White Line Disease
. Problems in resolving the condition are often blamed on failure to eliminate every bit of infection. A farrier may need to examine the horse as often as every ten days to cut out areas that show damage.
The second step is application of an antibacterial or antifungal product. Iodine, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, copper sulfate, and a long list of commercial hoof disinfectants have been used with varied success. Anecdotal evidence to the contrary, no one product seems to be effective in every case. A veterinarian's recommendations can help an owner choose a product that will stop the infection without damaging healthy tissue. Surprisingly, there is evidence that some cases of white line disease resolve after thorough removal of all affected tissue without use of disinfectants.
The next phase involves keeping the hoof from becoming re-infected. Exposure to air and avoidance of moisture are both important factors. Although some treatments involve packing the separated area with medicine or covering the affected hoof with an acrylic patch to prevent entry of dirt and moisture, these measures have sometimes been blamed for perpetuating the dark, damp conditions that allow the infection to persist and spread.
The final step in the treatment of white line disease is protection during new horn growth, a process that takes several months to a year. Shoeing helps support the hoof and keep pressure off the toe. Depending on the location and amount of wall that has been removed, it may be necessary to use egg-bar or heart-bar shoes, glue-on shoes, or shoes with extra clips or screws. In many cases the infection is quite difficult to eliminate, and even in horses that seem to recover completely, recurrence is frequently seen within a few years.
Prevention
No horse is immune to hoof problems, but common sense implies that this infection can be minimized by maintaining clean stalls, scheduling regular farrier visits, and providing balanced nutrition. A study at the University of Edinburgh confirmed that prolonged contact with manure caused disintegration of hoof tissue, and the damage was especially severe when the hoof wall was already in poor condition. Trimming or resetting shoes every five to six weeks protects the hooves in two ways – the tissue strain caused by imbalances or long toes can usually be avoided, and frequent exams allow a farrier to find evidence of disease before the infection has destroyed extensive areas of the hoof.
