Biometric And Radiographic Evaluation Of Long Toe Underrun Heels In Donkey Hooves

Abstract

This study was aimed to determine the correlation coefficients between morphometric and radiometric parameters of the donkey’s foot and the presence of lesions in long toe underrun heel. This study was carried on 80 front cadavers hooves of donkey divided into 12 healthy hooves and 68 hooves showed long toe under-run heel conformation. These hooves were collected from veterinary hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University. Front hooves were examined clinically and then digital photography and radiographically were taken. The relationship between the shape of the hoof capsule and the orientation of the distal phalanx in long toe underrun heels in donkeys and the relationship between radiographic measurements of the foot and the presence of radiographic lesions in long toe under-run heel in donkeys were determined. The radiographic lesions associated with long toe under-run heel were pedal osteitis complex (86.6%), navicular bone reaction (26.7%), osteophyte reaction at first phalanx (26.7%) and second phalanx (33.3%), pastern osteoarthritis (13.3%), coffin osteoarthritis (30%), palmar soft tissue calcification (16.6%), and fracture of second phalanx (3.3%). There was a relationship between the shape of the hoof capsule and the orientation of the distal phalanx in long toe underrun heels in donkeys. In conclusion, the present study provides a database for farriers and veterinarians for correct trimming long toe underrun heels in donkeys based on the obtained results