The Farmer's Veterinarian: A Practical Treatise on the Diseases of Farm StockBurkett, Charles William
Science
The Farmer's Veterinarian: A Practical Treatise on the Diseases of Farm Stock
Burkett, Charles William
Veterinary medicine
=Founder May Occur= in the fore or hind feet or in both; but generally
the fore feet are those affected. A stiffness and disinclination to move
are perhaps the first symptoms noticed. The position in which the animal
stands is characteristic. The fore feet will be placed well forward, so
that the weight will be borne by the heels, while the hind feet are
brought well up under the body in order to take as much weight off the
front feet as possible. This position gives a rather unsteady appearance
to animal, and the hind feet are frequently shifted in order to maintain
as steady a position as possible. From this fact founder is frequently
mistaken by inexperienced persons for a disease of the kidneys. The body
temperature is usually considered increased; that is, there is fever--as
it is generally expressed--due to inflammation in the feet. As is usual
in the first stages of inflammation, the pulse beat is increased in
frequency and force. An increase of heat in the feet, with a
manifestation of pain when the hoofs are tapped with a hammer, are, when
taken with all the foregoing facts, sufficient evidence of founder.
When founder occurs in one foot, however, as it sometimes does, the
diagnosis may be more difficult for the inexperienced. When it occurs
only in the hind feet the position which the animal takes will not be
different from that taken with founder in only both fore feet but from
different causes. The hind feet are brought well forward under the body,
but for the purpose of throwing such little weight as is borne on them
on the heels.
=The Feet Should Be Kept Moist.=--Remove the shoes and apply moisture to
the feet. The latter may be done by standing the animal in water five or
six inches deep each day, several hours at a time, or by the application
of a poultice of wheat bran or some such material, or by wrapping the
feet with cloths and keeping them thoroughly saturated with water. The
animal should always be encouraged to lie down and take the weight off
his feet, which is beneficial. When this occurs, a poultice of some sort
must be used to apply moisture to the feet. It may be applied by the use
of a sack large enough to envelop the foot and hold sufficient of the
poultice to retain the moisture for some time. This application of
moisture to the feet should be continued until the severity of the
inflammation and the lameness have subsided.
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