MARCH 7, 2019 - TIP OF THE DAY (TOD)
The following "Tip of the Day" is provided to assist you with horse and farm management. This tip is available to you at your own risk. Leslie Raulin does not make any claims or warranties nor does she have any financial interest in any products that may be mentioned.
Hoof Supplements - A Case Report
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Hoof supplements are substances intended to make horse hooves stronger. There are many commercial products, articles, podcasts, and concerned owners. Therefore, hoof health must be a problem for some, if not many, horses (particularly thoroughbreds). A good review article is available online from The Horse: Hoof Supplements: Feeding the Feet, Sep 1, 2000; by Karen Briggs (click here).
A horse's diet is key to overall health, including good hoof health. However, some horses with a good diet still have poor hoof quality. This may be due to bad genetics, perhaps because humans select for performance attributes more than good hoof attributes. It may also be because we still lack information on optimal nutrition for hoof health. Many substances have been studied on horses and other animals. Of these substances, biotin, methionine, and zinc have received the most attention.
A horse's diet is key to overall health, including good hoof health. However, some horses with a good diet still have poor hoof quality. This may be due to bad genetics, perhaps because humans select for performance attributes more than good hoof attributes. It may also be because we still lack information on optimal nutrition for hoof health. Many substances have been studied on horses and other animals. Of these substances, biotin, methionine, and zinc have received the most attention.
BIOTIN
Biotin is a B vitamin involved in glucose metabolism, cell growth and division, and utilization of other B vitamins. It contains a small amount of sulfur, which participates in formation of the reinforcing bonds of collagen, and is therefore important in the health of tendons, cartilage, ligaments, haircoat, and hooves.
A key biotin study was conducted in 1991 on Lipizzan stallions at the Spanish Riding School. The horses' hooves were crumbly, thin, and had a tendency to crack. Over two years, 26 horses received 20 mg of biotin daily in their feed (biotin group) while 16 horses received a placebo (placebo group). Within nine months the hooves of the biotin group improved (decreased incidence of hoof cracks, less crumbling, and greater measurable tensile strength). This improvement continued through the two years of the study. In contrast, the hooves of the placebo group showed no improvement.
Even though biotin supplementation appears to help hooves, the actual reason is unknown, particularly since most horses get sufficient biotin in their feed and grass/hay. However, in horses with poor hoof quality, supplementation with biotin is commonly accepted to be beneficial for hooves.
Biotin is a B vitamin involved in glucose metabolism, cell growth and division, and utilization of other B vitamins. It contains a small amount of sulfur, which participates in formation of the reinforcing bonds of collagen, and is therefore important in the health of tendons, cartilage, ligaments, haircoat, and hooves.
A key biotin study was conducted in 1991 on Lipizzan stallions at the Spanish Riding School. The horses' hooves were crumbly, thin, and had a tendency to crack. Over two years, 26 horses received 20 mg of biotin daily in their feed (biotin group) while 16 horses received a placebo (placebo group). Within nine months the hooves of the biotin group improved (decreased incidence of hoof cracks, less crumbling, and greater measurable tensile strength). This improvement continued through the two years of the study. In contrast, the hooves of the placebo group showed no improvement.
Even though biotin supplementation appears to help hooves, the actual reason is unknown, particularly since most horses get sufficient biotin in their feed and grass/hay. However, in horses with poor hoof quality, supplementation with biotin is commonly accepted to be beneficial for hooves.
Biotin Structure. The yellow element is sulfur, which may be important in cross-linking bonds critical for hoof health.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biotin)
METHIONINE
Methionine is an essential (must be obtained from the diet) amino acid that is converted to cystine by the body. Cystine provides the sulfur crosslinks that are necessary for healthy collagen, thus strong hoof structures, skin, hair, ligaments, tendons and cartilage. Research on pigs has demonstrated that a methionine deficiency might contribute to poor hoof quality and tendon and ligament disorders.
Although the optimal equine dosage of methionine is unknown, in horses with poor hoof quality, supplementation with methionine is commonly accepted to be beneficial for hooves.
Methionine is an essential (must be obtained from the diet) amino acid that is converted to cystine by the body. Cystine provides the sulfur crosslinks that are necessary for healthy collagen, thus strong hoof structures, skin, hair, ligaments, tendons and cartilage. Research on pigs has demonstrated that a methionine deficiency might contribute to poor hoof quality and tendon and ligament disorders.
Although the optimal equine dosage of methionine is unknown, in horses with poor hoof quality, supplementation with methionine is commonly accepted to be beneficial for hooves.
