Radiologic arthrogoniometry and hoof measurements in horses: pre and post trimming study

• Grant number: 11/21989-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Alberto Hussni
• Grantee: Márcia Maria Valim
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This study has as its objective to analyze the hooves and the digital joints of healthy horses and to observe the interferences of trimming related to these aspects. In order to do that it must be used ten adult horses, which are regularly used at farm work, under natural soil conditions. Also must be evaluated the interference of the trimming on different dimensions of the hoof and the distal angles in the equine's limb. Equally, we must search if there is some change in these measurements caused by the trimming, and if after six months the hoof returns to the initial dimensions, similar to those initially observed. The measurements of the angles will be done with podogoniometro and digital photos of lateral and medial sides, analyzed by a computational program, the same one being used in the artroradiogoniometrias (metacarpo-/metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal proximal and distal). Linear parameters like frog length and width and height of lateral and medial heels will be done by tape measure. These animals will be evaluated at three different moments: At the first moment (M0), immediately, with the animals not being trimmed in late six months; In between 15 days (M15) after the horses were submitted to the conservation trimming; And at six months (M180) after trimming. The results of the parameters evaluated of each horse will be compared between the moments by ANOVA analysis of variance.(AU)