White line disease in horses is a fungal or bacterial infection that affects the inner layer of the hoof, causing separation between the hoof wall and the underlying structures.

White Line Disease

Seek veterinary advice before applying any treatment.

White Line Disease is caused by the invasion of fungi or bacteria which attacks the hoof-wall tissue, causing it to separate from the sole at the white line of the hoof. These fungi and bacteria can only enter when there is a separation due to a deformation of the hoof, an imbalance in the hoof’s moisture due to extreme moisture or dryness, trauma or lamintis.

Symptoms

  • Sensitive
  • Soft and Crumbly
  • Foul Smell
  • Dry and Cracked
  • Cavities
  • White, powdery substance
  • Deformed
  • Hollow Sound
  • Discolouration
  • Separating hoof wall
  • Irregular Gait
  • Lameness

Treatment

Therapy of white line disease is directed at protecting and unloading the damaged section of the foot with therapeutic shoeing combined with resectioning the hoof capsule that overlays the affected area. The debridement should be continued proximally and marginally until there is a solid attachment between the hoof wall and external lamellae.

Treatment with topical medications after hoof wall resection is done with disinfectants/astringents such as methiolate or 2% iodine. These act as a good disinfectant but may have more benefits as a dye marker to outline the remaining tracts. The above preparations should be applied at most twice weekly to make the exposed laminae manageable. Thorough exploration and debridement of any remaining tracts should take place at 2-week intervals.

Prevention

Regular trimming can prevent White Line Disease. Another factor that should be considered is adequate nutrition in the horse’s diet.

How Happie can help you manage your horse's health

Digital health management offers numerous benefits in modern equine healthcare.

With the Happie Horse App, you can track symptom patterns and body values, such as Temperature, Pulse and Respiration. Allowing you to notice abnormal changes in body and behaviour early on, leading to more successful treatments.

The Happie symptom checker allows you to add all of your horse's abnormal symptoms in order to present potential causes and diseases.

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