Methionine Structure. The yellow element is sulfur, which may be important in cross-linking bonds critical for hoof health.
(https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-illustration-methionine-acid-molecule-isolated-white-model-essential-amino-amino-acids-building-blocks-proteins-image51574230)
ZINC
Zinc is a trace mineral involved in the health of hair, skin, and hooves. It is found in whole grains and hay; however, the levels may not be adequate. Therefore, many horse feeds include zinc. Since the absorption of zinc is related to the levels of other trace minerals, particularly copper, the feed must have the correct balance of these substances.
As with biotin and methionine, the optimal level of zinc for horses is not known. However, zinc supplementation, in balance with other trace minerals, is commonly accepted to be beneficial for hooves.
Zinc is a trace mineral involved in the health of hair, skin, and hooves. It is found in whole grains and hay; however, the levels may not be adequate. Therefore, many horse feeds include zinc. Since the absorption of zinc is related to the levels of other trace minerals, particularly copper, the feed must have the correct balance of these substances.
As with biotin and methionine, the optimal level of zinc for horses is not known. However, zinc supplementation, in balance with other trace minerals, is commonly accepted to be beneficial for hooves.
The element Zinc.
(https://depositphotos.com/127784972/stock-illustration-periodic-table-element-zinc-icon.html)
Commercial hoof supplements contain many additional substances; however, the key ingredients appear to be those above.
Hoof supplements are not an instant fix as they do not repair existing hoof structures; instead, the supplements affect new growth of hoof structures. Since hooves grow slowly (7-9 mm per month), it will take six to nine months to see the effects.
BIOTIN, METHIONINE, AND ZINC
IN COMMON COMMERCIAL HOOF SUPPLEMENTS
IN COMMON COMMERCIAL HOOF SUPPLEMENTS
USE OF HOOF SUPPLEMENTS
A SUCCESSFUL CASE
A SUCCESSFUL CASE
Meet Rock Creek (Rocky). He is a 17.1 hh chestnut gelding that is currently 22 yo. Rocky is probably a thoroughbred, but his breeding is an unknown. He came to me at the age of 16 as a "free" horse (there is no such thing!) looking for a new home. Rocky is very sweet and has obviously been loved in the past; he received excellent walk/trot/canter training and has a few dressage movements. He ended up as a school horse at a succession of hunter/jumper barns but was looking for a new home due to his age and he had a habit of ducking when landing from jumps (probably due to a not yet diagnosed RF keratoma). I needed a tall lower level dressage horse (no jumping) so he came to me in June 2013.
Rocky had been well fed as he arrived a bit overweight. However, his only turnout had been a few hours a day in a riding arena; therefore, he had minimal access to grass and thus perhaps had some nutritional deficiencies. He was known to have very bad feet and, by the time he came to me, all four shoes had fallen off and his feet were a mess. The edges of his hoof walls were almost completely chipped off so he was primarily walking on his soles, making him very uncomfortable.
In July 2013 Rocky was started on Grand Hoof Pellets, one scoop per day. This gave him 20 mg biotin, 3,000 mg methionine, and 250 mg zinc.
Under my care, Rocky lost a bit of weight and mainly had 24 hour turnout with plentiful grass pasture in the summer and free-choice hay in the winter. He also had Purina Impact 12% twice daily.
Over many months my farrier worked hard to get Rocky comfortable with shoes; however, they were always falling off. Nonetheless, I had some chances to ride him and participate in some FADS shows. We were the 2013/2014 Fall/Winter FADS Reserve Champions at Intro AA (mean score 72.656%).
Rocky had been well fed as he arrived a bit overweight. However, his only turnout had been a few hours a day in a riding arena; therefore, he had minimal access to grass and thus perhaps had some nutritional deficiencies. He was known to have very bad feet and, by the time he came to me, all four shoes had fallen off and his feet were a mess. The edges of his hoof walls were almost completely chipped off so he was primarily walking on his soles, making him very uncomfortable.
In July 2013 Rocky was started on Grand Hoof Pellets, one scoop per day. This gave him 20 mg biotin, 3,000 mg methionine, and 250 mg zinc.
Under my care, Rocky lost a bit of weight and mainly had 24 hour turnout with plentiful grass pasture in the summer and free-choice hay in the winter. He also had Purina Impact 12% twice daily.
Over many months my farrier worked hard to get Rocky comfortable with shoes; however, they were always falling off. Nonetheless, I had some chances to ride him and participate in some FADS shows. We were the 2013/2014 Fall/Winter FADS Reserve Champions at Intro AA (mean score 72.656%).
