

Plus don’t forget about our upcoming webinar about advanced podiatry radiography to learn how to read radiographs for farriery relevant balance and pathologies

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/podiatry-radiography

Before and after on hoof that was overdue. Shod with Avanti shoes, 3D Hoof care pads, & pour in material
01/09/2024

Before and after on hoof that was overdue. Shod with Avanti shoes, 3D Hoof care pads, & pour in material

Older mare with chronic laminitis. Notice the lamellar wedge & stretched lamellae at the front of the hoof - this can ma...
01/08/2024

Older mare with chronic laminitis. Notice the lamellar wedge & stretched lamellae at the front of the hoof - this can make the hoof more vulnerable to white line disease

Shod with NANRIC rail shoes. Rockered so that the back of the shoe is parallel to the caudal wings of the coffin bone. Added a higher shore rating urethane pour to the heels & a low shore rating pour under the toe.

11/30/2023
Thin soled and broken up walls. Built up wall with a modified hoof cast then nailed Nanric mega rockers on to improve ci...
11/29/2023

Thin soled and broken up walls. Built up wall with a modified hoof cast then nailed Nanric mega rockers on to improve circulation and speed growth.

11/16/2023
11/10/2023

The war against hyperinsulinemia to prevent laminitis rages on.

In 2022, we were delighted to announce preliminary findings of very favorable responses to canagliflozin (Invokana®) in severely laminitic horses with hyperinsulinemia unresponsive to the usual diet and drug therapy. Kellon and Gustafson (2022)

In the two years we monitored case reports, no adverse effects were reported until a horse was noted to be hyperlipidemic (high blood triglycerides). The horse was hospitalized as a suspected colic but continued to be bright and eating well with triglycerides coming down rapidly with therapy and off the drug.

We immediately informed owners and their treating veterinarians of the risk of hyperlipidemia/hypertriglyceridemia and advised screening both before therapy and serially after starting therapy. We have found that the vast majority of horses on canagliflozin or ertugliflozin develop high triglyceride levels. Detailed information on these cases has been recently published. Kellon and Gustafson (2023). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37026076/

Except for mild to moderate weight loss, these horses showed no evidence of the life-threatening hyperlipemia syndrome reported in donkeys, ponies, and miniature horses. We also found that animals in those high-risk groups for hyperlipemia did not develop more severe hypertriglyceridemia with these drugs. We believe the hypertriglyceridemia is in response to an energy shortage caused by the loss of glucose in the urine, similar to what occurs with fasting/starvation and during endurance exercise.

While our 2023 paper was under review, Sundra, et al. (2022) reported on responses to ertugliflozin in horses in Australia. They found similar triglyceride elevations without symptoms. This is consistent with the report of Dunkel, et al. (2013) where it was noted horses with metabolic disorders may be hyperlipidemic for many years, including with liver enzyme elevations, yet show no obvious ill effects.
Nevertheless, because of the potential for development of fatty liver we recommend diets be liberalized to free-choice safe hay and 1 to 2 lbs of beet pulp daily for full-size horses. This allows for an increase in safe calories and the acetate from fermentation of beet pulp and hay can substitute directly for glucose. Other dietary measures are also being investigated.

We wish to especially recognize the members and volunteers of the ECIR Group Inc. for their contribution of time, resources, and data, without whom help for metabolic equines would not be possible.

REFERENCES
Kellon EM, Gustafson KM. (2022) Use of the SGLT1 inhibitor canagliflozin for control of refractory equine hyperinsulinemia and laminitis. Open Vet J. 12:511-518.
Kellon EM, Gustafson KM. (2023) Hypertriglyceridemia in equines with refractory hyperinsulinemia treated with SGLT2 inhibitors. Open Vet J. 13:365-375.
Sundra, T., Kelty, E. & Rendle, D. (2022) Preliminary observations on the use of ertugliflozin in the management of hyperinsulinaemia and laminitis in 51 horses: A case series. Equine Veterinary Education, 00:1– 10.
Dunkel B, Wilford SA, Parkinson NJ, Ward C, Smith P, Grahame L, Brazil T, Schott HC 2nd. (2014) Severe hypertriglyceridaemia in horses and ponies with endocrine disorders. Equine Vet J. 46:118-22.

32 year old mare. When I started working with her in July 2022, she was chronically laminitic with recurrent abscesses. ...
11/02/2023

32 year old mare. When I started working with her in July 2022, she was chronically laminitic with recurrent abscesses. I used full rockers, 3D pads & pour pads for about 1 year to help realign the bonus column & accelerate growth. Almost a year and a half after my first visit she is barefoot, sound, & happy 🙂

10/03/2023
NAEP conference starting off with the one & only Dr. Chris Pollitt. His book, The Illustrated Horse's Foot, is the best ...
09/27/2023

NAEP conference starting off with the one & only Dr. Chris Pollitt. His book, The Illustrated Horse's Foot, is the best one I own

09/27/2023

We are here at the National Alliance of Equine Practitioners learning from the best in the world about horse hoof health. Veterinarians and farriers working together for the good of the horse!

Love my job
09/08/2023

Love my job

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