Foot-related lameness is one of the most frequently encountered problems in the equine industry. Therapeutic shoeing is a frequently-used preventative discipline for the treatment of many causes of lameness.1-3 The primary goal for therapeutic applications is to offset the mechanical limitations of the foot and enhance the healing environment.

Foot infections are a common source of lameness in the horse. Understanding the causes of these infections and identifying their clinical signs are key to getting a horse back on the path toward health. Raul Bras, certified journeyman farrier and a veterinarian at Rood & Riddle in Lexington, Ky. discussed some of the different foot infections a hoof-care professional is likely to encounter, the importance of early identification and types of veterinary interventions that may be necessary at the Midwest Equine Podiatry Conference in Arlington, Wis.