In September 2014 Rocky went lame - he was diagnosed with a right front (RF) keratoma (this will be a topic of a later TOD). He had surgery on 30 September 2014 and a bar shoe was placed on 4 October 2014.
22 September 2014
X-ray diagnostic of RF keratoma. Note defect in toe aspect of coffin bone. (Radiograph courtesy of Dr. White, Marion duPont Equine Medical Center, Leesburg, VA.) |
4 October 2014
Four days after RF keratoma surgery. Bar shoe placed. |
[About a month after the keratoma surgery, Rocky had three seizures and he would not lie down and roll. A month after that the seizures had stopped but his knees and hocks developed severe swelling. He tested negative for EPM and Lyme disease. With doxycycline treatment he quickly and happily started lying down and rolling; however, the joints remained enlarged and were arthritic. Therefore, Rocky was retired.]
In November 2015 Rocky was switched to SmartHoof Pellets, one scoop per day. This gave him 25 mg biotin, 2,500 mg methionine, and 400 mg zinc.
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28 May 2016 - RF - 20 months after keratoma surgery and six months on SmartHoof pellets.
Despite being on the hoof supplement, Rocky continued to experience hoof chipping, loss of hoof wall in the region of the surgery, and he frequently lost shoes.
Despite being on the hoof supplement, Rocky continued to experience hoof chipping, loss of hoof wall in the region of the surgery, and he frequently lost shoes.
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1 July 2016 - RF - 22 months after keratoma surgery and eight months on SmartHoof pellets.
Despite being on the hoof supplement, Rocky continued to experience hoof chipping and he frequently lost shoes.
Despite being on the hoof supplement, Rocky continued to experience hoof chipping and he frequently lost shoes.
In December 2016 Rocky was switched to SmartHoof Pellets, TWO scoops per day. This double dose, recommended by my veterinarian at that time, provided 50 mg biotin, 5,000 mg methionine, and 800 mg zinc.
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15 March 2018 - RF - 15 months on the double dose of SmartHoof Pellets.
Rocky's feet were looking so good that he had been left barefoot.
Rocky's feet were looking so good that he had been left barefoot.
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1 November 2018 - RF - 23 months on the double dose of SmartHoof pellets.
There is still a bit of lateral chipping and rounding of the toe, but Rocky's feet are significantly improved.
There is still a bit of lateral chipping and rounding of the toe, but Rocky's feet are significantly improved.
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11 January 2019 - RF - 25 months on the double dose of SmartHoof pellets.
Rocky had an abscess that spread to the defect in the coffin bone (remnant from the keratoma).
LEFT: Persistent defect in the coffin bone, debris in the defect. Farrier had opened the abscess in the toe.
RIGHT: Spread of the infection under the anterior hoof wall with debris and gas pockets toward the coronary band.
(Radiographs courtesy of Dr. Mia Lee, Solstice Equine Veterinary Services, Lovettesville, VA.)
On 11 January 2019, Rocky received a partial hoof wall resection to clean and treat the infection.
To support the RF, on 15 January 2019 a bar shoe was placed on the RF and a regular shoe was placed on the LF.
Rocky had an abscess that spread to the defect in the coffin bone (remnant from the keratoma).
LEFT: Persistent defect in the coffin bone, debris in the defect. Farrier had opened the abscess in the toe.
RIGHT: Spread of the infection under the anterior hoof wall with debris and gas pockets toward the coronary band.
(Radiographs courtesy of Dr. Mia Lee, Solstice Equine Veterinary Services, Lovettesville, VA.)
On 11 January 2019, Rocky received a partial hoof wall resection to clean and treat the infection.
To support the RF, on 15 January 2019 a bar shoe was placed on the RF and a regular shoe was placed on the LF.
15 February 2019 - both fronts - 26 months on the double dose of hoof supplement.
One month after shoes placed. There is aberrant hoof structure just below the coronary band that must be watched.
Otherwise, Rocky's hooves are looking excellent and the shoes are staying on!
One month after shoes placed. There is aberrant hoof structure just below the coronary band that must be watched.
Otherwise, Rocky's hooves are looking excellent and the shoes are staying on!
I am not advocating the use of a double-dose of hoof supplement. In Rocky's case, my vet recommended the double dose and it worked; Rocky remains on the double dose today. The message is that hoof supplements may work; however, one particular supplement/dosage may not work, but another one might. So if at first you do not succeed, try again with another formulation/dosage and be patient.