Consequently the deep digital flexor tendon became shortened from disuse.

Stevie was brought to a referral hospital to see if “anything can be done to fix his leg.” Once a leg has been used in this deformed fashion for some months, supportive wraps, braces, casts are unsuccessful in an animal of this age, so surgery was done to cut the deep digital tendon and thereby release the hoof so it might contact the ground in a normal manner.

There was such a small area above the bulbs of his heels in which to approach the tendon, it may have been better to operate above the fetlock; however, it was accomplished and Stevie could place the hoof properly when he recovered from the general anesthetic. He couldn’t maintain this correct posture when he walked and despite pain-killing medication he tended to still knuckle over on the back of his hoof.

He was outfitted with a walking bar brace attached to his hoof by a fiberglass cast. A Professional Choice boot was applied to his leg as support and to help stabilize the bar to keep his toe in extension. The bar was secured to the boot at the top by elastic tape covered by duct tape. He wore this until his skin staples were removed at two weeks post surgery while he was kept in a large stall. His hoof was trimmed when the brace and cast were removed, but he still tended to knuckle over so the brace and cast had to be reapplied for another two weeks as he needed extra time to learn to step correctly. Two weeks later the cast and brace were removed. His foot was trimmed to keep him from stubbing his toe. He walked with a limp but placed his foot properly. He is now being fed less protein, plenty of grass hay, and a mineral supplement with vitamins (Osteoform from Vetamix).

His other joints are starting to stabilize so he doesn’t tend to knuckle over. Hopefully Stevie continues to improve and he doesn’t try to join the ladies until he is sound of limb.