WHITE LINE DISEASE WOES

White opportunistic line disease organisms is insidious. invade Caused the lower when edge of the hoof wall, the condition may at first appear as little more than a widening of the white line, maybe with a slight powdery discharge at the edge of the sole. But even as the outer hoof continues to look perfectly normal, the infection can spread underneath, damaging the keratin that forms the structure of the hoof wall. “A perfectly normal looking foot can have white line disease---it can sneak up on you,” says Michael Steward, DVM, of Shawnee Animal Hospital in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Left unchecked, the infection can weaken a hoof’s laminae so much that sections of the hoof wall become unstable and permanent damage occurs that can lead to chronic lameness. It was once thought that white line disease resulted from neglect or poor hygiene, but it’s now recognized that, under the right circumstances, practically any horse can develop the condition. Nonetheless, you can reduce your horse’s risk of developing white line disease, mainly by making sure he receives regular farriery care and keeping his feet as clean and dry as possible. These measures, plus prompt treatment should any signs of infection appear, can help protect your horse from the worst consequences of the condition.