Nail prick[1][2] or quicking occurs in a horse if the sensitive hoof structures (usually the sensitive laminae) are penetrated by a horseshoe nail being driven through the hoof wall while shoeing. The nail creates a wound on the inside of the hoof wall.[3]
A close nail or a nail bind is the placement of a horseshoe nail so close to the sensitive structures inside the horse's hoof that it causes discomfort to the horse. The nail is not necessarily placed in the sensitive structures itself, but creates a pressure on the quick of the horse's hoof.[3]
Nail prick is also simply called horse shoe nail misplacement.[4] Horse shoe nail misplacement has several names and the terminology is not always used with exactly the same meaning. It is also called to puncture, to pinch, to prick, or to quick a horse.[5] Quicking or nail-quicked is used both for the actual penetration (pricking) into the area with sensitive tissue of the horse's hoof and about a close nail that exerts pressure on the sensitive tissue.[6][7] Colloquially it is also called hot nail.[8]
Cause
editIf the nail takes the wrong direction and penetrates inside the hoofwall it leads to bleeding and pressure inside the sole. This area is rich in blood vessels and nerves and damage here is very painful to the horse.[9][10] Nail prick can occur due to poorly made horseshoes, misdirected nails, too large nails, poorly placed nail holes, and faulty nails. Horses with poor hoof quality, thin hoof walls, or flaring hoof walls are difficult to nail and there is an increased risk of nail prick. Nail prick is due to a horseshoe nail penetrating the hoof wall and coming too close to or penetrating the sensitive structures inside the horse's hoof. Nail prick can happen to the best of farriers especially if the horse is fractious or young and has not been previously shod.[3]
Symptoms
editThe symptoms of nail prick are varying degrees of lameness in the horse. Nail pricking leads to the horse going lame at once. A close nail leads to the horse going lame after some days. Placing the thongs on the head of the nail is a way to identify which nail is the cause. If the faulty nail are taken out at once the horse will have few symptoms of pain (whether or not there is blood from the hole). The hoof will turn warm and by feeling the arteries to the hoof an increased pulsation can be felt. When the hoof is inspected the horse can feel pain when pressure is applied to the damaged area.[3][9][10][11][12]
Treatment
editIt is primarily the farrier who takes care of nail prick and close nails.[11][13]
If the nail prick is discovered at once further treatment is usually not necessary. Sometimes the whole shoe is taken off. If there is suspicion of dirt or bacteria having entered the wound together with the nail the nailhole should be enlarged to obtain drainage and the nail hole can be irrigated with dimethyl sulfoxide, povidone-iodine solution, or hydrogen peroxide.[3][9][10][12]
Veterinary treatment includes taking the shoe off, cutting the hoof clean and opening the nail hole to allow drainage. If the horse is in pain anesthesia of the nerve is given. The hole is irrigated and the hole can be packed with iodine-soaked cotton. Superficial infections may only need one treatment. The horse can be given an antiseptic foot bandage for 3–4 days and then be shod if the lameness is gone. The prognosis is usually good provided that minimal damage occurs to vatial structures of the foot. Tetanus prophylaxis is used for unvaccinated horses.[3][10][14]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "prick, n. I. 1. b." Oxford English Dictionary, online subscription. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
Farriery. A wound in the sole of a horse's foot, esp. one made by a nail of a shoe. In later use more fully nail prick.
- ^ "Ways of shoeing horses". EINHORN Verbundhufeisen GmbH & Co. KG. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f Michael W. Ross; Sue J. Dyson (2010). "28. Trauma to the Sole and Wall. Part: Problems Associated with Horseshoe Nails". Diagnosis and Management of Lameness in the Horse (2 ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences. ISBN 9781437711769.
- ^ EquiMed Staff (6 May 2009). "Nail Prick". EquiMed, LLC. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
- ^ John Emsley. "What is Good Horse Shoeing? How do you know if your horse has been lamed through a misplaced nail?". horsehoofcare.net. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
- ^ Charlene Strickland (1 October 2001). "Nail-Quicked". BLOOD-HORSE PUBLICATIONS. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
- ^ David Farmilo. "SENSITIVE TO NAILING". ABC HOOF CARE. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
- ^ Christopher C. Pollitt. "THE HORSE'S FOOT – THE INSIDE STORY" (PDF). Australian Equine Laminitis Research Unit School of Veterinary Science Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science The University of Queensland. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
- ^ a b c Magnusson, Lars-Erik (1981). Hovpleie og hovbeslag. Oslo: Friundervisningens forl. p. 57. ISBN 8270201472.
- ^ a b c d Buer, John Kristiansen, Arne Stang, Sverre og Hansen, Arild (1990). Kaldblodshesten : fra døl til traver. Oslo: Gyldendal. pp. 135–136. ISBN 8205183597.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Røinaas, Audun (1991). Med hammer og tang. Oslo: Yrkesopplæring. p. 48. ISBN 8258508431.
- ^ a b Knævelsrud, Torunn og Norges rytterforbund (1990). Hestens vanligste sykdommer og skader. Rud: Norges rytterforbund/Rytterkontakt. p. 68. ISBN 8275060001.
- ^ Fredheim, Gunvald A. (1990). Den militære veterinærtjeneste 1780-1990 : Den norske Armés Veterinærtjeneste 1780-1865 Den norske Armés Dyrlægekorps 1865-1893 Den norske Armés Veterinærkorps 1893-1929 Hærens Veterinærkorps 1930-1946 Veterinærkorpset 1946-1990. Hamar: Hærstaben/Sjefsveterinæren. p. 109.
- ^ Den norske veterinærforenings håndbok. 1 : Faglig del. Oslo: Cappelen. 1952. p. spalte 372–373.