Answer Case of the Week

Club Foot - A club foot is one that has a foot axis (angle created between the ground and the front of the foot) of 60 degrees or more. This horse has a hoof angle of 70.5 degrees. A club foot can arise in one of two ways. 1.) It can develop secondary to an injury that has prevented proper use of the foot, leading to contracture of the deep digital flexor tendon and the foot, or 2.) It can may be inherited or due to a nutritional deficiency/excess as a foal. This will lead to contracture of the deep digital flexor tendon, pulling the coffin bone back as it contracts. This condition can be helped if treated early when the horse is still young. There are medical and surgical treatments that can be performed, depending on the individual case.